Multiple ARIA nominee and five-time New Zealand Music Awards winner, Australian-born Stan Walker may call NZ home, but the 'Choose You' crooner still has a special affinity for the country where he launched his career.
Since winning the seventh and final season of 'Australian Idol' in 2009, Walker has stormed the charts in both Australia and New Zealand with hits such as 'Black Box' 'Loud' and 'Galaxy', the latter with fellow 'Australian Idol' alum, Jessica Mauboy before moving to New Zealand where he went on to mentor 'The X Factor New Zealand' and star in a string of hit films including Taika Waititi's 'Hunt For The Wilderpeople'.Now following a turbulent period where travel and touring has been practically non-existent, Walker is thrilled to have the opportunity to return to Australia as one of the headliners of Good Love Festival, Australia's biggest reggae festival which returns to the Gold Coast next February.
"I'm so excited," Walker says on the phone from New Zealand. "It's going to be so good. I hope that COVID calms down and that we can all get there and give people what they want.
"I can't wait to get on stage. I'm bringing my whole team and just can't wait to rip it up. A lot of my friends are playing and other people that I am fans of."
In addition to Walker, the stellar line-up includes Hawaiian groups Rebel Souljahz and Kolohe Kai, American singer J Boog, and New Zealand reggae group House Of Shem among others.
Good Love Festival's international line-up is indicative of just how influential reggae music is around the world and Walker credits the genres universal appeal to its positive messaging and in particular to one artist, Bob Marley.
"Reggae music has been around long before [Bob Marley], but through his lyrics and messaging he was able to bring different cultures and different people together," Stan says.
"His whole thing was about love and one love. I'm not a reggae musician, I have a couple of songs that have a reggae feel, and it's always a good feeling when I play them.
"Whether it's at festivals here in New Zealand or in Australia. Everyone enjoys reggae. It feels good and makes everyone feel good, and it's the only type of music that I can listen to all day, every day and never get sick of."
Walker believes the feel-good style and universal messaging of reggae music and festivals like Good Love is what the world needs right now.
"Reggae music is definitely resonating during these times of uncertainty, especially in Australia in Melbourne and Sydney with people getting restless about lockdown.
"They are hurt and frustrated with what they are going through. They are displaced, losing their jobs, their income and finding it hard and this type of messaging and music is all about bringing people together.
"Music with a message is powerful and influential, it sets people free and makes them feel good. It takes them away from what's happening and empowers them. I'm just excited to be a part of it."
While Walker remained tight-lipped on what his set will entail, he hinted to expect new music from his forthcoming album, 'All In'.
"I've got old songs and new stuff from my new album, and I will have my whole band with them. I'm excited to bring everything and it will be a whole brand-new show that nobody has seen and hopefully I'll bring in the big guns for it."
Walker says that the new album, which has been four years in the making, will cover a range of topics. "['All In'] covers everything from love to heartbreak, mental health, climate change – all these different things I've been through.
"This album is a journal of mine and shares the different seasons that I've been through." While no release date has been set, Stan revealed he'll be dropping several singles in the lead up to the album's release and Good Love Festival.
Despite spending the last four years finessing the new record, the 'Unbroken' singer recently released another album, 'Te Arohanui'. The record is Walker's first released in te reo Maori and was a project that was a long-time dream of his.
"It was something inevitable, it was always going to happen, and it just happened now.
"The first songs I ever sang were in Maori and so to do the album was empowering and uplifting, and I feel I became the ultimate version of my true self."
Stan credits his ancestors, in particular his late grandmother Te Arohanui McLeod who passed away last year, as the inspiration behind the project.
"[The album] is dedicated to all those that came before me, my ancestors, some who fought and died for our language. It was important for me to be able to do an album in my native tongue and to pay homage to them.
"I am now living their legacy. Our language is so strong and so beautiful, and it has really empowered me and hopefully empowers other people."
Stan Walker's 'Te Arohanui' is out now. Good Love Festival takes place at Doug Jennings Park (Gold Coast) 5 February, 2022.
Good Love Festival 2022 Line-up
Rebel SoulJahzKolohe Kai
Stan Walker
J Boog
Fiji
Sons Of Zion
Spawnbreezie
Sammy J
House Of Shem
Tomorrow People
Victor J Sefo
Swiss & Tree
STNDR
Krisy Erin & Mikey Mayz
Siaosi
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