Rotorua's Nuz hits music big time

A Rotorua-born man will soon be back in New Zealand to hit the stage as part of a band who have taken off after their appearance on The Voice Australia.

Ngahere "Nuz" Ngatai is a member of the Koi Boys, a trio that have just released their debut album Meant To Be, following their recent signing with Universal Music Australia.

Danny Faifai and Kevin Keepa are the two other band members.

The album was released on October 21 and is a collection of nine genre spanning covers and three original songs.

The group will perform in Auckland on November 18 at Auckland's Holy Trinity Cathedral.

Nuz, who previously starred on reality TV show The GC, told the Rotorua Daily Post he was both excited and nervous ahead of the first Koi Boys concert in New Zealand.

He said he hoped to make it to Rotorua while in the country to see family here.

He wanted to give a big shout-out to his Morrison and Te Moni family in Rotorua, he said.

He said it felt "absolutely amazing" to have their first album released.

The group rose to prominence after featuring on The Voice Australia.

Nuz said they were scouted for singing show from a YouTube video, and the show made a special exception for them as it had never had a trio on before.

He said the show was a "very, very busy schedule" with interviews, rehearsing, styling, make up and camera work - "it was a great experience".

For almost a decade the Koi Boys have been dancing and entertaining as a collective at their 'Sunday Session' at a Gold Coast venue.

The group sang in front of a diverse crowd of people, from children to the elderly, so they definitely had to be diverse to please everyone, he said.

He said on their album they had the same approach.

Nuz said he thought one of the best things about performing as a trio was always having someone to enjoy it with.

He said singing with another two people on stage you could vibe together, harmonise and create energy with each other - "it's really special".

He said his biggest advice to those wanting to get into the music industry was to commit to their craft.

"If you want to be a singer commit fully, don't wait on anyone, keep driving."

He said that was what they had done as a group, and that it was never too late.

"If you can commit to what you're doing and do it with all your heart you will go far."

Tickets for the Koi Boys concert in Auckland are available from www.ticketmaster.co.nz.

To watch the official Koi Boys video for 'Cry To Me' visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdpSaeqqlDA.