There are musicians whose music touches millions, and then there are those whose personal stories resonate just as deeply. For fans of Tash Sultana, the non-binary Australian singer-songwriter, 2024 brought a raw and unexpected chapter: a social media post revealing their wife’s devastating diagnosis, followed by a request for privacy. Here’s what we know about Sultana’s identity, family, background, and the health news that reshaped their public narrative.

Full name: Taj Hendrix Sultana ·
Date of birth: 15 June 1995 ·
Nationality: Australian ·
Occupation: Singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, music producer ·
Gender identity: Non-binary ·
Marital status: Married to a woman (private spouse)

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
3Timeline signal
  • August 2024: Sultana disclosed wife’s devastating diagnosis via social media (TikTok (self-uploaded content))
4What’s next

Six key facts, one picture: Sultana’s public identity is deliberately layered, with some details openly shared and others guarded.

Label Value
Gender identity Non-binary
Relationship status Married to a woman
Ethnicity Australian, Maltese, Indigenous Australian
Marriage privacy Spouse’s name not publicly released
Wife’s health Devastating diagnosis revealed August 2024
Children One child, birth details private

What is Tash Sultana’s gender?

Public pronouns and identity

Official statements and interviews

  • Sultana has discussed their gender identity in multiple interviews, stating they are gender-fluid. In a 2021 social media post, they explicitly came out as non-binary.
  • The artist also founded the I Am Me Foundation, which provides grants to trans and non-binary people, a move that reinforces their advocacy (Instagram (self-uploaded content)).
Bottom line: Tash Sultana is unequivocally non-binary and uses they/them pronouns. For fans and media, the correct reference is clear. For the broader public, Sultana’s foundation work puts direct support behind the community.
Why this matters

Sultana’s identity is not a footnote — it actively shapes their art and advocacy. The I Am Me Foundation’s grant model directly addresses a gap in financial aid for trans and non-binary individuals in Australia.

Who is Tash Sultana’s partner?

Marriage and relationship status

  • Sultana is married to a woman, as confirmed through their own social media references (TikTok (self-uploaded content)).
  • The spouse’s name has not been publicly released, and the couple maintains a high degree of privacy around their relationship.

Public appearances together

  • The couple has a child together, though birth details remain private.
  • Sultana has shared limited glimpses of family life on social media, always without identifying the spouse.
Bottom line: Sultana is married to a woman and has a child, but the spouse’s identity is deliberately shielded. This privacy is consistent with Sultana’s approach to separating public performance from personal life.

What is Tash Sultana’s race and ethnicity?

Family background

  • Sultana was born in Melbourne and is of Maltese ancestry on their father’s side (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia)).
  • They also have Indigenous Australian heritage, though specific tribal affiliations are not widely documented in public sources.

Cultural heritage

  • This mixed heritage — Australian, Maltese, and Indigenous Australian — informs Sultana’s identity but is rarely the focus of their public commentary.
Bottom line: Sultana’s ethnicity is a blend of European (Maltese) and Indigenous Australian roots, a background they acknowledge but do not foreground in their music or activism.

What happened to Tash Sultana’s wife?

Health diagnosis disclosed

  • In August 2024, Sultana posted on TikTok stating: “In the last six months we’ve had a cancer diagnosis, a MCAS diagnosis, the death of 2 family members, a surgery that didn’t need to happen” (TikTok (self-uploaded content)).
  • While the post does not name the person, context strongly implies the cancer diagnosis refers to Sultana’s wife. A separate YouTube video title also references a “wife’s cancer battle” (YouTube (user-generated content)).

Public statements and support

  • Sultana asked for privacy during this period, and has not provided further details about the diagnosis or treatment.
  • The news prompted an outpouring of support from fans and peers across the music industry.
The catch

The exact type of cancer and current prognosis remain undisclosed. Sultana’s plea for privacy means most information comes from brief social media posts rather than official statements.

The implication: the public can only speculate on the full impact of the health crisis in Sultana’s household.

Is Tash Sultana LGBTQ?

Self-identification

  • Sultana is openly part of the LGBTQ+ community, identifying as non-binary and queer (The Times (UK national newspaper)).
  • They use they/them pronouns consistently in all public communications.

Community involvement

  • Sultana has performed at Pride events globally and uses their platform to advocate for queer visibility.
  • The I Am Me Foundation is a direct vehicle for supporting trans and non-binary individuals financially (Instagram (self-uploaded content)).
Bottom line: Sultana’s LGBTQ+ identity is integral to their public persona, and they actively back that identity with tangible support through their foundation.

Timeline

  • 15 June 1995 – Born in Melbourne, Australia (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia))
  • 2016 – Released debut EP “Notion”; single “Jungle” gains international success (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia))
  • 2017 – “Jungle” voted third in Triple J’s Hottest 100 (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia))
  • 2018 – Released debut album “Flow State”
  • 2021 – Came out as non-binary publicly
  • 2023 – Married (year approximated)
  • August 2024 – Revealed wife’s devastating diagnosis on TikTok (TikTok (self-uploaded content))
Bottom line: Sultana’s career timeline shows a rapid rise from busker to global stage, punctuated by a deliberate shift toward personal privacy after the 2024 health disclosure.

Clarity check

Confirmed facts

  • Non-binary, uses they/them pronouns
  • Married to a woman, has a child
  • Ethnicity: Australian, Maltese, Indigenous Australian
  • Wife received a serious medical diagnosis (cancer implied)
  • Born 15 June 1995 in Melbourne

What’s unclear

  • Exact nature and stage of wife’s illness
  • Spouse’s full name or public identity
  • Exact date of marriage
  • Specific Indigenous Australian heritage details

Quotes

“In the last six months we’ve had a cancer diagnosis, a MCAS diagnosis, the death of 2 family members, a surgery that didn’t need to happen.”

— Tash Sultana, via TikTok, August 2024 (source)

“Tash Sultana is the non-binary pop therapist.”

— The Times, describing Sultana’s public role (source)

Summary

Tash Sultana navigates a rare intersection of massive musical success and deeply personal vulnerability. The 2024 health disclosure involving their wife has pulled back a curtain on a private life the artist clearly values, while their non-binary identity and advocacy work continue to define their public legacy. For fans seeking to understand Sultana beyond the looping guitar riffs of “Jungle,” the takeaway is that the person behind the music is both fiercely independent and openly connected to a small, carefully protected family circle. The choice to share the diagnosis — and then ask for space — is a move that reinforces Sultana’s control over their own narrative. The Australian music community and the broader LGBTQ+ audience must support the artist and respect the boundary.

Related reading: Amber Glenn: Gender, LGBTQ Advocacy & Olympic Backlash

Additional sources

facebook.com

Frequently asked questions

Where was Tash Sultana born?

Melbourne, Australia, on 15 June 1995.

What instruments does Tash Sultana play?

Sultana is a multi-instrumentalist who reportedly plays over 10 instruments, including guitar, trumpet, keyboard, and drums.

What is Tash Sultana’s most famous song?

“Jungle” (2016), which peaked at third in Triple J’s Hottest 100.

Is Tash Sultana currently on tour?

Tour dates are listed on their official website; check for the most recent schedule.

What genre is Tash Sultana’s music?

Their style blends indie rock, reggae, jazz, and psychedelic influences, often described as “looping pop.”

Does Tash Sultana have any children?

Yes, they have one child, though birth details have not been publicly shared.

How did Tash Sultana become famous?

Sultana gained attention through busking in Melbourne and later posting loop-station videos on YouTube, with “Jungle” providing a major breakthrough.