Iconic Gospel Singer Steve Apirana Joins Aaron Partridge For New Single Release
Legendary New Zealand gospel blues singer Steve Apirana and Australian musician Aaron Partridge have teamed up to release a brand new single 'You Can Call On Him'.
'You Can Call On Him' is available for streaming on YouTube and for purchase at therealaaronpartridge.com
'You Can Call On Him', written and produced by Aaron in his home studio, has a Gospel Island feel and has been written specifically with Steve Apirana in mind. "I had been getting to know Steve over the last couple of years" said Aaron "and after attending some of Steve's Gospel in the Garden sessions I asked him if we could write a song together. He said no." Aaron says jokingly "But, if I write something he liked then he would sing on it. I went away and came back some time later with You Can Call On Him."
'You Can Call On Him' is Aaron’s first single release for 2025 and comes off the back of his No. 2 Single of the Year award (Louder Than The Music) for his 2024 release Heaven Help Me and recent tour to the USA. "With everything that we face on a day-to-day basis" Aaron says "It gives peace of mind to have faith in God and that He is wanting us to lean into His understanding. Knowing this gives us an inner fortitude to keep going. Even if we don’t think we have anyone around us to listen or help out, you can call on Him."
'You Can Call On Him' marks a full circle moment for Aaron, as it was Steve Apirana’s Delta Blues version of the classic hymn 'No Turning Back' that Aaron regularly performed in his teenage years. "It's a great honour to have Steve with me on this song" Aaron said "I have listened to Steve from back when I was still in school, although I try not to remind Steve of how long ago that was."
Having had decades in the music industry, Steve Apirana brings a wealth of wisdom from a life well lived. From playing in Blues Rock bands in New Zealand in the 1970’s to touring the world and landing on major gospel festivals through Europe and the USA in the 1990’s. What Steve hasn’t seen and done with his music, is probably not worth seeing or doing.
Aaron Partridge, along with his band the Brothers of Redemption, performs a road-worn blend of blues-rock and earthy-gospel-soul. After a lengthy hiatus from performing, Aaron recently signed with US label Grace Records Nashville in 2023 and is reintroducing himself to a new audience with brand new music.
Nowadays Steve performs with his wife Ainsley, who also writes the majority of their material. Steve and Ainsley Apirana are touring in support of their new album 'White Linen' (2024) having recently arrived home from a European tour and with upcoming performances in New Zealand starting February 20 through to mid March 2025.
