Stan Walker facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Stan Walker
Stan Walker in August 2021
Background information
Born	(1990-10-23) 23 October 1990 (age 34) Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Genres	Pop R&B
Occupation(s)	Singer, actor, television personality
Instruments	Vocals, guitar
Years active	2009–present
Labels	Sony Music Australia
Associated acts	Jessica Mauboy, Ginny Blackmore

Stan Walker (born 23 October 1990) is a talented singer, actor, and TV personality from Australia and New Zealand. He became famous in 2009 after winning the seventh season of Australian Idol. After his big win, he signed a record deal with Sony Music Australia.

In December 2009, Stan released his first album, Introducing Stan Walker, which featured the popular song "Black Box". This album was a huge success, reaching number three on the Australian music charts and number two in New Zealand. It sold many copies, earning platinum awards in both countries. Stan has continued to release successful albums and singles, winning several New Zealand Music Awards and being nominated for ARIA Music Awards. He has also been a judge on The X Factor NZ and starred in New Zealand films like Mt Zion (2013) and Born to Dance (2015). His sixth album, Te Arohanui, released in 2021, was special because it was his first album sung entirely in te reo Māori, the Māori language.

Stan Walker's Early Life

Growing Up in New Zealand

Stan Walker was born on 23 October 1990. His parents are Ross and April Walker. He is also related to famous Māori artist Tāme Iti and singer Whirimako Black. Stan is Māori and belongs to the Tūhoe, Ngāi Te Rangi, and Ngāti Porou tribes. He spent his early years living on a marae (a traditional Māori meeting place) in Mount Maunganui, New Zealand. He attended schools in Hamilton and New Plymouth.

Stan has shared that his early life was challenging. At 15, he found comfort and direction by attending church. He says that his love for music and his faith helped him turn his life around. Later, Stan and his family moved back to Australia, settling in Coolangatta, Queensland. Before he became famous on Australian Idol, he worked in a menswear shop. Moving to Australia helped him pursue his dream of a career in entertainment.

Walker in 2013

Becoming an Idol

Winning Australian Idol in 2009

In 2009, Stan Walker decided to try out for the seventh season of Australian Idol. He sang "Ordinary People" by John Legend at his audition in Brisbane. The judges were very impressed with his voice. One judge, Kyle Sandilands, even told his friends and family about Stan, showing how much he believed in him. Stan made it through the early rounds and into the top twenty-four semi-finals.

During the semi-finals, Stan was part of the first group to perform. Viewers voted him straight into the final top twelve. Throughout the competition, Stan was praised for his amazing voice and his brave song choices. One of his most memorable performances was of the Prince song "Purple Rain", which earned a standing ovation from both the judges and the audience.

The grand final of Australian Idol was held on 22 November 2009, at the famous Sydney Opera House. After all the votes were counted, Stan Walker was announced as the winner! He was the first person of New Zealand descent to win the show. As the winner, Stan signed a contract with Sony Music Australia.

First Album Success: Introducing Stan Walker

Right after winning Australian Idol, Stan released his first single, "Black Box", on 22 November 2009. The song quickly became a hit, reaching number two on the Australian charts and number one in New Zealand. It sold incredibly well, earning double platinum awards in both countries.

Stan's first album, Introducing Stan Walker, came out on 8 December 2009. The album included songs he performed on Australian Idol, plus new original songs like "Black Box" and "Think of Me." This album was also a big success, debuting at number three on the Australian charts and number two in New Zealand. It received platinum awards in Australia and triple platinum in New Zealand, showing how popular Stan had become.

Music Career Highlights

From the Inside Out and Let the Music Play

In April 2010, Stan traveled to Haiti to help with relief efforts after the 2010 earthquake, working as an ambassador for Compassion Australia. His second album, From the Inside Out, was released on 20 August 2010. This album reached number two in Australia and became his first number-one album in New Zealand. It was certified platinum in New Zealand.

