Pasifika: The Collection is a 40-song double-disc compilation made up of classic songs featuring established acts such as Nesian Mystik, Adeaze, LA-based hip-hop crew Boo Yaa Tribe, and Tiki Taane, and new talent, including J Williams and Smashproof, alongside “Pacific legends” like Zipso, the Yandall Sisters, Herbs and Brother Love. Andy Murnane of Dawn Raid Entertainment and co-creator of the album, says the collection also includes classics such as Elvis Presley’s Blue Hawaii which is a wedding song for many Polynesian weddings. He adds, “we’ve just had so many No 1’s from Pacific Island artists over the years, but outside of that there are all sorts of classic songs that if you go to any Polynesian or Maori party you will hear these songs.” Pasifika opens with OMC’s How Bizarre, a song by the late Pauly Fuemana who died last month. The album will be released on March 8 and the Pasifika Festival is on March 13 at Western Springs. For a list of songs on the double CD album visit the Dawn Raid Entertainment website.
Tongan cultural giant, Professor Futa Helu has died at the Vaiola Hospital in Tonga, aged 75. Renowned for his profound knowledge of traditional Tongan cultural expressions, Professor Helu was at the forefront of intellectual thinking about education and the arts in the Pacific. As a young man, Futa Helu studied at the Newington College in New South Wales and then attended Sydney University where he studied philosophy, English literature, mathematics and physics. Back in Tonga, he founded Atenisi University, an institution that championed innovative and critical thinking and which grew from a night school into a university that now confers Masters and PhD degrees. He was the author of several ground-breaking articles most of which were published in Critical Essays: Cultural Perspectives from the South Seas (Journal of Pacific History, 1999). Paying tribute to him, the Chief Executive of the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs, Dr. Colin Tukuitonga said “He was truly one of the great academic giants of the South Pacific and our condolences go out to his children and grandchildren.”
This year’s Ten Pacific Festival introduces a brand new Pecha Kucha ™ night featuring significant Pasifika artists who originate from Christchurch. Among the confirmed participants are Anton Carter also known as Antsman of Rhombus and The Nomad, Pacific art historian Stephanie Oberg, writer and poet Tusiata Avia, actor and filmmaker Barbara Carpenter, and playwright Victor Rodger. The event will be held at the Dux de Lux on Thursday 4 February from 7.00pm. The Pecha Kucha is immediately followed by a Mark Vanilau concert at the same venue. Mark has a long history with the festival which started with Tribalincs, a five piece soul jazz fusion group. In 2006 when Mark embarked on a solo career, he toured as Dave Dobbyn’s keyboardist, vocalist, and still tours with him today. Mark will also join Anton Carter on Friday 4 February at 6pm for a Songmakers and Creative NZ workshop, before local reggae band D’sendantz and jazz artists K.T.O take to the stage from 8.30pm until late. The Ten Festival is organised by Christchurch’s Pacific Underground.
Rising R&B and Hip Hop star, J Williams, will headline the Ten-Pacific Arts music programme this week in Christchurch. The young Samoan star will perform at an all ages gig featuring Erekah, Christchurch’s break-dance icons Common Ground and Swarm. The show is presented by Pacific Roots South on Waitangi Day (Saturday 6 February) at The Bedford, 46 Bedford Row, Christchurch. The show is open to all age groups and begins at 7 pm. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased from Real Groovy. For group bookings contact Pacific Underground.
Niuean-Maori musician Pauly Fuemana has died in Auckland after a short illness. A member of the Otara Millionaires Club, Fuemana shot to world fame with the 1995 hit single How Bizarre which reached No 1 around the world including Australia, Canada, South Africa, Austria and Ireland. Remembered in his Otara community as one of its greatest sons, Fuemana positioned South Auckland’s Polynesian music on the global stage and opened the way for a procession of Pacific musicians to follow in his footsteps. Of his rags to riches story, Fuemana said in 2006, “I’m from Otara and I got to see Italy and Spain and Germany. To play at the Supper Club in New York and the Whisky a Go Go in LA. It was like a dream come true.” The 40 year old died on Saturday at the North Shore Hospital. He was surrounded by his wife and five children.
