17 Dec 2018

Silika Isaia performs a Christmas song live

From Afternoons, 1:11 pm on 17 December 2018

You may remember the incredible Silika Isaia from Papatoetoe High School who was one of the winners of the Stand Up Stand Out school singing competition a few months back.

Silika Isaia and Russell on keyboards

Silika Isaia and Russell on keyboards Photo: RNZ

She performed her own song Mad Men in our studio, and the video of that is the most popular we've ever done - 309,000 views on Facebook alone.

So we are very happy to welcome Silika back, along with her fellow student Russell on keyboards to perform a Christmas song, Stevie Wonder's 'Someday at Christmas'. 

She made the finals of this Stand Up Stand Out competition. 

"So far it's been an amazing rollercoaster, the journey I have to say it wasn't easy preparing and things but it all pays off. 

"I think just one thing to give out is people, don't let anyone tear you down. 

"One of my main goals was just to stand there and just savour it, and just like be grateful and return thanks to those who are more deserving of that."

She's got one more year of high school to go. 

"I guess music, it's all about the music right now but still keeping up with my academic grades and stuff in school." 

She says she's looking at doing content-free music at university with some kind of medicine study on the side - but she's definitely not giving up on writing music. 

"I think songwriting will just always be with me no matter what." 

Watch Silika perform her song Mad Men