My Version chats to Kiwi stars and people of influence to give a glimpse into their time as a teen and see the things they are currently obsessed with!

Say hello to Kiwi musician, Alayna.

Obsessed RN.

Currently bingeing:

Ted Lasso - I don’t know how I missed this show when it came out but it’s so good!

Song on repeat:

Novo Amor ‘Repeat Until Death’. Since I’ve been writing an album for the last few years I’ve been spending a lot of time in silence and not listening to much. If I do find a song that I love I end up just playing it over and over. This is definitely one that takes me somewhere else.

Favourite Insta account to follow: 

My beautiful friend @yes.nami who is an amazing photographer for women. She has such a gift for making people feel empowered and beautiful.

Must have beauty product:

Lip balm and mascara.

The item of clothing I’m definitely over wearing:

My leather jacket, but it’s getting cold!

Currently reading:

Happy Place by Emily Henry.

Snacking on:

Peanut Butter on bagels - don’t know where this came from but it’s so good, with banana on top too.

Can’t stop watching on TikTok:

Alix Earle’s Europe trip. Sorry, I’m hooked and I think she’s hilarious.

Next place on the list to travel to:

Bali for a surf trip!

Dreaming of:

My album release and show has been pretty time consuming to organise, so it’s been following me in my dreams too! I get pretty busy and can get overwhelmed quite easily, so I guess a goal of mine is to be more present in the busy parts so that I can actually experience them rather than survive them.

I’m currently inspired by:

So many women in the industry are inspiring me lately - with their drive, passion, kindness and work ethic. I have some pretty special women working in my team that I can lean on, as well as friends. I always feel better when I lean on those people.

My favourite way to relax is:

Go for a walk in the sun, or find a recipe to cook. I also love to paint, it’s a hobby of mine that I enjoy to do as a different art form when I need a break from music.

I stay healthy by:

Doing my best to look after my mind and be kinder with the words I use to speak to myself. It’s hard, but it’s really important. I think if you can have a healthier mind, a healthier body would follow.

When I was younger…

One thing I love about Gen-Z is:

Their openminded-ness and determination to make positive change. We need that spirit to make it a better place.

If I could give my teenage self one bit of advice, what would it be:

Keep your friends close, and be present in every little piece of life, even the tough times. The journey is all that there is.

My dream job as a teen was:

A musician & singer.

My favourite part of being a teenager was:

The friends I had around me are still my best friends today. It’s been special to grow and experience life together.

Best piece of advice I ever received as a teen was:

Slow down, these can be some of the best times of your life.

My first job was:

Working at a dairy down the road in Hamurana, Rotorua. My first shift I spent all the money I’d just earned to take ice creams home to my family.

My biggest fashion faux-pas was:

Too many to count.. an extremely gravity defying side part was probably the one.

My biggest inspiration was:

Hayley Williams. I loved Paramore and I thought Hayley was the coolest, I think I was able to see them live a couple of times too. I also think I was pretty inspired by my Dad, who taught me a lot of songs to learn as I was starting to play more and more and develop myself as an artist.

Check out Alayna’s new album, Self Portrait of a Woman Unravelling, here.