Tyna Keelan

Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Rongomaiwahine, Te Aitanga a Hauiti, Ngāti Kahu, Te Aupōuri

Tyna Keelan is a musician, vocalist and composer. He grew up in Porirua, near Wellington, where he played in several bands before finishing a JAzz and Rock Styles Music Course at Whitireia Polytechnic and then heading overseas to play the Asian Hotel circuit as a lead guitarist/vocalist in the band Ascension with his cousin Leon Davey of Katchafire.

In 2002 Tyna worked with Native Sons on their debut album, and formed the Dubious Brothers with Chris Macro. The Dubious Bros released the album Trade Secrets in 2002. In 2003 Tyna worked with Scribe on his debut album The Crusader, and played lead guitar parts on Katchafire's debut album Revival.

Tyna also featured on Major Flavours 2 by DJ SirVere, Nesian Mystik's debut album Polysaturated, and teamed up with Blindspott for hit Phlex remix. In 2004 Tyna released the song My Choice with P Money, and worked on P Money's second album Magic City, rapping on the hit Turn It Up and playing guitar on the number 1 single Stop The Music.

In 2005 Tyna performed on the Big Day Out mainstage alongside Scribe, P Money, Savage and 4 Corners, a first for NZ Hip Hop. That year he joined the Break n Wreck Words crew with his partner in rhyme JB (of the Villains Crew), and released songs on several crew compilations. In 2006 Tyna and JB signed to another indie label and released the album Unbreakable.

2007 saw Tyna move back to Wellington finished his music degree and joined The Recloose Live Band before recording and releasing Backwards and Sideways RLB live at San Francisco Bathhouse. In 2008 Tyna joined The Pleasures alongside Lisa Tomlins, The Yeabsley brothers, Lucian Johnston and Darren Matiassan.

Tyna also featured on the Brazil O.E album and worked on the NZ music award winning album Perfect Timing by Recloose. Tyna also played the Big Day Out tour across Australia and NZ on the Mainstage with Scribe, P Money and LadiSix. Tyna also featured on The 'Danger' remix with LadiSix and Manuel Bundy.

In 2009, he released his first solo single, Overjoyed and, in 2010, he formed the band The Nok with Darren Mathiassen and Chris Yeabsley with whom he toured across New Zealand. Their self-titled album won Best Māori Pop Album at the Waiata Māori Music Awards and awarded Tyna a Maiohi award at the APRA Silver Scroll Awards in 2011. Tyna won this award again in 2019 for the ballad Ka Ao. When not performing or making music, Tyna uses his experience to help rangatahi work towards a career in music.

Since then, Tyna has recorded and performed with some of New Zealand’s most well-known artists including Scribe, Katchafire, DJ Sir-Vere, Nesian Mystik, Blindspott, P-Money, Savage, Home Brew and Lady6.

Tyna is working on new music with a number Australian and New Zealand artists.

Releases:

Trade Secrets by Dubious Bros - 2002 /Mai Music

Unbreakable album by Tyna and JB, 2006 /Arch Dynasty Entertainment

Big Things by P Money featuring Tyna appears on the album Big Things - 2003 /Dirty Records

My Choice by P Money featuring Tyna appears on the album Big Things Instrumentals - 2003 /Dirty Records

Phlex the Remix by Blindspott featuring Dubious Brothers appears on Blindspott: Limited Edition- 2003

Stronger by Scribe Featuring Tyna appears on the album The Crusader - 2003 /Dirty Records

Turn It Up by P Money featuring Tyna and Scribe appears on the album Magic City - 2004 /Dirty Records

Tyna Freestyle appears on Major Flavours 2 - 2003 /Universal Music

Soul Release, featuring Tyna, appears on the Nesian Mystic album Polysaturated

Backwards and Sideways album as part of The Recloose Live Band, live and San Francisco Bathhouse - 2007

Overjoyed appears on the 2008 promo-CD Kiwi Hit Disc 111

So Cool, Emotional Funk and The Sanctuary by Recloose featuring Tyna appear on the 2008 album Perfect Timing

The Nok album, as part of The Nok - 2011

The Village by The Nok - to be released 2012

Tyna wins the APR A Silver Scrolls Maioha Award for the ballad 'Ka Ao' in 2019.