zuigia

Zuigia

Thanks for coming to my school this year. I've started going to a youth group and I have friends now. I guess I'm trying to say thank you so much for saving my life that day. If you hadn't been there, then none of these good things would have happened. Now when I feel like I've lost my way, I think of you and my new friends at youth group and I know that I'm never alone... I'll always be grateful to say that I've met you and you're one of the main reasons I'm still alive. I never really smiled before but now I do. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

[Secondary School Student, NSW]

BIO
Created by Staj who hails from New Mexico in the USA, the name 'Zuigia' was an imaginary place where he could spend time with someone and they could really get to know him before making judgements about him. Zuigia also became the name of Staj's three-piece acoustic eclectic/folk outfit that toured coffeehouses, youth groups, and colleges in the USA, Mexico and the Pacific before being invited to Australia in 2004, to try to reduce this country's high teen suicide rate. With his own incredible story of an inspiring triumph over personal tragedy and abuse, Staj shares his music from a genuine concern and care for Australian youth.

The band fell in love with Australia and stayed, performing daily (sometimes seven times a day!) in schools across the country. At the start of 2007, the band members began new journeys and now solo, Staj continues to perform under the name of Zuigia. In 2007 he preformed at the ACER Arena in Sydney's Olympic Stadium for thousands of teenagers and young adults. He continues to perform in high schools across Australia, telling his story through his music. His background relates with many people and brings a message of hope to the students that are hurting and lonely.

Staj had a rough life growing up in a typical 'red-neck' ranching family in New Mexico -- why he ended up wearing his trademark stripy socks, dreadlocks and headscarves is a mystery even to him. Especially as an ordained Baptist minister. In his upcoming autobiography to be published through Marton Publishing later this year, Staj journeys in his writing through his traumatic years of emotional, physical and spiritual abuse -- largely at the hands of seemingly upright and respected members of the church, including some of his own family. His is a profoundly shocking and also wondrous story, as he details the rejection and persecution in a Christian university simply because he looked different -- he says that one of the things he has loved about Australia is that 'nobody has told me I'm going to hell because of my hair'. Discovering a deep sense of the true nature of God, despite the behaviour of those around him, is inspiring and his story of finding his place and purpose is something many teens and adults who feel rejected and on the fringes are desperate to hear.

Zuigia's music is played on radio stations from Tasmania to Kenya, even appearing on the Top 20 charts on Christian Radio Countdown in the USA. Christian surfers have adopted Zuigia on a number of occasions to perform his music and share his story -- they even gave him and his wife surfboards and wetsuits! Needless to say, Staj and his wife are now very keen surfers, and he hopes that one day his one year old daughter will also join him in the waves! Zuigia released his first Small House album, The Importance Of Winter in June 2008.

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