Birth name Tayla Alexander Name Tayla Alexander Role Musical Artist | Years active 2012–present Albums Songbird, Songbird - EP Labels Independent | |
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Born 30 December 2000 (age 23)
Durban, South Africa ( 2000-12-30 ) Genres Classical music, Opera, Folk music | ||
Instruments Soprano vocals, piano | ||
Cinema Paradiso (Se) by Tayla Alexander and Joyce Lee
Tayla Alexander (born 30 December 2000) is a New Zealand singer. Tayla's debut album Songbird charted in the top 10 on both the Independent Music New Zealand Album charts (IMNZ), and the New Zealand Music Charts, making her the youngest artist to appear on the New Zealand music charts.
Contents
- Cinema Paradiso Se by Tayla Alexander and Joyce Lee
- Early life
- Career
- Reception
- Studio singles
- Television appearances
- References
Covering both classical and easy listening genres, Tayla has performed songs in English, Italian and Maori.
Tayla has performed for dignitaries around New Zealand, including Dame Malvina Major, Prime Minister John Key and Sir Peter Leitch.
Early life
Tayla was born in South Africa but moved to Auckland, New Zealand at six months old, when her family emigrated. Her parents, Dwayne and Kate Alexander, have another daughter, born in 1993.
Tayla began singing at the age of four. She has been a regular competitor in Auckland-based singing contests The North Shore Performing Arts Competition and Opera Idol. She currently takes singing lessons in Auckland.
She currently attends school on Auckland's North Shore.
Career
Songbird was produced by Bruce Lynch, who has worked with Dame Kiri Te Kanawa and British singer-songwriter Cat Stevens. Songbird was released in the New Zealand market in November 2012.
In November 2012, around the time of the album's release, Tayla performed two songs from the album, "Hine e Hine" and "A Child Is Born", on TVNZ's Good Morning breakfast program.
Tayla was selected to sing at the 19th annual Christmas in the Park at the Auckland Domain in Auckland, New Zealand in December 2012. She sang "Pie Jesu" to a crowd of more than 200,000. Highlights were broadcast on TV 3.
In February 2013, for the second year in a row, Tayla sang at the 2013 New Zealander of the Year Awards.
In April 2013, Tayla was given the opportunity to perform in front of Dame Malvina Major at a masterclass workshop in Hamilton. Tayla has since received regular one-on-one tutelage.
As part of a New Zealand Music Month series, TVNZ's current affairs program Seven Sharp filmed a feature story on Tayla which aired nationally in May 2013.
In September 2013, Tayla was approached by Disney Channel Australia New Zealand to film a feature for the network's This Is Who I Am segment. Filming took place at Tayla's family home and at Takapuna's Bruce Mason Centre.
To promote the release of her two new singles, TVNZ's Good Morning invited Tayla to perform Maori love song "Pokerekere Ana" on the show in November 2013.
Reception
Dame Malvina Major has said Tayla is a promising talent who, with her strong determination, could have a strong career in opera.
Studio singles
- Hallelujah
- You Needed Me