After placing fourth in the first season of NZ Idol, Luke Whaanga had no idea what his future would hold.
Putting music aside and returning to a full-time job looked likely until a very special woman, his aunty Janne, stepped in and encouraged him to never give up.
It’s now been 18 years since he debuted on the hit TV show and after fronting multiple bands, Luke has just released his debut solo single Together.
Reflecting on his achievement, Luke is adamant none of it would have been possible without the unwavering support of his beloved aunty Janne.
“She was the one who started me off in NZ Idol,” shares Luke, 38. “She saw I had talent, filled out the forms, drove me to the audition, sat there all day and took me back to second auditions when I made it in the top 60. She saw I had talent and didn’t want to let it go to waste.”
Wellingtonian Janne has fond memories of those early years too.
“You were in the nation’s living rooms with more than a million viewers twice a week and that brought us together,” she tells her nephew. “When they were judging, we’d get together over a family meal, cross our fingers and hope like heck they’d be kind.”
The exposure and confidence that came from his TV experience was a golden opportunity, but post-Idol, Luke remembers struggling as contractual obligations meant that for a time he wasn’t allowed to perform.
“I ended up being on a bit of a low because I couldn’t do what I loved. Aunty Janne saw that and said, ‘Let’s sit down and work this out.’
“She was the one who backed me and gave me the confidence to believe I could pursue music. Aunty Janne is my superhero!”
Janne, 66, is modest about her contribution, but says it was a no-brainer to support her beloved nephew.
“I just offered my help to him, really, and it went from there,” says Janne, who works as a personal assistant to two lawyers, and knew her secretarial career and organisational skills would be an asset to Luke.
She officially became Luke’s right-hand woman and they ended up working together for six years as Luke launched his music career.
“I loved every minute – going to the gigs and doing the back-room stuff,” enthuses Janne, who managed all Luke’s administration. “They were really fun, happy years and I love that he appreciates it because it was an absolute pleasure.
“It’s not an easy industry to be successful in. You’re never sure about the work that’s going to come, and you just have to keep plugging away and he’s done that. This is Luke’s dream and he’s able to live his dream of making and performing his own music. I’m so proud of him.”
Being a full-time musician deserves the victory dance!
The pair both smile as they share stories. Luke reminisces about Janne teaching him the ropes financially and also the day when he bought his own equipment.
“I couldn’t believe I had my own PA system,” he recalls. “Aunty Janne walked me through those doors once again and helped me with the banking, so I paid it off in a year.
“As I’ve got older, I’ve realised how much she actually did for me. Everyone was like, ‘Go, Luke,’ but she grabbed my hand and said, ‘Come, I’ll do it with you.'”
The pair are no longer officially working together but Janne is always in Luke’s corner, cheering him on, and was delighted to feature in the music video for Together.
Luke has fronted multiple bands over the years, including Tomorrow People and Origin Roots Aotearoa, but Together is his first offering as a solo artist.
Janne loves going to her nephew’s gigs.
“Together is a powerful word,” explains the musician, who played almost all of the instruments on the track, including the harp, piano, harmonica and guitars.
Growing up, the guitar was Luke’s only toy. He learnt to play at just five years old and never put it down.
He was inspired to write the feel-good song by those who uplifted him in life, namely Aunty Janne.
In his own words, it’s been a rollercoaster, but he’s now a full-time musician and hopes his perseverance and determination will inspire others to go after their goals too.
“It’s not how many times you fall over – it’s how many times you get up,” he insists. “I’m going to keep releasing single after single and for the people that want to go after their dreams, you really just have to have a bit of faith, a lot of passion – and you have to believe.”
