X Factor New Zealand 2013 runner up, Whenua Patuwai, is releasing his long-awaited debut album titled Whenua Patuwai – Soul Sessions on June 27, an album of brilliant new studio recordings of Whenua’s favourite soul music from the past– including classics from Sam Cooke, Al Green and Otis Redding among others.

Whenua Patuwai (born 1995), a shy fella from Christchurch, came to the attention of the nation, when he auditioned for the first local series of X Factor New Zealand in 2013 with a reindition of Sam Cooke’s Change Is Gonna Come.

For more information check out the muzic.net.nz Profile for Whenua Patuwai

The Soul Sessions debuted in the Official New Zealand Top 40 Albums on 7 July 2014. It has been in the Top 40 Albums for 12 weeks with a highest position of #4. There are two albums by Whenua Patuwai in the Top 40 Albums.