Josh Tatofi’s Aloha for Hawaiian Mele
Hawaiian artist - Hoku Award winner and Grammy nominee, Josh Tatofi - picked up the Best International Pacific Artist award at New Zealand’s Pacific Music Awards in 2023, adding to his growing international profile
Melodownz wins big at Pacific Music Awards
Avondale-born artist, Melodownz took out three awards at last month’s annual Pacific Music Awards in Manukau, New Zealand: Best Pacific Male Artist, Best Pacific Music Video, and Best Pacific Music Album Award
Small Island, Big Song
What's next for this globe-spanning project? It is a heartfelt embodying of the unadulterated musical essence of the “small islands” – the people at the frontline of the Climate Crisis - capturing the cultural
Yoyo Tuki: Proud cultural ambassador of Rapa Nui
Easter Island or Rapa Nui—which lies 3700km from Chile to the east and 4000 from Tahiti to the west—is famous for its ancestral sculptors who created the ancient colossal Moai stone statues. Their progeny, Jorge
Maimarosia inspires youth through indigenous Solomons music
Western influences can at times corrupt and dilute traditional Pacific indigenous music, but one Melbourne-based, Solomon Islands musician is reversing this trend. Charles Maimarosia headlined the Wantok Music
Sprigga Mek soars with conscious rap
Conscious songwriter, indigenous activist, Pacific hip-hop artist, Sprigga Mek (Allan Aufamau), recently saw his work reach a global audience when his music video ‘Dodge the Bullet’ featured at the Mother Tongue
DMP puts Solomon Islands music on the map
Island Reggae, ragga and dancehall band DMP (Doorman’s Project) is preparing to tour the United States for the first time, after a year that has seen it release a new album and receive international recognition.
Deeper Sounds, Deeper Connections
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,
Jaro Local takes Pacific and the world by storm
Award-winning Solomon Islands singer/songwriter, Jaro Local, is a soaring star around the Pacific, making waves internationally with his unique blend of contemporary island, R&B, pop and reggae music. Jaro is
Precise Digital signs big Pacific names
New Zealand based company Precise Digital - a digital and online music distribution and publishing company - is concentrating on helping Polynesian and international artists to get full value from digital distribution
Sweet message in the music
South Auckland reggae artist, Sweet and Irie’s song Ban the Burn may be some 15 years old, but its message is as powerful and important today. Ban the Burn, which warns against meth use, was first recorded in 2006,
All hail the Vude Queen
A matriarch of music, the Queen of Vude, supporter of many charities, and a diva who comes home and cooks for her family every night. Laisa Vulakoro has an in-depth talanoa with Islands Business’ Rowena Singh
Cobb seeks ‘Freedom’
Chris Cobb’s song Freedom is inspired by two tragedies, the ongoing human rights abuses of the indigenous people of West Papua, and the sinking of the MV Rabaul
Legality is born to sing
Solomon Islands singer 'Legality' says singing has been part of her forever. She first performed when 9 years
Stan and the Earth Force talk Vanuatu music
By Rowena Singh Stan Antas, founder and lead singer of Vanuatu’s Stan & the Earth Force, says music has always been part of his life, and part of Vanuatu’s culture. “We're big on reggae here and our local
Kavita Kalyan’s musical journey
By Rowena Singh “Fiji is a strong part of my existence,” says ghazal and Bollywood singer Kavita Kalyan. Kalyan is Australian born, but with strong family ties that take her back to Fiji, and her extended family in
Niuean musician, actor and entrepreneur: Glen Jackson
Niuean musician Glen Jackson did not know that he came from a musical family until he returned to the Rock in 1985. “Growing up in Otara [New Zealand], my mum introduced me to the guitar, I was already fascinated with
Niuean musician, actor and entrepreneur: Glen Jackson
By Rowena Singh Niuean musician Glen Jackson did not know that he came from a musical family until he returned to the Rock in 1985. “Growing up in Otara [New Zealand], my mum introduced me to the guitar, I was already
Solomon Islands’ Small Jam: Waiting to rock dancefloors
A couple of months ago we profiled Papua New Guinea’s Justin Wellington, one half of the team behind global TikTok and iTunes reggae hit “Iko Iko”. This month it’s the turn of the second half of that
Small Jam: Waiting to rock Pacific dancefloors
By Rowena Singh A couple of months ago we profiled Papua New Guinea’s Justin Wellington, one half of the team behind global TikTok and iTunes reggae hit “Iko Iko”. This month it’s the turn of the Solomon Islands
Mia Kami: Harnessing the power of music to decolonise the mind
“Performing is more than just me standing up and singing a song in front of people; it is a chance for me to share a vision and a mission,” says Tonga’s Mia Kami. Kami’s original songs are full of meaning,
We need art now more than ever
By Ariela Zibiah The cultural and creative sectors are among the most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. For many artists in Fiji, this means many are relying on one meal a day and doing what they can to plant and grow
Mia Kami: Harnessing the power of music to decolonise the mind
By Rowena Singh “Performing is more than just me standing up and singing a song in front of people; it is a chance for me to share a vision and a mission,” says Tonga’s Mia Kami. Kami’s original songs are full
