For the last decade Stan Walker has been travelling the world, dominating charts and engaging audiences with his music, but a recent bit of research showed that he might just be a bit of a Southlander.
Walker is set to bring his Springboard tour to Invercargill this month, and told the Advocate South that he relishes any opportunity he can to come to the far south.
“When it’s warm, oh man, the south is so beautiful. I swim in the most random waterholes and rivers and creeks. We’ll just stop off, I love that sort of stuff. It’s so different to the North Island. It’s just different.”
He said a recent search into his family history showed his close personal ties to the province.
“I’ve been doing some genealogy and I’ve found that my grandmother, one of her ancestors, is actually from down south. So I’m looking forward to diving into that… so I can’t wait to be down there and be down south and see where they’ve lived and where our links are.”
Walker returned to releasing music last year after battling stomach cancer in 2017. He released a self-titled EP in 2018, and earlier this year recorded the single Give as a reaction to the Christchurch shootings in April.
“That was specifically for the people and to bring hope in a hopeless situation and for me to do something that was tangible to be able to give back. Everything raised from the song went back to the Muslim families. When it comes to my music I always try and think beyond me.”
Outside of his music, Walker has tried his hand at acting, appearing in several TV shows and movies including the 2016 Taika Waititi hit Hunt for the Wilderpeople.
“I love acting just as much as I love singing,” he said. “I’ve been blessed to be a part of so many things and especially that one it was so hilarious. That film is the biggest New Zealand film to the world that has ever come out of New Zealand. It’s hit all the records. To be a part of that and to have played a small part of that. Man, I’m like let’s go.”
Walker will be supported by three new local artists during his tour, with Lepani, Niko Walters and Jordan Gavet joining him at his Invercargill show.
He said touring was the best part of releasing new music and he relished the opportunity to get on the road and play live in front of his fans, with Invercargill holding particularly strong memories.
“The last time that I came to Invercargill was one of the best shows that I’ve done. It was outdoors and it was the last time that we had done it in this venue. The green room food was the best. I remember that. It was the best food that we had on tour.”
Stan Walker will perform at the Civic Theatre in Invercargill on Thursday, September 26.
Tickets are available via ticketdirect.co.nz.
This article was originally written for The Advocate. You can read the published version here