Marque backs musician
Nissan Australia and New Zealand got behind Emmanuel Kelly as a supporting act for Coldplay’s recent Music Of The Spheres world-tour dates in both countries.
Kelly made history late last year by opening for Coldplay as a differently abled artist.
Nissan provided him with X-Trail compact SUVs across Auckland, Melbourne and Sydney so he could get around easily.
During his time down under, Kelly also filmed segments for his documentary Dream Fever, which chronicles his ground-breaking journey in the music industry.
The project sees Kelly collaborating closely with Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, who executive produced Kelly’s upcoming album of the same name, which will be released alongside the film.
In 2022, Martin and Kelly co-founded Outlyer Entertainment, a production company that aims to empower and further authentic representation of people with disabilities on and off-screen.
Abandoned as a baby in war-torn Iraq, Kelly was rescued from an orphanage and taken to Australia for life-changing surgery. Despite facing significant challenges, he has since forged a successful career.
“Emmanuel’s journey shows the power of perseverance and is inspiring,” says Andrew Humberstone, Nissan Oceania’s vice-president and managing director.
“At Nissan, we believe in creating opportunities and supporting individuals who break barriers. Emmanuel’s remarkable talent and determination perfectly align with our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion [DEI].”
Nissan's partnership with Kelly also reflects the company’s ongoing global DEI strategy, which focuses on creating an inclusive environment where everyone can maximise their potential regardless of background or ability.
Born with underdeveloped limbs and scoliosis due to chemical warfare in Iraq, Kelly was found abandoned on a battlefield as an infant.
Kelly and his brother, who is a Paralympian, were later adopted by Australian humanitarian Moira Kelly. His 2011 X-Factor Australia audition of John Lennon’s Imagine captivated global audiences and led to collaborations with Martin.
