Diamond Langi steps into her boldest era with ‘Yodelay' ft. JKings

Diamond Langi is done playing small.

The history-making Tongan beauty queen, actor, and stylist is back - this time in her own terms - with her new single Yodelay, featuring JKing

Fresh off a feature film set and straight into directing her own music video, Langi caught up with PMN Tonga to discuss her relentless creative drive.

She says the past year was about stepping back to rebuild. “Behind the scenes for one whole year last year, I just wanted to really create, put in my efforts into just writing. So there's been a lot of material in the space of music,” Langi says.

The result is Yodelay, an easy, upbeat love song built on smooth basslines and relaxed, syncopated beats.

JKing’s familiar sound carries the track while the vocals lift it with playful moments that echo the song’s title, yodelling.

Watch Diamond Langi's full interview below.

But beneath the light feel is the clear intention. “We hoped the song was something that didn't make someone's mind feel very clouded,” Langi says.

“It was just a song that was just very carefree, very joyful…just a longing for something that was genuine, pure and God-centred.”

Faith and alignment mattered and Langi says she found that in collaborating with JKing.

"When I met JKing, I knew we were aligned for a reason," she says. "I knew it was for a higher purpose."

Produced by Nathaniel Tupou, Yodelay came together naturally. Even the name was instinctive.

“When we heard the song, the automatic first thing that came up was, ‘yodelay’,” Langi says. “So JKing agreed…I agreed…and then the bro Nathaniel was like, ‘Yeah, Yodelay sounds good.

“There wasn’t pressure behind it. It was just creators coming along to do a fun project and just turn it over.”

For Langi, this chapter feels different. Known for breaking barriers as the first Tongan woman crowned Miss Universe New Zealand in 2019, she has mostly carried expectation with opportunity.

Now Langi says she’s creating a place of freedom. Born in Auckland and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah, Langi traces her heritage to Vaini, Fasi and Nukunuku in Tonga. That connection remains central to her work.

Yodelay includes lyrics in Lea Faka-Tonga, something she says was non-negotiable.

"I didn't want to make a song without tying it back to Tonga," she explains. “Even if it might not be perfect or it might not be to a certain level, I know the Lord knows where my heart is.”

She speaks openly about “feinga (effort)” and what it means for Pacific people born abroad and still finding their way back to their roots.

“Especially for those who are born overseas and they don't live in Tonga, how can we connect, how can we find our identity and our way to go back to our homeland?

For Langi, the answer is simple: try. The new song marks what she calls her most fearless creative chapter yet - leaning into curiosity, childlike joy and the courage to stretch beyond labels placed on her.

“My message would have to be to not be afraid to be who you are. I know sometimes people might put you guys in a box, but why not challenge the narrative of trying different things?”

With Yodelay, Diamond Langi is doing exactly that: blending faith, fun, and Pacific identity into a sound that feels light, honest, and fully her own.

Yodelay is available now on all major music streaming platfroms.