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
