It's Stan Walker's world and we're just living it: not only has he been tapped for a potential Oscar nomination with his new song 'I Am', the Aotearoa artist has also made a sartorial splash on the red carpet, ranking on GQ's Best Dressed List at the annual Gotham Independent Film Awards.
The prestigious awards were held on New York's famous Wall Street on Monday night (local time), with a star-studded guest list including industry heavyweights Leonardo DiCaprio (Killers of the Flower Moon), Bradley Cooper (Maestro), Margot Robbie (Barbie) and Willem Dafoe (Poor Things), who appeared alongside the likes of Barbie director Greta Gerwig and The Last of Us star Bella Ramsey.
The awards are dedicated to the year's outstanding achievements in independent cinema, with 2023 marking a particularly standout year for indie productions given the impacts of the SAG-AFTRA strike on the film industry.
As with all awards ceremonies, best-dressed lists are aplenty, with publications quick to critique stars' couture. This year, Aotearoa's own Stan Walker (Tūhoe, Ngāi TeRangi, Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāti Pūkenga, Tūhourangi Ngāti Wāhiao, Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Whakaue and Ngai Tahu) made the cut in GQ Australia's rankings, placing 22nd out of their 29 picks.
The 33-year-old attended the awards for his contribution to director Ava DuVernay's latest film Origin, with Walker recording the original song 'I Am' for the film's soundtrack. Origin's Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor received a nomination in the Outstanding Lead Performance category.
'I Am' itself has already created significant buzz, with the song and its music video debuting on American prime-time morning television earlier this week. CBS Mornings' anchor Gayle King gave the song a glowing review, declaring Walker could be a "contender" for an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song.
Walker certainly made a statement at the Gotham Awards, cutting a suave figure in a black leather jacket with matching trousers and a selection of accessories, including several rings and patterned neck ties. It was not immediately clear which designer Walker donned for the occasion.
And he was in good company, with the likes of Bradley Cooper, Leonardo DiCaprio, Charles Melton, Natalie Portman (both May December), Penélope Cruz (Ferrari) and Rachel McAdams (Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret) also making GQ's list.
Newshub has approached Walker's management for further details on his 'fit.
