You can hear it in the gentle rasp of his wave-washed vocal soul. You can see it in his smile. For Iam Tongi, music is about transformation – and it always has been. A Hawaiian-born singer-songwriter and the Season 21 champion of American Idol, the 20-year-old Tongi first picked up a ukulele in the fifth grade, immersed in a deeply musical world filled with the traditional singing and dance of Pacific Island cultures. Living in the small town of Kahuku on the northern tip of Ohau, Tongi learned to sing from his father, who in turned had learned from his father before him. Clearly blessed with an expressive, charismatic voice, Tongi was pushed hard and developed a multi-faceted sound blending island reggae with the influence of his family record collection – which included country (Kenny Rogers), classic rock (Dr. Hook), and R&B (Luther Vandross). By 13 Tongi had played his first show, but after moving to Seattle a few years later – and losing his father in 2021 – the young talent nearly gave music up completely. His mother secretly signed him up for American Idol, and after Tongi’s viral audition performance of James Blunt’s “Monsters” became one of Idol’s all time emotional highlights, he went on to win Season 21, making history as the first Pacific Islander to ever win the show. With a thriving fanbase which supports millions of global on-demand streams and social media followers and nationwide concert tours, Tongi now begins a new chapter of life and music. Teaming up with acclaimed songwriter/producer Johnny Reid, his 2024 single “Road to Hana” marks a creative transition leaning into his cultural heritage and musical roots – but also the man he’s become. Fusing breezy beach balladry and sunshine country with laid-back soul, gospel, and more, new music is in the works, as Tongi looks to spread a feel-good message of positivity to the horizon, and beyond.

Proud Māori making waiatas. Nurture the indescribable light in a person ✊🏾
Contact - management@akiaki.co.nz

The official Coldplay SoundCloud profile. New album, Moon Music, landing October 4.

Akon is a Grammy-nominated Senegalese-American artist, producer, entrepreneur, and actor, known for his impact on the global music scene and the African music movement. His unique style blends Pop, R&B, Hip-Hop, and EDM, earning him a massive online following of over 130 million and worldwide sales of 35 million albums. With five Grammy nominations, 45 Billboard Hot 100 hits, four Diamond records, and more than 300 collaborations with legends like Michael Jackson, David Guetta, Gwen Stefani, Lil Wayne, and Eminem, Akon's influence is unmistakable. 

Akon's list of achievements include being the first artist in history to simultaneously hold the #1 and #2 song on the Billboard Hot 100 twice, a Billboard Music Award for "Artist of the Year. American Music Award for "Favorite R&B Male Artist,"and three World Music Awards. He holds a Guinness World Record as the top-selling artist for ringtones and is the first artist to achieve 1 Billion views on YouTube in history.

Recognized by Forbes in their Celebrity 100 list, Akon was also chosen by Pepsi to create the FIFA World Cup anthem, "Oh Africa." As the founder of the KONVICT empire, which includes labels and management companies, Akon launched superstars like T-Pain and Lady Gaga, generating over $2.5 billion in combined revenue for the music industry. 

Up next for the global hitmaker is the hotly anticipated anthem, “Akon’s Beautiful Day.” Radiating resilience and hope, the song’s message aligns with Akon’s broader mission to inspire millions through his work in Africa, where he champions access to energy and drives digital transformation with projects like 'Akon Power & Lighting Africa.' The track was recently teased on Akon’s Instagram, amassing 5.8M views and counting—further proving that his influence on the industry and his fans will endure for generations. 

Beyond music, Akon is dedicated to humanitarian work. His "Akon Lighting Africa" project has brought solar-powered electricity to 14 countries across Africa, improving the lives of millions.

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