Teeks is Te Karehana Gardiner-Toi, a Māori soul singer from Northland whose debut album Something to Feel went to number one in New Zealand. His second album, Lovers Comet, came out on Friday 30 October 2026 through Sony Music, and he plays five Australian shows in November.
The new record follows a run of singles that put him back in the charts this year, led by “My Boy” in June and “Overdose” in September. Here is who Teeks is, what Lovers Comet is about, his best-known songs and where he is playing next.
Who is Teeks?
Teeks is the stage name of Te Karehana Gardiner-Toi, a singer-songwriter born in Northland in 1993. He affiliates to Ngāpuhi, Ngāi Te Rangi and Ngāti Ranginui. From the age of 11 he lived at his father’s home in Opononi, near the Hokianga, and he also spent a lot of time in Tauranga, where his mother lives.
After high school he studied music, and he later taught te reo Māori at Unitec. His self-released EP The Grapefruit Skies (2017) reached the top 10 in New Zealand, and the same year he won Best Māori Artist at the New Zealand Music Awards. In July 2023 he sang the national anthem in te reo Māori before the All Blacks’ test against South Africa in Auckland.
| Real name | Te Karehana Gardiner-Toi |
| Born | 26 October 1993, Northland |
| Iwi | Ngāpuhi, Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Ranginui |
| Genre | Soul |
| Label | Sony Music |
| Albums | Something to Feel (2021), Lovers Comet (2026) |
What is Teeks’ new album Lovers Comet about?
Lovers Comet is Teeks’ second album, released on 30 October 2026, five years after his debut. It has 12 tracks and is built around love and desire. The September announcement, in Teeks’ own words, called it a meditation on desire – its purity, its danger, its euphoria and its shadow.
The singles so far are “My Boy”, which peaked at number 5 on the NZ Hot Singles chart, and “Overdose”. He told Muzic.net.nz that “I was inspired to write Overdose after reading The Song of Achilles.” The focus track on release day is “Headlights”, which he called “a song about choosing yourself and finally walking away from a relationship that wasn’t good for you.” The album opens with “Eros”. Producers include Terence O’Connor and VIIN, and Thomston co-wrote “Put Your Love On Me” with him in Los Angeles.
The video for “My Boy” was filmed in a men’s gym locker room in Sydney.
What are Teeks’ most popular songs?
Teeks’ biggest songs on the NZ charts are “Younger” (number 4 in 2021), “My Boy” (number 5 in 2026) and “Oil and Water” (number 8 in 2021). “First Time”, “Remember Me”, “Without You” and “If Only”, his 2017 debut single, are also among his best-known tracks.
| Song | Year | NZ Hot Singles peak |
|---|---|---|
| If Only | 2017 | – |
| Remember Me | 2020 | – |
| Without You | 2020 | – |
| Younger | 2021 | 4 |
| Oil and Water | 2021 | 8 |
| First Time | 2021 | 20 |
| Red Light | 2024 | 20 |
| My Boy | 2026 | 5 |
| Overdose | 2026 | 20 |
Something to Feel, released in March 2021, reached number one on the NZ albums chart and is certified double platinum. He also recorded “Whakaaria Mai (How Great Thou Art)” with Hollie Smith in 2019.
Does Teeks have a partner?
Teeks has not publicly named a partner. What he has shared is that Lovers Comet grew out of a long-distance relationship that ended. He did not name the person. He told The Spinoff: “It was a situationship.”
He said in the same interview that it “took me to some of the darkest points of my life”, and that he holds no bitterness about it now. On when the album came, he said: “I got through it – that’s when I was ready to make music.”
Teeks tour dates 2026
Teeks plays five Australian shows in November 2026, finishing at the Sydney Opera House on 18 November and Adelaide on 19 November. New Zealand dates for Lovers Comet had not been announced as of 1 November 2026. The album announcement said New Zealand tour dates would follow.
| Date | City | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Tue 10 Nov 2026 | Perth | Astor Theatre |
| Thu 12 Nov 2026 | Melbourne | Forum |
| Sat 14 Nov 2026 | Brisbane | Melt Festival (first announced for the Princess Theatre) |
| Wed 18 Nov 2026 | Sydney | Sydney Opera House Concert Hall |
| Thu 19 Nov 2026 | Adelaide | Her Majesty’s Theatre |
Tickets for the Australian shows went on sale on 31 July through his official website, The Note reported. Earlier this year he was booked for a South African tour, with shows in Cape Town (27 August), Durban (28 August) and the Parklive Jozi festival in Johannesburg (30 August). In June 2025 he played a sold-out show in the Great Hall of the Auckland Town Hall with a string sextet.
Frequently asked questions
What is Teeks' real name?
His name is Te Karehana Gardiner-Toi.
How old is Teeks?
Teeks was born on 26 October 1993, so he turned 33 in October 2026.
Where is Teeks from?
He was born in Northland. He lived in Opononi, near the Hokianga, from the age of 11 and also spent a lot of time in Tauranga.
What was Teeks' debut album called?
His debut album was Something to Feel, released on 26 March 2021. It went to number one in New Zealand.
Is Teeks coming to New Zealand on tour?
New Zealand dates for the Lovers Comet tour had not been announced as of 1 November 2026. Our NZ concerts guide will list them once they are confirmed.
