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Twelve-Year-Old Auckland Singer Becomes Youngest New Zealander to Place on Kiwi Charts

Monday 18 February 2013, 10:17AM

By Alexander PR

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Tayla Alexander - Songbird
Tayla Alexander - Songbird Credit: Alexander PR

A 12-year-old Auckland soprano is making musical history. Tayla Alexander, who last year (at age 11) released her debut album, Songbird, has become the youngest artist to appear on the Independent Music New Zealand (IMNZ) album charts, and Tayla sits alongside some of the biggest, most established names in Kiwi music.

IMNZ Operations Manager Renee Jones says, “Tayla is a brand-new artist, and already she is ranking with heavyweights such as Kora, Six60, Fat Freddy’s Drop and Opshop. It’s a very impressive achievement for such a young singer making their debut.”

Last year Tayla signed with music man Roger Marbeck’s Ode Records, and her songs are garnering attention through social media and radio as far afield as the United States. In December, she performed Pie Jesu from Andrew Lloyd Webber's Requiem in front of a 200,000-strong crowd at the iconic Christmas musical extravaganza, Coca-Cola Christmas in the Park, and on Christmas Day she sang for the second year running at the annual Auckland City Mission Christmas lunch. She will perform at the New Zealander of the Year event on 28 February.

Roger Marbeck says of the young singer, “Tayla has already achieved more than a lot twice her age would dream of. She has a steady fan base, sales increasing daily and she is still only 12 years old . . . talk about a rising star!”

Songbird is available from Marbecks, JB HiFi and The Warehouse, and online through iTunes.