BIG FAN Block Party

BIG FAN love music and the people who make it. Founded by producer and songwriter Joel Little and his wife Gemma, and run through Big Fan Charitable Trust, BIG FAN is for anyone who is passionate (or simply curious) about music, and wants to discover where it could take them. The goal at BIG FAN is to bring people together to support the role of music in the betterment of people’s lives, and to foster the talents of musicians, songwriters and those behind the scenes, regardless of experience level.

Artists featured as part of the BIG FAN Block Party:

Naimah
Naimah is a 19-year-old singer and songwriter whose journey began in 2022 when she won the Play It Strange Youthtown Songwriting Competition. That early recognition led her into studio recording and music production at Big Fan, where she was among the first artists to record her track “Sugar and Spice”.
In 2024, she was accepted into BIG FAN'S highly sought-after Ignite programme in the Music Production stream. During the programme, she received a Most Promising Award, earning an Ableton licence to further her production practice. To continue refining her craft as a vocalist, Naimah auditioned for and was accepted into the Jazz Performance programme at the University of Auckland. She recently released her single “The Box”, produced by her Ignite mentor Aubrie Mitchell, and continues to build momentum as an emerging artist.

Emerson
At just 18, Rockquest-winning artist Emerson is one of Aotearoa’s most exciting new alt-pop voices. Since debuting in late 2024, seven of her nine singles have charted on the Aotearoa Hot 20, with her latest release Again entering at #10. Her music has featured on major Spotify and Apple Music editorial playlists both locally and internationally, alongside radio airplay across the motu.
2025 marked a breakthrough year, with two headline shows, two national tours, appearances at IMNZ’s Going Global and NZ On Air showcases, and her first major festival slot at Rhythm and Vines. A multi-instrumentalist with a background in musical theatre and competitive dance, Emerson brings a commanding live presence to the stage. Backed by Liam Beasley (guitar) and Elliott Borland (drums), she delivers emotionally charged alt-pop with confidence, and a strong connection with the audience.

Paige
Paige is a pop influenced songwriter and producer from Tāmaki Makaurau. With 60+ million streams worldwide, an online audience of 130K followers and a certified platinum record in South Korea she’s won the world over with her heartfelt songwriting. After Billie Eilish has praised Paige’s songwriting on social media she has since risen to local and global success, from hitting top 10 airplay in NZ, been nominated for four Aotearoa music Awards, while also hitting #17 on the QQ music chart in China. and receiving 20 million streams in South Korea alone.
Paige has sold out headline shows in NZ, AU and South Korea and played at some of New Zealand’s biggest festivals, including Rhythm & Vines, Bay Dreams, Homegrown and Soundsplash. She has also opened for international acts including George Ezra, Ruel, Alec Benjamin, Holly Humberstone, Grent Perez, Nina Nesbitt, Gflip, Clinton Kane and will be supporting Infinity Song in Auckland late September.

Sarvi
Sarvi is a singer/songwriter from Iran, born and raised in Aotearoa. She creates a wave of sound that embodies hip-hop, jazz and R&B influences. Her music sits somewhere between those worlds, honest, and unmistakably her own.
Winner of First Cut, an initiative by BIG FAN in partnership with Holiday Records and Downbeat Mastering, Sarvi received a studio package including recording time, mastering, 7” vinyl pressing and a release show in 2026. Her debut vinyl was released in December 2025.

Greatsouth
Greatsouth is the musical project of ringa toi Māori artist Payton Taplin (Te Rarawa, Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa), based in Papakura, South Auckland. His sound fuses indie rock with taonga pūoro (traditional Māori instruments), drawing inspiration from artists like King Krule, The Beths and The Sundays, while remaining deeply rooted in te ao Māori. His debut self-titled EP, released in late 2024, was hailed by RNZ’s Music 101 as “one of the best releases of the year”. The EP explores themes of South Auckland history, Māori activism and cultural resilience. Greatsouth’s work is part of a wider movement to normalise Māori presence in genres where it has been historically underrepresented. His latest single, It’s getting hotti, continues this kaupapa, weaving themes of kaitiakitanga and environmental guardianship.
Fresh from completing the Big Fan Winter Residency in 2025, Greatsouth is currently working on a new indie rock fusion EP that deepens his exploration of identity, place and sound.