Deeper Sounds, Deeper Connections is a Pacific-Australian project which shares the unique music of the Pacific with the world. Working with groups of musicians across the region, it captures traditional instruments, melodies, songs and voices, and distils them into sample packs for DJs, producers, film makers, music makers and Australian music schools.
Fiji’s Inoke ‘Knox’ Kalounisiga was one of the first Pacific artists on the Deeper Sounds, Deeper Connections project.
Kalounisiga says that it’s a great feeling accomplishing something meaningful, something that will be used for educational purposes, and something that others will be able to use for their musical growth, enhancement and bonding with like-minded people.
He worked with other Fijians: Christopher Mallam, Apakuki Nalawa, Zen Waqavonovono plus Australia’s DJ SLUMBERJACK to create enriching projects throughout the Pacific. To be present at the launch at Parliament House in Sydney was humbling, Kalounisiga says.
The Deeper Sounds, Deeper Connections project was born during COVID and supported by the ICDP (International Centre for Democratic Partnerships). Fiji was the pilot, and the musicians were brought together by Kenneth Katafono.
“We collaborated with him [SLUMBERJACK] in creating short snippets of tribal tracks that we composed, that he could then share on platforms that other DJs worldwide could use in their remixes.
“That brings our work onto a global platform, and also at the same time, opens up more opportunities down the road for further collaborations.”
Kalounisiga says that anyone can access the track—including producers, DJs and music schools.
“We are also looking at distributing them in music schools here in Australia so that they can learn more about Pacific Island music, influences and some of the unique cultural sounds,” says Kalounisiga. The recordings were all done in Fiji.
“I did my tracks, and I got a female vocalist, Siteri Tuimanu to come and do her parts. I also got another artist called Kuki Nalawa, from Inside Out, to do his parts. We composed our own tracks. Christopher Mallam, aka DJ Krystonite, also contributed, as did Zen Waqavonovono. There was a collection of sounds created by the four of us. We then sent it to SLUMBERJACK who cleaned it up and mixed and mastered it ready for use. He is the one who has been working on distribution.”
Kalounisiga says that Deeper Sounds, Deeper Connections wasn’t a money-earning exercise.
“We were given a grant that paid for studio time and for the services of the singers that we had to bring in to perform our compositions,” says Kalounisiga. “But in terms of the music itself that we created, we are totally giving that for free. It’s about trying to get out there. You have to give first before you think about getting. We are hoping that this project will help us with collaborations down the road.
“After Fiji’s pilot project, ICDP was going to do this Deeper Sounds, Deeper Connections project with PNG, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Samoa and the other Pacific Island countries,” says Kalounisiga. “Unfortunately the funding to ICDP was shut down by the Australian government. Hopefully, somewhere down the line, they will be able to put that grant out again and we can work with our Melanesian, Polynesian and Micronesian brothers and sisters.”
Knox’s music journey
“I grew up in a musical family,” says Kalounisiga. “Dad was a great influence… and later on, I was influenced by other people who played a huge hand in me deciding to take the music further. From there, I went to work in hotels. After playing for other bands, just being in the background, I finally got enough courage to strike it out and I was lucky enough to meet people who had faith in me and my abilities and my talent. They assisted me in getting established and from there I kept moving up.”
Kalounisiga has enjoyed success throughout the region. “The first one was Jah Love, which was my first single, and then Sa Rui Dede. My song Superman also went ballistic for a while.”
“When I signed up with an Australian artist management company, my song Candy came around and then Fading and Coming Home,” says Kalounisiga. “I got a few awards for that EP. I toured quite extensively throughout Australia and New Zealand. I’ve had quite a colourful journey as an artist.”
He acknowledges that it can be difficult to make a living from music.
“Especially when you first start off, it’s hard to get that recognition,” says Kalounisiga. “But over the years, I’ve managed to hammer away and chisel away, and become one of those established ones.”
Kalounisiga says that his most successful project is ongoing, and that is his children.
“We have four boys,” says Kalounisiga. “My partner’s name is Ellana, and she runs Knox Entertainment, so we can say that she is my boss!”
Tribal Sounds
“For the past few years, I’ve actually been doing American reality TV music,” says Kalounisiga. “I’ve been nurturing that side of me for the past five or six years, embracing the richness of Fiji’s tribal cultural music. I’ve always been in love with that over the years. Black Rose did amazing with that. For the past five or six years, I’ve been able to step away from the so-called popular culture music and pursue this side of creativity that I’ve always wanted to be in. So, there’s been some success for me on that side of the fence.
“I’ve been doing some music for an American company called Venacore music. They do all the soundtracks for American TV series such as The Apprentice, Amazing Race, Survivor, CSI, Big Brother etc.. You name it and they’re in it. So, I’ve been doing work for them for the past five years, adding that tribal flavour into the TV soundtracks. That’s why I was so keen to get into Deeper Sounds, Deeper Connections because I’m loving that tribal theme.”
Kalounisiga recently moved to Australia and is building a recording studio there.
“I want to amalgamate Pacific tribal music and Aboriginal tribal music and see what comes out of that. There is a lot of earthiness in the Aboriginal tribal sounds so I think it would go down really well, fused with our Pacific tribal sounds. Once my studio is built, I will be doing more collaborations, especially with SLUMBERJACK.”
Kalounisiga also wants to assist other new artists and musicians whose talent means they deserve a spot on the main stage.
To hear the Deeper Sounds, Deeper Connections samples: https://samples.landr.com/labels/deeper-sounds-deeper-connections
