ME KAI ELLA
ME KAI ELLA
ALL ABOUT
began singing at the tender age of 3, singing along to the jazz, soul, funk and R&B masters that filled their home.
Me Kai EllA
Born in Seattle Washington to Kiwi parents, their influences were as varied and global as the several countries they grew up in. Whilst how long they would be living somewhere was never certain, the fact that they would sing and entertain was absolutely so.
MeKaiElla’s musical education from ‘Bach to Rock’ Rockville Maryland, ‘North London Music Academy’ in Camden, to IB schools in London and Auckland NZ, led to at 16 years old MeKaiElla’s RNZ National interview with Jesse Mulligan in 2019 and their performance on Maori TV for ‘Stand Up Stand Out’ . They went on to secure their place in the University of Auckland’s specialist Jazz program in 2022.
Despite their busy schedule, MeKaiElla was awarded an internship to workshop their first original Musical called ‘On Replay’ at Harlequin Musical Theatre in Auckland, 2022. They successfully published and directed its first workshop performances in both June of 2022 and a second run in August 2023. They plan to put out a concept album of the musical and expand it to a full length show in the near future.
Me Kai Ella has written and performed their first Jazz original ‘Persephone’ with their University band, and has received praise for its trad style composition and lyricism, and in 2026 will be touring 2 original sets of arrangements inspired by their love of Science Fiction and their love of Sondheim respectfully alongside trombonist Abigail Shin-Kelso, Vocalist Wynefred Wang, Pianist Amado Manaois, and others.
Their debut EP with fusion project Oronym is set to be recorded by March 2026 and released the same year, and aims to regularly publish media review, video essay and day in the life content on their youtube channel regularly in 2026.
“There are so many exciting things I want to do and never enough time in the day to do them all!”
For more information on booking Me Kai Ella as a soloist, accompanied, big band feature or contacting any of their projects, check out the bookings page on this website. For more updates, follow on instagram at @me.kaiella for music and media, or @azuresparkz.art for visual arts.
Stick around and find out what more’s in store!
REVIEWS
REVIEWS
“Every year around this time we feature some very talented secondary school musicians who make the finals of the Auckland schools talent competition, Stand Up Stand Out.
Today singer, Mikaela Stroud from ACG Parnell College joins the show to perform live.
Trust us, she is very good.”
Jesse Mulligan
Host on Afternoons with Jesse Mulligan
RNZ National
“We engaged MeKaiElla as a surprise for friends who’d invited us to witness their wedding on a Waiheke Island beach.
It was a VERY good decision.
MeKaiElla has a beautiful voice and demonstrated an ability to take jazz standards and make them her own - without upsetting the purists!
She was really easy to work with - to the point of learning and performing a song that had special resonance for the Happy Couple.
We’d hire MeKaiElla again in a heartbeat.”
Steve Robinson
Wedding Witness
“MeKaiElla is one of the best Jazz singers of her age and stage in NZ. She is very talented, confident, acts well, is beautiful to look at and has a lovely soul.
I am always swept up when I hear her sing and want to hear more when she is finished.
I have no hesitation in recommending her singing services. She brings a high class tone to the entertainment at any function.
And is a pleasure to deal with.”
Mai Chen
Barrister
“Oh such wonderful memories!!
On a scale of 1-10, MeKaiElla is an 11!
Wow what a joy to hear that voice and see the delight on her face as she sings!
Highly recommend!”
Jana Hoffman
Bride
“MeKaiElla performed beautifully at an Art Event at Tantalus Estate last year on Waiheke Island that raised $33,000 for the Waiheke Spirit Children’s Charitable Trust. MeKaiElla is very professional and has an amazing voice!
She held the attention of a crowd of 150 and we have since had MeKaiElla perform again at a beautiful private home called Mawhiti which raised $37,000 for the trust. MeKaiElla also spoke fluently about her support for our trust which helps Waiheke children with after school activities.
We are looking forward to having MeKaiElla perform at our upcoming Christmas Show in December!”
Anne Simoni and Rosey Eady
Waiheke Spirit Children’s Charitable Trust