The X Factor (NZ) - Benny Tipene Audition

Television (Excerpts) – 2013

Before he became a chart-topping singer, Benny Tipene was a hopeful entrant on the first New Zealand series of global talent show The X Factor. For his audition in front of the panel of judges — including singers Stan Walker, Ruby Frost and Daniel Bedingfield — Tipene works his understated, folky magic on Outkast's 2003 party hit, 'Hey Ya'. It more than does the trick. Tipene would eventually come third; but he impressed enough to get signed by Sony Music and released a platinum selling solo album in 2013.

Six thousand people auditioned for The X Factor NZ at non-televised pre-auditions held around the country late last year. 300 acts were selected for the televised auditions at SkyCity in February and March, 120 would make it through to boot camp, 24 to the judges’ retreats round, 12 to the live shows and, in a few months’ time, one will be declared the winner and given a recording contract.
– Writer Greg Bruce, in a Metro article on The X Factor, March 2013