Willy Moon
William George Sinclair (born 2 June 1989), better known by his stage name Willy Moon, is a New Zealand singer, songwriter and producer. He is known for his 2012 single "Yeah Yeah", which appeared on the 2012 Apple iPod advert and peaked at number 26 on the UK Singles Chart. In March 2015, Moon and his wife, Natalia Kills, were fired as judges from The X Factor New Zealand for their harsh and offensive comments towards one of the contestants.
Also recorded as William George Sinclair
Willy Moon

aarosenthal · CC BY-SA 3.0
- Birth Name
- William George Sinclair
- Born
- 2 June 1989
- Birthplace
- Wellington, New Zealand
- Occupation
- Singer, songwriter, producer
- Nationality
- New Zealand
- Fields
- pop music
- Education
- Wellington High School
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Documentary summary
William George Sinclair (born 2 June 1989), better known by his stage name Willy Moon, is a New Zealand singer, songwriter and producer. He is known for his 2012 single "Yeah Yeah", which appeared on the 2012 Apple iPod advert and peaked at number 26 on the UK Singles Chart. In March 2015, Moon and his wife, Natalia Kills, were fired as judges from The X Factor New Zealand for their harsh and offensive comments towards one of the contestants.
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Note VALÉORINE
Willy Moon (born 1989) is a composer, guitarist and musician, among other activities, of New Zealand nationality. The composer was born in Wellington. Willy Moon was educated at Wellington High School. The work spans pop music.
Composed from admitted, traceable facts · 26 September 2026
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wikidata · Q14042 · wikipedia · Willy Moon
In this article
Key facts
Key facts
• Birth Name — William George Sinclair • Born — 2 June 1989 • Birthplace — Wellington, New Zealand • Genre — Alternative, indie pop • Occupation — Singer, songwriter, producer • Years Active — 2010–present • Label — Island Luv Luv Luv Records Third Man • Current Member Of — Cruel Youth • Website — willymoon.com
Early life
Early life
Moon was born in Wellington, New Zealand. He left school when he was 16 and left New Zealand when he was 18. He spent time in Berlin before moving to London, United Kingdom. Since 2014, Moon has been living in New York City.
2010–2013: Willy Moon EP and Here's Willy Moon
2010–2013: Willy Moon EP and Here's Willy Moon
In 2010, Moon released his first song "I Wanna Be Your Man" on Myspace, where he was first noticed and subsequently acquired a record deal with Island Records. He released his first two singles through Luv Luv Luv Records. He received buzz for his off the wall approach to production, being named as a "One to Watch" by The Guardian and one of the "Faces of 2012" by Q magazine. He has also been featured in GQs "Most Stylish Men", one of Elle's "Bright Young Things" and profiled by Vogue. His music is described as "a brilliantly odd fusion of 50s rock'n'roll and modern production" using "hip-hop production techniques". Moon's single "Yeah Yeah" was playlisted on BBC Radio 1 in early 2012. He and his band also performed live in session for Huw Stephens for BBC Radio 1 at Maida Vale Studios in May 2012. He also performed on the television show Later... with Jools Holland for the BBC in October 2012. In July 2012, Moon released the singles "Railroad Track" and "Bang Bang" through Jack White's label Third Man Records. Moon's song "Yeah Yeah" was used in Apple Inc's 2012 iPod lineup TV advertisement, including the 5th-generation Touch, 7th-generation Nano, and 4th-generation Shuffle. "Yeah Yeah" was also featured on the Sosh Orange 2012 advertisement that ran in France and as part of the Forza Horizon video game soundtrack. At part of his 2012/2013 US tour, Moon performed on the television show The Tonight Show with Jay Leno for NBC. In April 2013, Moon released his debut album, Here's Willy Moon. The album featured "Yeah Yeah", "Railroad Track" and "I Wanna Be Your Man". In August 2013, Rockstar Games included "Railroad Track" in the Grand Theft Auto V soundtrack list. Ubisoft also launched an Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag trailer featuring "Railroad Track". His tracks continue to be utilised in advertising, "Working for the Company" was used in the "Mr. Selfridge" advert in early 2014, "Yeah Yeah" features in a global Nissan Altima commercial and his cover of "Shakin" was the backing track to the Q1 Sky Atlantic UK television commercial.
2016–present: Cruel Youth
2016–present: Cruel Youth
In early 2016, Moon started a band, Cruel Youth, with his wife Kills. The band's first song, "Mr. Watson", was released on SoundCloud in February, followed by "Diamond Days" in April, which was also released on iTunes. Their third single, "Hatefuck", was released in early September, along with the release of their debut EP, +30mg, on 16 September 2016.
2015: X Factor New Zealand
2015: X Factor New Zealand
In 2015, Moon was a judge and mentor on The X Factor New Zealand alongside his wife, Natalia Kills. Both Moon and Kills were fired following the first live screening for bullying and humiliating Joe Irvine, a contestant from the Over 25s. Moon compared Irvine to Norman Bates, and Kills accused him of copying Moon's look, due to wearing a suit and tie and having combed his hair. The comments led to widespread condemnation on social media, including a petition to have both Kills and Moon fired from the show, which reportedly received over 70,000 signatures within 24 hours. The show's sponsors, franchise owner and fellow judges also voiced public disapproval of the incident.
