Singer and songwriter Benny Tipene was born in 1990 in Auckland.
In 2007, he and his classmates formed a band that became indie rock group The Nerines in Palmerston North.
Tipene shot to fame in The X Factor in early 2013, where he was mentored by talent judge Ruby Frost.
He’s been nominated for Best Pop Album, had platinum and gold selling records, and his music has also been used in New Zealand’s Coca-Cola summer ad campaign.
Listen: Getting to know Benny Tipene
Emily is originally from Essex in the UK but has been in New Zealand for the past seven years. Lucky for some, she has definitely shaken off any resemblance of a good old Essex girl – her white stilettos were ditched years ago! She is currently studying at The New Zealand Radio Training School in Auckland.
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