New Zealand soul singer Teeks is finally bringing his voice to South Africa this weekend, and he says it’s been a long time coming.
The artist behind the global hit First Time will perform in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban on his debut South African tour. Ahead of the shows, Teeks sat down to talk about love songs, his Māori heritage, and the South African musician who has been a major influence on his sound: Bongeziwe Mabandla.
“I’ve been watching South African music for years,” Teeks said. “The depth, the storytelling, the way people use music to hold community together. To come and sing here, in person, feels like a full-circle moment.”
From Rotorua to the world
Teeks, born Te Karehana Gardiner-Toi, grew up in Rotorua, New Zealand. Music was everywhere in his house. His family is Māori, and from an early age he was surrounded by waiata — traditional songs — church gospel, and soul records his parents played on repeat.
He first broke through in 2017 with First Time. The song was simple, warm, and vulnerable. It asked for patience in love and became anthem for couples around the world. The track now has hundreds of millions of streams and put Teeks on playlists far beyond New Zealand.
But he says the song is not just about romance.
“First Time is about being present,” he explained. “About saying I’m here, I’m with you, let’s go slow. I think people needed that gentleness, especially in the last few years.”
Since then, Teeks has released more music that blends soul, R&B, and indigenous sounds. His voice is deep and textured, often compared to artists like Leon Bridges and John Legend, but he says his foundation is closer to home.
“I’m Māori,” he said. “That means storytelling is in my blood. It means we sing to remember ancestors, to teach children, to heal. When I write a love song, that’s what’s underneath it. It’s not just ‘I like you.’ It’s ‘I see you, I honor you, I’m with you.’”
Finding family in South African music
Teeks says he discovered South African artists during lockdown, when he was looking for music that felt both spiritual and grounded. That’s when he found Bongeziwe Mabandla.
“Bongeziwe’s music stopped me,” Teeks said. “The guitar, the language, the way he sings like he’s praying and confessing at the same time. I played iimini and Bawo on repeat. I sent them to my band. I said, ‘This is what I want us to feel like.’”
He was especially drawn to how Mabandla sings in isiXhosa. Teeks doesn’t speak the language, but he says he understands the intention.
“There’s a weight to it,” he said. “You don’t need to know every word to feel what he’s saying. That’s what I try to do with te reo Māori in my songs too. Even if people don’t understand every word, they should feel the spirit behind it.”
The two artists have not met in person yet, but Teeks says he hopes to while he’s in the country. “If Bongeziwe is around, I would love to sit with him. Just talk. Maybe play a song together. That would be a dream.teeks has toured Europe, the US, Australia, and Asia. South Africa has been on his list for years, but scheduling and the pandemic kept pushing it back.
Second, the connection. “There are parallels between Māori culture and many cultures here. Respect for elders, for land, for story. I think people will hear that in my music.”
Third, the chance to learn. “I’m coming to listen too. I want to go to record stores, to hear live bands, to meet musicians. I don’t want to just perform and leave.”
His setlist will pull from all three of his EPs and albums, including First Time, Something to Feel, and Te Kaupoi. Expect acoustic arrangements, full-band moments, and space for the audience to sing back.
“I’m not coming with a big production,” he said. “I’m coming with songs. If people leave feeling a little softer, a little more connected, then we did our job.when asked what he wants South African fans to take from his music, Teeks didn’t mention charts or awards. He talked about love.
“We live in noisy times,” he said. “Everyone is shouting. Love songs can feel small, but I don’t think they are. To choose to be gentle with someone, to choose to stay, to choose to listen — that’s powerful.”
He also spoke about representation. As a Māori man singing soul music in 2026, he knows he’s part of a small group on global stages.
“I want kids who look like me to see that you can sing your songs, in your language, with your story, and people will still feel it,” he said. “You don’t have to water it down.”
That’s why he often weaves te reo Māori into his lyrics, even on songs written in English. “It’s not a gimmick. It’s me. It’s where I come from.after South Africa, Teeks heads back to New Zealand to work on new music. He says the trip to Mzansi will influence what comes next.
For now, he’s focused on the three shows. He’s been practicing, packing, and watching videos of South African audiences to get ready.
“I’m nervous and excited,” he admitted with a laugh. “But mostly I’m grateful. To be invited here, to share songs, to stand in a room and sing — that’s still the best part of this job.”
Teeks’ South African tour kicks off this weekend in Johannesburg, followed by Cape Town and Durban. For fans who have streamed First Time for years, it’s a chance to hear it live. For Teeks, it’s a chance to finally say the words in person: I’m here. Let’s go slow
