Wannabe pop star Simon Spire is hoping his debut album is a gem.
The Kiwi singer and songwriter's 10-track album has been redact together by American producer Lenedra Carroll, who took pop infant Jewel to the top of the international charts.
Based in the US for the past tense four days, the Auckland-born artist, far right, has returned home to launch All or Nothing.
"I'm truly excited approximately having a New Zealand release," Simon, 26, told Sunday News.
"I developed my music in the US because I had the chance to work with people all over there only I constantly wanted to come back here and release it in New Zealand. I grew up here and I have family and friends here."
Simon, who wrote the lyrics for all 10 songs, took quaternion months on and off to record All or Nothing in Arizona ahead the final touches were added earlier this twelvemonth in New York.
Lenedra, recognising the rising star's talent, selected Simon as the first recipient of her Artist Advance projects Main Stage Award.
The award provides new artists with resources and support needed to further arise their talent and careers.
But Simon a finalist in the 2007 USA Songwriting Competition wasn't always on the path to pop stardom.
Before going away New Zealand to follow his musical dream, he completed a degree in economics at Auckland University and contemplated a career in that field before singing and songwriting won out.
"It was a instruction I was seriously considering but eventually I accomplished it wasn't what I was looking for for," Simon said.
"I felt like I had something I wanted to allege and music I treasured to receive out on that point, and I thought I had to pursue it and give it a shot."
Now operative out of New York, Simon hasn't forgotten his Kiwi roots, despite changing his name in a bid to crack the tough billion-dollar industry.
He changed his name from Simon Hulijich his cousin is former Miss New Zealand Rachel Huljich because Americans struggled with the pronounciation.
"I wanted to change to something that was easier to remember, easy for an audience to know."
Simon is hoping Kiwis volition be "rocking out to the music" when All or Nothing launches here on August 20, before he heads back to the US to push the album there.
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