Jaedyn Randell is a New Zealand

Māori Māori or Maori can refer to: Relating to the Māori people * Māori people of New Zealand, or members of that group * Māori language, the language of the Māori people of New Zealand * Māori culture * Cook Islanders, the Māori people of the Co ...

singer who voiced the character Moana in the te reo Māori version of the

Disney The Walt Disney Company, commonly referred to as simply Disney, is an American multinational mass media and entertainment industry, entertainment conglomerate (company), conglomerate headquartered at the Walt Disney Studios (Burbank), Walt Di ...

film '' Moana'' and has performed her own music on platforms including ''Waiata Nation'' and ''

The Voice Australia ''The Voice'' is an Australian singing competition television series. It premiered on the Nine Network on 14 April 2012, before moving to the Seven Network in 2021. Based on the original Dutch singing competition '' The Voice of Holland'', a ...

''.

Early life

Randell is from New Zealand and her cultural heritage is grounded in her ties to Tainui iwi, with affiliations to

Ngāti Paoa Iwi () are the largest social units in New Zealand Māori society. In Māori, roughly means or , and is often translated as "tribe". The word is both singular and plural in the Māori language, and is typically pluralised as such in English. ...

and Ngāti Makirangi hapū. She was raised in

Māori culture Māori culture () is the customs, cultural practices, and beliefs of the Māori people of New Zealand. It originated from, and is still part of, Polynesians, Eastern Polynesian culture. Māori culture forms a distinctive part of Culture of New ...

and the traditions of kapa haka, an integral part of her upbringing that connected her to te ao Māori (the Māori world). Randell did not grow up as a fluent

speaker. She attended kōhanga reo, a Māori language immersion preschool, participated in bilingual classes, and took Māori language classes in high school. Randell majored in

music technology Music technology is the study or the use of any device, mechanism, machine or tool by a musician or composer to make or perform music; to musical composition, compose, music notation, notate, playback or record songs or pieces; or to Music infor ...

with a focus on

music production A record producer or music producer is a music creating project's overall supervisor whose responsibilities can involve a range of creative and technical leadership roles. Typically the job involves hands-on oversight of recording sessions; ensu ...

and

sound engineering An audio engineer (also known as a sound engineer or recording engineer) helps to produce a recording or a live performance, balancing and adjusting sound sources using equalization, dynamics processing and audio effects, mixing, reproduct ...

at the

Massey University Massey University () is a Public university, public research university in New Zealand that provides internal and distance education. The university has campuses in Auckland, Palmerston North, and Wellington. Data from Universities New Zealand ...

College of Creative Arts Toi Rauwhārangi. She received a scholarship from the university for Māori students.

Career

In 2017, at the age of 16, Randell was cast as the voice of Disney’s Moana in the te reo Māori version of the animated film. The production by Matewa Media was directed by

Rachel House Rachel Jessica Te Ao Maarama House (born 20 October 1971) is a New Zealand actress and director. She is best known for her roles in the films of Taika Waititi. She has received numerous accolades including an Arts Laureate, NZ Order of Mer ...

, with producer

Tweedie Waititi Mateheke "Tweedie" Waititi (born ) is a New Zealand film director and producer. The whāngai sister of Taika Waititi, she is best known for her work co-directing production company Matewa Media, which since 2016 has produced Māori language ve ...

and musical direction by Rob Ruha. Randell and the team had three months to prepare for the film’s release during

Māori Language Week Māori or Maori can refer to: Relating to the Māori people * Māori people of New Zealand, or members of that group * Māori language, the language of the Māori people of New Zealand * Māori culture * Cook Islanders, the Māori people of the Co ...

, an event that aligned with the project’s goals to promote the revitalization of te reo Māori. In 2021, Randell, then 20 years old, participated in the second season of ''Waiata Nation'', a Māori television series on

Whakaata Māori Whakaata Māori is a New Zealand television channel that broadcasts programmes that make a significant contribution to the revitalisation of the Māori language and culture. Funded by the New Zealand Government, it commenced broadcasting as M� ...

showcasing Māori musicians performing in te reo Māori. Her debut single "Patupaiārehe," entirely in te reo Māori, was inspired by her personal experiences with identity as a fair-skinned Māori woman. The song was her way of addressing her struggles with cultural identity and her pride in her heritage. In 2024, Randell competed in ''The Voice Australia'' season 13. In the blind auditions, she performed

Jessie J Jessica Ellen Cornish (born 27 March 1988), known professionally as Jessie J, is an English singer and songwriter. Born and raised in London, she began her career on stage, aged 11, with a role in the West End musical '' Whistle Down the Wind ...

's " Big White Room" and captured the interest of coaches

Guy Sebastian Guy Theodore Sebastian (born 26 October 1981) is an Australian singer who rose to fame after winning the Australian Idol (season 1), first season of ''Australian Idol'', in 2003. Born in Malaysia and raised in Adelaide, Australia, Sebastian h ...

Kate Miller-Heidke Kate Melina Miller-Heidke ( ; born 16 November 1981) is an Australian singer and songwriter. Although classically trained, she has generally followed a career in alternative pop music. She signed to Sony Australia, Epic in the US and RCA in t ...

, and

Adam Lambert Adam Mitchel Lambert (born January 29, 1982) is an American singer, songwriter and actor. He is known for his dynamic vocal performances that combine his theatrical training with modern and classic genres. Lambert rose to fame in 2009 after ...

. Miller-Heidke used the "Ultimate Block" for Randell, which defaulted Randell to her team. She made it to the finals and sang two songs, including "

Walking On A Dream Walking on a Dream may refer to: * ''Walking on a Dream'' (album), a 2008 album by Empire of the Sun ** "Walking on a Dream" (song), the album's title track {{Disambiguation ...

" by Empire of the Sun as a duet with coach Miller-Heidke. For her solo performance, she sang "Snow Angel" by

Reneé Rapp Reneé Mary Jane Rapp (born Reneé Jane Rapp; January 10, 2000) is an American singer-songwriter and actress. She gained recognition for starring as Regina George in the Broadway musical ''Mean Girls'' (2019–2020). She reprised the role in t ...

. She finished as a runner-up.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Randell, Jaedyn Living people Year of birth missing (living people) Place of birth missing (living people) 21st-century New Zealand women singers Child singers The Voice (Australian TV series) contestants New Zealand Māori women singers Waikato Tainui people Ngāti Pāoa people Massey University alumni