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From opera to pop, to neo soul and rock n roll, the 2025 WOW Show: RISE is set to star five of the country’s most spectacular young vocalists.
Our 2025 lineup of headline artists will comprise exciting new Kiwi pop star Riiki Reid, neo-soul singer Tusekah, opera singer Lila Crichton, and two dynamic recent graduates from Wellington’s Te Auaha musical theatre programme, RV Quijano and Mackenzie Htay.
They join a cast of more than 68 models, dancers and circus artists, all coming together to bring 85 finalist garments and RISE to life in spectacular WOW style.
Show Director Malia Johnston says each carefully selected performer will bring a unique element to this year’s WOW, which sees an imagined city ignited by its creative community.
“We’re thrilled to be working with some of Aotearoa’s most exciting young artists, each bringing their own special style and energy,” says Johnston.
Riiki Reid
With wide-spanning influences including dream-pop, gritty guitar-rock, and dance, Riiki Reid has released a raft of hit singles and three EP’s, with another album dropping this year. At 19, she released her first project, Riiki, and across her career so far, she’s opened for the likes of Lorde and Six60, featured in campaigns with Maybelline, and performed at many festivals. This year, her nostalgic summer radio hit “Over Romantic” spent 5 weeks on the Official Aotearoa Music Charts.
Lila Crichton
Lila (LJ) Crichton is an award-winning Samoan vocalist, composer and director based in Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington. Lila’s multidisciplinary practice spans opera, R&B, gospel, jazz and contemporary Samoan theatre. Through his company, Woven Collective, he develops bold, culturally-driven works that highlight Pasifika artists and enhance community.
Tusekah
Tusekah is a South African born singer/songwriter based in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, who works across various music genres including R&B and NeoSoul. She has performed all over Aotearoa and opened for local musicians and international artists. She released her first song 'Childhood Friends' in 2021 and has since released three more singles.
RV Quijano
Growing up in rural Otago, RV knew from a very young age that he was meant to perform. He gained a Latin Dance world title at 17, and his stage and screen credits include Wicked, Mamma Mia!, and Happiness – New Zealand’s first original musical TV series which premiered earlier this year. He was most recently nominated for ‘Most Promising Emerging Artist’ in the 2025 Wellington Fringe Awards for his Fringe show: The Blue Plate Special.
Mackenzie Htay
Mackenzie is a versatile singer, dancer and actor born and raised in Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington. He discovered his passion for performing from a very young age, and was about to embark on a marine biology degree before switching plans to pursue the arts. Having recently graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Creativity (Performing Arts) from Te Auaha, he’s now on an artistic journey to inspire audiences throughout Aotearoa.
“The bar for WOW selection is high,” says Johnston. “Performers have to have something special, and this year is no exception. These artists are all distinct, with different musical aesthetics, but they come together beautifully on the WOW stage. Each brings a fresh approach to performance. They are a heady mix of energy and exciting talent. They all have the world at their feet — and we can’t wait to see them RISE on the WOW stage.”
See them shine at the 2025 WOW Show: RISE. Tickets are still available here.
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