CREATIVE ARTS PROGRAMME

Whether you know him as a singer, producer or songwriter, RnB legend Vince Harder is undoubtedly one of Aotearoa’s most Talented performers. He is also responsible for an array of chart topping NZ songs and three #1 hits including the timeless house party anthem ‘Everything’ with P Money. Vince has twice won ‘Best Male Artist at the Vodafone Pacific Music Awards, along with ‘Best Urban Artist’ and ‘Best Producer’ in 2016. He also picked up the APRA Maioha award for writing and producing the Te Reo chart dominating anthem ‘Aotearoa’ with Stan Walker.

 

After focusing his craft as a solo artist, Harder soared into the charts in 2018 with ‘Not Gonna Let Go’ followed up by ‘Next To You’ in 2019 which saw heavy rotation on radio and sat in the top 10 for weeks.

 

2021 saw him as a Judge and Mentor for TVNZ’s “Popstars” reboot alongside Grammy winner Kimbra and NZ rock royalty Nathan King.

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Vince has worked /shared the stage with the likes of Guy Sebastian, Stan Walker, Scribe, Fat Boy Slim, Sheila E, Printz Board, Kanye West, NAS and more.  

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He also has extensive experience with musical theatre landing the lead role of Simba in Disney's The Lion King (AUS), Barry Belson in Jersey Boys (NZ/AUS Tour), Daddy Brubeck in ATC Production of Sweet Charity (NZ), JR in Rob Tapert's Pleasure Dome (NZ) and more...

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"One thing i've learnt in my 21 years of working in the music industry here in NZ and abroad is that nothing beats consistent practice and dedication to your craft, also key to that is surrounding yourself with others who are just as passionate as you are about music.  My hope is to create an encouraging and safe environment for our next generation of artists to grow and become the best they can be."

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At age 16 in 2003, Abby competed in Whitebait Productions national singing competition “Wannabes” and won.

After attending performing arts school, completing one national and one international tour, Abby started to develop her own sound as a recording artist.

Her debut EP “Square One” was released through Empire Records/Warner Music NZ in 2013.  The most notable songs from that project include a collaboration with rapper FiveA on “Dandelions” which received quite high rotation on urban radio and “Square One” which still serves as the hold song for 2 Degrees. 

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Following on from that Harder Music Group with Vince Harder was born in Sydney, Australia where her focus moved from being the artist to helping develop new up and coming talent including Paris Inc, Carla Wehbe, The Oneill Twins, Marley Sola, Louis Carter, Jai Waetford, Shavaun Marie and many more.

She continued to songwrite throughout this period and holds songwriting credit on songs for Vince Harder, Jai Waetford, Paris Inc, Brooke Duff and MGMC.

2020 saw her comeback into the artist spotlight with Vince Harder and the pop hit “Closer”, follow up single “Look What You Made Me Do” which both charted on the NZ Hot Single Charts. In August 2021 a charity single called “Overwhelmed” was released in conjunction with Diabetes NZ which spent several weeks in the the NZ Hot Single Chart and continues to be used in awareness and fundraising campaigns.