Sonatane releases debut single ‘Birdie’

After coming up trumps at the 2017 Smokefreerockquest, young Auckland singer-songwriter Sonatane Kaufusi today releases his highly-anticipated debut single, Birdie.
 
The Manurewa High School student won the solo category at last year’s Smokefreerockquest and with his band Blessed and took second place in the Smokefree Pacifica Beats competition. Now he follows up his success, with the release of Birdie.
 
A breezy, uplifting tune – produced by Simon Gooding with mentoring from Jo Farris – the song is about “coping with stress and admiring the freedom that birds have,” says Sonatanewho sings and plays guitar, piano and trombone.
 
Sonatane’s association with the Smokefree competitions began when he was in Year 9 and saw then fellow Manurewa High School pupil, Cam Dawson, make the national finals in 2014. Sonatane went on to enter SFPB and SFRQ, reaching the finals several years running, before taking the big prize in 2017.
 
As well as excelling in music, Sonataneis a talented athlete. He was selected for the Chiefs Ruby Development squad.