Personal life
Personal life
In May 2014, Moon married singer Natalia Kills in New York City. In May 2021, the couple lost their apartment along with all their belongings in a fire.
Studio albums
Studio albums
• Title — Album details — Peak chart positions — Sales • NZ — BEL (Fl) — BEL (Wa) — FRA — UK • Here's Willy Moon — * Released: 8 April 2013 * Label: Island * Format: Digital download, CD — 3 — 130 — 196 — 104 — 75 — *US: 5,000
Extended plays
Extended plays
• Title — EP details • Willy Moon — * Released: December 2012 * Label: Island * Format: Digital download, CD
Singles
Singles
• Year — Title — Peak chart positions — Album • NZ — FRA — GER — UK • 2011 — "I Wanna Be Your Man" — — — — — — — — — Here's Willy Moon • "She Loves Me" — — — — — — — — • 2012 — "Railroad Track" — — — — — — — — • "Yeah Yeah" — 28 — 175 — 42 — 26 • 2013 — "My Girl" — — — — — — — — • "Get Up (What You Need)" — — — — — — — — • "—" denotes single that did not chart or was not released.
Identity and overview
Identity and overview
The following is established of the heading itself.
Works and production
Works and production
The following works and productions are recorded by name or by count. Institutional cataloguing adds that a sermon preached before the Honorable trustees for establishing the colony of Georgia in America, and the associates of the late Reverend Dr. Bray; at their anniversary meeting March 16, 1737-8. In the Parish-Church of St. Bridget, alias St. Bride, in Fleet-Street London.

Willy Moon en concert à la Flèche d'Or le 27 avril 12.
Ludovic ETIENNE on Flickr
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Repertoire.bmi.com. Songwriter/Composer: SINCLAIR WILLIAM GEORGE.
- 2.Lester, Paul. New Band of the Day – Willy Moon (No 1,059). The Guardian. 11 July 2011.
- 3.Smyth, David. He's got the looks and Willy Moon is set to conquer the charts. The Evening Standard.
- 4.Kappala-Ramsamy, Gemma. One to watch: Willy Moon. The Guardian. 27 November 2011.
- 5.Catchpole, Chris. New To Q With Chris Catchpole – The Faces of 2012: Willy Moon.
- 6.Gq-magazine.co.uk. Willy Moon – Image 10 of 10 – Most stylish men of the week – GQ.COM (UK).
- 7.Willymoon.com. Here's Willy Moon | Buy The Debut Album Now.
- 8.Vogue.co.uk. Willy Moon Musician Profile Interview (Vogue.com UK). 16 May 2012.
- 9.Cragg, Michael. This Weeks New Singles. The Guardian. 10 December 2011.
- 10.Kappala-Ramsamy, Gemma. One to watch: Willy Moon. The Guardian. 27 November 2011.
- 11.BBC. BBC – BBC Radio 1 Programmes – Huw Stephens, Willy Moon in session, Honest Jon's Label of Love, Willy Moon – I Wanna Be Your Man in session.
- 12.Mir, Jorge. Video: Willy Moon – Yeah Yeah (Live On Jools Holland). Listen Before You Buy. 17 October 2012.
- 13.Swank, Ben. WILLY MOON AND THIRD MAN RECORDS ANNOUNCE NEW SINGLE.
- 14.Rebecca Armstrong. Music: Willy get a boost from Apple? – News – Music. The Independent. 14 September 2012.
- 15.YouTube. Sosh – Vibrez sans engagement. 22 August 2012.
- 16.NBC. The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. 12 December 2012.
- 17.Nme.Com. Willy Moon reveals debut album release plans | News. 18 February 2013.
- 18.Buzz Alert! Teddy Sinclair is back with Cruel Youth - new EP out on 09.16 — New York City. Nyc.thedelimagazine.com. 2 September 2016.
- 19.iTunes Store (GB). +30mg by Cruel Youth. 16 September 2016.
- 20.Stuff.co.nz. X Factor judges Natalia Kills, Willy Moon sacked.
- 21.Pressure on TV3 after X Factor judges Willy Moon and Natalia Kills humiliate contestant on live TV. New Zealand Herald. 16 March 2015.
- 22.Beswick, Angela. Natalia Kills, Willy Moon fired from X Factor NZ. TV3. 16 March 2015.
- 23.Monks, Steph. Natalia Kills and NZ's very own Willy Moon are married!. New Zealand Herald. 14 May 2015.
- 24.Apartment fire: X-Factor judges Willy Moon and Natalia Kills lose everything. New Zealand Herald. 27 May 2021.
- 25.New Zealand Charts Portal. Hung Medien. Discography Willy Moon.
- 26.Belgium (Flanders) Charts Portal. Hung Medien. Discografie Willy Moon.
- 27.Belgium (Wallonia) Charts Portal. Hung Medien. Discographie Willy Moon.
- 28.French Charts Portal. Hung Medien. Discographie Willy Moon.
- 29.Official Charts Company. Willy Moon full Official Chart History.
- 30.Lipshutz, Jason. Natalia Kills, Willy Moon & The Madness of Their 'X Factor' New Zealand Rant. billboard.com. Billboard magazine.
- 31.German Charts Portal. Hung Medien. Discographie Willy Moon.
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
reference work
Secondary witnessreference work
Secondary witness
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 17 August 2026.
Elsewhere in Music memorabilia
42,934 published records in this field, each with its sources named.
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