Pacific music celebrates its sixth year of presenting its best loved talent to the nation with an updated award catalogue for 2010. Entries are now open for the S3 Pacific Music Awards with an added gong for radio airplay and recognition for the promotion of Pacific languages. Entries close on February 22 and the finalists will be announced on April 21. The awards are to be presented on May 29 at the TelstraClear Pacific Events Centre in Manukau. The awards acknowledge the success of Pacific artists in New Zealand and encourage young Pacific musicians to aspire to higher levels of achievement. Awards are being presented in the following categories: Pacific Group, Gospel Album, Urban Artist, Female Artist, Male Artist, Pacific Song, and Pacific Music Album. Four awards are granted for People’s Choice of Best Pacific Artist, Lifetime Achievement, the Phillip Fuemana Award for Most Promising Artist and the Radio Airplay Award. Nominations are not accepted for these awards. The sponsor, S3 (pron. ess-cubed), is a Pacific community initiative dedicated to promoting road safety among young drivers and pedestrians. It aims to reduce the risk, hospitalisation rates and harm that road accidents have on the nation’s Pacific people. For terms and conditions see the redesigned website at www.pacificmusicawards.org.nz.
Island Summers is a Pacific arts exhibition that commemorates a decade of Christchurch’s Pacific Arts Festival. Curated by Stephanie Oberg, the show features a snapshot of art work from the last ten years of the city’s popular festival. Two accompanying exhibitions, “Tiare Maori” and “What-cha Say?” are a reminder that Pacific arts, both traditional and contemporary, continue to flourish in the garden city. The first exhibits the traditional Cook Island art of tivaevae and the relatively new but related art of cotton flower making. The second is an exhibition of talented young Pacific and Maori artists whose work sheds light on what is meaningful for young people today. It includes a video by Browhi productions featuring a local crew of shuffle dancers. Island Summers runs from 12 January to 10 February 2010, at Our City O tautahi, on Worcester St Bridge/ Oxford terrace in Christchurch.
Music personality, Martha Samasoni, says the MuzicHeadz website is a cheap way to get music produced an ideal way for Pacific musicians to get connected with worldwide talent. MuzicHeadz connects young musicians with producers on the site and helps them to purchase equipment for recording at home: “Basically, you can purchase a beat from any of the producers and record your singing over that – using [audio editing programme]. They will also take the guitar ideas you record at home and do all your backing music for you”. Samasoni is a partner in the enterprise alongside founder, Beat Masta Wes, who has worked with several celebrated hit makers including Mary J. Blige, Tatyana Ali, and gospel music legend Andrae Crouch. Samasoni is currently producing two albums with Ritmo Records in the USA. The first album is a collaboration with Ritmo’s CEO, Daniel Mendoza, and the second is a solo.
Pacific Underground will host the 10th and final annual Pacific Arts Festival in early February 2010. “Ten – Pacific Arts” marks a significant milestone for Pacific Underground, the Christchurch-based performing arts and events collective. Over the past decade, many Pacific artists from NZ, Australia and the Pacific have performed, displayed, demonstrated or created at this festival. Following its mission of supporting emerging Pasifika and Maori artists, Pacific Underground has organised an “all Ages” gig at the Bedford with several headliners including J Williams. The workshops at the Canterbury Museum return as does the Family Day at the Arts Centre on Sat 6 February. The Family Day features local Pacific musicians and dancers as well as the popular Adeaze and Mark Vanilau. Our City O-Tautahi will feature the final art exhibition for the festival curated by Stephanie Oberg. “Island Summers” explores the history of the festival as well as an exhibition of emerging artists.
Creative New Zealand has launched a new Art Access guide with practical advice to improve art venues for accessibility and to take better care of the needs of those with disabilities. The 68-page Arts for All: Opening Doors to Disabled People was launched at Te Papa last Friday (4 December 2009). The guide has been endorsed by Pati Umaga, a leading Pacific musician from the Wellington region and cousin of rugby great Tana Umaga. An accident in May 2005 altered the Hutt musician’s life and confined him to a wheelchair. He is now actively involved in disability rights and continues to play music. Creative New Zealand says there is significant demand within the disabled community for accessible arts and events.
Pasifika: The Collection is a 40-song double-disc compilation made up of classic songs featuring established acts such as Nesian Mystik, Adeaze, LA-based hip-hop crew Boo Yaa Tribe, and Tiki Taane, and new talent, including J Williams and Smashproof, alongside “Pacific legends” like Zipso, the Yandall Sisters, Herbs and Brother Love. Andy Murnane of Dawn Raid Entertainment and co-creator of the album, says the collection also includes classics such as Elvis Presley’s Blue Hawaii which is a wedding song for many Polynesian weddings. He adds, “we’ve just had so many No 1’s from Pacific Island artists over the years, but outside of that there are all sorts of classic songs that if you go to any Polynesian or Maori party you will hear these songs.” Pasifika opens with OMC’s How Bizarre, a song by the late Pauly Fuemana who died last month. The album will be released on March 8 and the Pasifika Festival is on March 13 at Western Springs. For a list of songs on the double CD album visit the Dawn Raid Entertainment website.
