Luke's lucky charm: 'AUNTY IS MY IDOL!'

The former reality star has kept on rocking through the hard time thanks to whānau

- Kasia Jillings

After placing fourth in the first season of NZ Idol, Luke Whaanga had no idea what his future would hold.

Putting music aside and returning to a full-time job looked likely until a very special woman, his aunty Janne, stepped in and encouraged him to never give up.

It's now been 18 years since he debuted on the hit TV show and after fronting multiple bands, Luke has just released his debut solo single Together.

Reflecting on his achievement, Luke is adamant none of it would have been possible without the unwavering support of his beloved aunty Janne.

"She was the one who started me off in NZ Idol," shares Luke, 38. "She saw I had talent, filled out the forms, drove me to the audition, sat there all day and took me back to second auditions when I made it in the top 60. She saw I had talent and didn't want to let it go to waste."

Wellingtonian Janne has fond memories of those early years too.

"You were in the nation's living rooms with more than a million viewers twice a week and that brought us together," she tells her nephew. "When they were judging, we'd get together over a family meal, cross our fingers and hope like heck they'd be kind."