One NZ And Live Nation’s ‘Ones To Watch’ Returns For First 2025 Showcase

One NZ and Live Nation’s Ones To Watch returns for what is set to be another successful year of showcases throughout Aotearoa. The first event of this year will be taking place on Wednesday, March 5th at Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland’s Whammy Bar with a strong lineup of talented Kiwi musicians to keep your eye on.

Artists involved in this instalment of Ones To Watch include indie-reggae-rock band Where’s Jai, powerhouse vocalist Ella Monnery and pop singer-songwriter Blake.

To celebrate Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day, Live Nation Women (an engine powering progress for women at Live Nation, our industry, and the world at large) and WE Nation (Live Nation’s employee resource group focused on supporting women in entertainment at Live Nation) are joining forces and will partner with Ones to Watch and One NZ for this special female-heavy lineup, amplifying women’s voices in the music industry and showcasing the best in emerging female artists.

The team at WE Nation and Live Nation Women are thrilled to align with New Zealand’s Ones to Watch showcase. The event will bring the theme ‘Power of the Collective’ to life and the collaborative effort emphasises Live Nation’s dedication to empowering women and artists.

Jackie Antas, leader of WE Nation ANZ Chapter and VP Communications, Live Nation APAC says: This event perfectly embodies the ‘Power of the Collective’ theme, and is a powerful platform for female artists, directly supporting their growth and visibility, and embodies our mission to empower women across the industry,”

The up and coming band based in the North Shore of Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland, Where’s Jai make groove-infused indie-rock music with a dash of reggae and a hint of dreamy pop. Grace Allis and Leigh Edmeades are the powerful lead vocalists with Michael Walmsley on lead guitar, Jai Nielsen on bass and Gene Todd on drums. Establishing themselves as a band to watch, Where’s Jai is known internationally for their hit single Perfect Crime which has garnered close to a million streams on Spotify. The release of their debut EP Avenues last April showcased their extreme musical and lyrical versatility, accompanied with impeccable music production. Off the back of this, they sold out their first headline show, celebrating this album release, at Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland’s Big Fan. Where’s Jai is also well known in the live music scene, playing alongside incredible international acts such as Teenage Dads and Reece Mastin – as well as plenty of NZ artists such as Muroki, Paige and Sure Boy. Their latest single Glengorray continues to push their ever-evolving style which they are thrilled to be bringing to the Ones To Watch stage with an electric live performance.

Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland-based vocalist/performer Ella Monnery grew up on the Kāpiti Coast, hugely influenced by her parent’s eclectic love of music. Ella has performed and worked with world renowned acts such as SACHI, P-Money, Lee Mvtthews and Kings. Her musical skills have also taken her to a wide range of New Zealand’s largest musical festivals including Rhythm and Vines, Homegrown, Electric Avenue, SYNTHONY in The Domain and Rhythm and Alps. Regularly seen performing in stadiums worldwide, she is a crowd favourite for the National Anthem and half-time performances for various sporting events. Ella has also been a lead touring vocalist for Coca-Cola Christmas in the Park for the last 7 years. The pop powerhouse’s achievements don’t stop there, with 2024 seeing her make her theatre debut in ‘We Will Rock You’, playing the lead role of Scaramouche. Ella was also seen reaching the semi-finals of 2021’s ‘The Voice Australia’ with coach Jessica Mauboy. A passionate entrepreneur, she works on cruise ships all over the world with her self-created Diva Tribute shows, has her own covers band ‘Flipside’, and is the director of ‘Powerhouse Entertainment’ in which she performs at events and shows both across New Zealand and internationally. She has recently extended the brand to begin working as a Vocal Coach and mentor for young aspiring performers in schools across New Zealand. A true talent with a passion for all things entertainment, Ella is thrilled to be taking the Ones To Watch stage.

Blake, the rising pop artist from Tāhuna, Queenstown, is celebrated for her ability to craft authentic, soulful, and irresistibly catchy pop songs. Teaching herself to write music at 15 through piano books featuring artists like The Fray and Amy Winehouse, Blake’s songwriting blends depth, wit and engaging hooks. She first entered the music industry as a top-line writer in the drum and bass scene, with her catalog surpassing 15 million streams. Performing at international festivals and events solidified her confidence as a live performer, laying the groundwork for her transition to Pop, where she now focuses on writing, performing, and producing her own music. Her breakout single, The Gift You Gave Me, achieved 50,000 streams in its first week, cementing her as one of NZ/AU’s most promising emerging songwriters. Since returning to NZ in 2020, Blake has earned consistent recognition and support from both NZ and internationally including placements on BBC Introducing London, Triple J, Rolling Stone, ZM and The Edge, as well as performances at TSB Festival of Lights and Cross Street Music Festival. She is set to engage audiences with her captivating live performance at this March’s Ones To Watch Showcase.
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Following a successful past year of showcases throughout Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland and Pōneke, Wellington, Frankie Venter, Gracie Moller, MAYJUN, Casual Healing, Sure Boy, Mikeyy, Reiki Ruawai, Sam Cullen and CRYSTAL graced the Ones To Watch stage in 2024. Since inception, the showcase has featured a variety of genres from Pop to Indie, Rock to Hip Hop. 2025’s slate is set to platform Aotearoa’s best when it comes to local music.

Launched in 2017 in the United States, Ones To Watch has helped boost the careers of artists now reaching global stages, including international superstars Olivia Rodrigo, Dua Lipa and Gracie Abrams, as well as kiwi trailblazers Benee, LEISURE and Georgia Lines.

Past artists are added to the Ones To Watch homepage, where updates and information on them is regularly updated, exposing them to a wide audience of music lovers worldwide.

After launching an exclusive long-term partnership in 2019, Live Nation Australasia and One New Zealand have provided One NZ customers access to Live Nation’s entertainment portfolio including music, family, and comedy tours plus festivals across the country. The strategic multi-year partnership is committed to bringing the best live experiences to New Zealand and the best New Zealand artists to the world. The unique emerging talent platform of Ones To Watch builds on this strong partnership and a mutual dedication to support grassroots initiatives.