The album featured popular singles like "Unbroken" and "Choose You". "Unbroken" reached number nine in New Zealand and number 23 in Australia. "Choose You" was even more successful, peaking at number three in New Zealand and number 16 in Australia. Both songs earned gold and platinum awards.

Walker and Jessica Mauboy performing during the Galaxy Tour in January 2012.

Stan's third album, Let the Music Play, was released on 18 November 2011. It reached number 18 in Australia and number 12 in New Zealand. The lead single from this album, "Loud", was released on 2 May 2011. It was a hit, reaching number nine in Australia and number eight in New Zealand. In October 2011, Stan also teamed up with Australian singer Jessica Mauboy for their popular song "Galaxy". They even went on a joint tour called the Galaxy Tour in early 2012.

TV and Film Roles

In 2013, Stan became a judge on the first season of The X Factor New Zealand. He returned as a judge for the second season in 2015.

Stan also made his acting debut in the New Zealand film Mt Zion, released on 6 February 2013. He played the main character, Turei, a young Māori musician. Stan said he was drawn to the role because the character's story reminded him of his own life years ago. He also recorded the song "Take It Easy" for the film's soundtrack. In 2015, he played the role of Benjy in the New Zealand film Born to Dance. He also appeared in the popular New Zealand film Hunt for the Wilderpeople in 2016.

Recent Years and New Music

Health Journey and New Releases

In 2017, Stan faced a significant health challenge. He had surgery to remove his stomach after discovering he had a rare gene that increased his risk of cancer. This gene had affected many members of his family. Stan shared that he was "blessed to be alive and well" after his surgery. A documentary about his health journey, titled Stan, was released in March 2018.

After his recovery, Stan continued to release new music. On 26 March 2018, he released a self-titled EP, Stan, which included songs he had written over many years. In May 2019, he released another EP called Faith Hope Love, which he dedicated to the victims of the Christchurch mosque shootings.

Autobiography and Latest Albums

In 2020, Stan began releasing new singles regularly. In October 2020, he released his autobiography, Impossible: My Story, which shared details about his life journey. A compilation album, Impossible (Music by the Book), was released at the same time.

In August 2021, Stan released "Don't Worry Baby" with Australian singer Celina Sharma. This was the first single from his seventh studio album, All In. Stan described All In as an album full of soul and R&B music, reflecting his experiences with love, heartbreak, change, and mental health over the past four years.

On 7 September 2021, Stan announced his special Māori language album, Te Arohanui, which was released on 17 September 2021. His seventh studio album, All In, was released in August 2022. In November 2023, he released the single "I Am" from the soundtrack of the film Origin. Most recently, on 22 February 2024, Stan premiered a new single called "Māori ki te Ao", also sung in te reo Māori.

Stan's Musical Style

Stan Walker's music is mostly pop with an R&B style. He has mentioned that Beyoncé is a major inspiration for his music. His albums often mix pop, R&B, and hip hop, sometimes adding elements of electro, glam metal, pop-rap, and funk. Stan describes his third album, Let the Music Play, as very personal, saying, "These are my songs, my stories, my tunes, my melodies, my words, me."

Stan Walker's Albums

• Introducing Stan Walker (2009)
• From the Inside Out (2010)
• Let the Music Play (2011)
• Inventing Myself (2013)
• Truth & Soul (2015)
• Te Arohanui (2021)
• All In (2022)

Tours and Performances

Stan Walker has performed in many tours, both as a headliner and as a supporting act for other famous artists.

Headlining Tours

• 2011: New Zealand Summer Tour
• 2012: Galaxy Tour (with Jessica Mauboy)
• 2013: World Tour of New Zealand
• 2018: New Take Over Tour
• 2021: All In Tour

Supporting Other Artists

• 2010: Summerbeatz (with artists like Flo Rida and Akon)
• 2012: Pink Friday Tour (supporting Nicki Minaj)
• 2013: The Mrs. Carter Show World Tour (supporting Beyoncé)

Film and Television Appearances

Awards and Recognitions

Stan Walker has won many awards throughout his career, especially in New Zealand.