‘Kia ora! My name's Tomuri Spicer (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Pākehā). I'm 20 and currently in my third year of a MusB and a BA in Māori Studies at Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka, the University of Otago. I've been singing and performing since I was little, and writing songs since I first picked up an instrument; doing so professionally by 15. I've received awards for several songwriting competitions, icluding winning Uke-can-do-it NZ 2020 with my song Different, placing second for Hook, Line and Singalong 2020, and finalising for Lion Foundation's songwriting competition in both 2019 and 2020.
I've written rap, jazz, rock, pop, electronic, and some reggae songs. I have scored for some short films and composed waiata Māori (Māori songs) for kapa haka (Māori performance group). On top of this, I've had lead roles in several musicals, pantomimes, and Shakespeare performances, and I've been performing in kapa haka since I was 5. I recently performed at Te Matatini, the world's largest international kapa haka competition, with the kapa (group) Te Poutūmārō. I currently teach kapa haka at several schools to help grow children's knowledge of te Ao Māori (the Māori world/culture).
Thanks to a scholarship, I'm currently living in the 660 flat, formerly home to the popular kiwi band Six60. They also give recipients personal tutelage with their songs and access to some fancy recording studios. I was also lucky enough to perform with them a few times on their tours!’
Follow Tomuri
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tomurispicermusic/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@tomurispicermusic
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3HlCvdDfsbCvpdUKk8i8Jr
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/te_n-guru
Find out how you get involved in this year’s Sing Up Day celebration and start learning the songs.