Star singers shares her lessons in life
Naomi Striemer is getting to know New Zealanders well.
This is the Canadian singer’s fourth trip Down Under and it’s fair to say she’s tapped into our way of thinking.
‘‘When we go home I say New Zealand is one of our favourite places in the whole world, and that if you’re in that part of the world, don’t go to Australia, just go to New Zealand,’’ she laughed.
‘‘But seriously, the beauty here is unique and different from anywhere else in the world.’’
Striemer is touring New Zealand again with Tearfund, working to raise awareness of its child sponsorship programme.
Her meteoric climb to fame in the mainstream music industry - and her departure from it - was well documented.
The songwriter was now firmly working in the Christian music genre but a decade ago Striemer was among the top pop artists in the US.
She signed a multi-million dollar contract deal, had a No.1 hit single, Cars, with Carlos Santana and was working with American Idol’s Randy Jackson and Justin Timberlake to name a few.
Opportunities to further her career kept coming, and she kept taking them. But she felt they all fell short of personal expectations.
‘‘At this point I had a career of highs and lows, ending with a big result of nothingness. There were lots of peaks and valleys and I was very disappointed with the way things had turned out.’’
The turning point came when she began to pursue a project with rapper Sean Combs, in New York City.
A chance conversation with a stranger at the studio reconnected her with her Christian roots, which had been a major part of her life as a child.
‘‘It wasn’t long after that I had another opportunity come my way with Randy Jackson. But I just decided to walk away from it all, and say to God, take my life and lead.’’
Her decision to walk away hasn’t diminished her popularity - it’s just moved from mainstream pop to Christian music lovers.
And it’s that decision to change, and her experiences in the music industry, she continued to share on tour with Tearfund.
In total, she had 17 gigs to perform around New Zealand from November 3 to 19.
She’s no stranger to the Waikato. She was there a year ago and filmed the video to her song, Go On, at Hamilton Gardens, while in the country with Tearfund.
‘‘Tearfund is incredible and I’ve been lucky to be able to work with them, in a partnership through their child sponsorship programme. It’s really just about spreading awareness of the opportunity they provide to help impoverished areas around the world.
‘‘We also talk of the great stories about how child sponsorship has changed people’s lives, releasing children from poverty and introducing them to hope.’’
Striemer was keen to offer advice to those thinking of a career in music.
‘‘It’s a lot of hard work. There are a lot of self-serving people who are waiting to take advantage of anyone with talent. You have to be smart, study your art and perfect it but at the same time, know your business and don’t let people take advantage of you.
‘‘Be intelligent, have a voice and know what’s happening around you.’’