Te Vaka


Te Vaka is an Oceanic music group that performs original contemporary Pacific music or "South Pacific Fusion". The group was founded in 1995 by singer and songwriter Opetaia Foaʻi in New Zealand. They have toured the world consistently since 1997 and have won a number of awards including the "Best Pacific Music Album" award from the New Zealand Music Awards for their albums Tutuki, Olatia, and Amataga, alongside awards such as "Best Pacific Group" in the 2008 Pacific Music Awards. According to the BBC, they are "the world's most successful band playing original contemporary Pacific music."

History

Te Vaka is a group of musicians and dancers with origins from various Polynesian backgrounds that formed in 1997, under the leadership of award-winning songwriter, Opetaia Foaʻi. That year, they released their eponymous debut album through ARC Music, a UK/European record company. The album gained immediate success and recognition, being distributed to over 80 countries. Their follow-up album, Ki Mua, was released through Warm Earth Records, and went #1 on world music charts and mainstream radio in the South Pacific.
In 2002, the band released their third album, Nukukehe. The album gained the group a nomination in the New Zealand Music Awards and the BBC Radio 3 Awards for World Music. Their next albums entered the European World Music Charts, as well as winning numerous awards.
Through their career, Te Vaka has performed extensively around the world, performing in London's Royal Festival Hall and Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club, as well as headlining music festivals throughout Europe like WOMAD. They have also performed at the APEC ministerial dinners and America's Cup events in Auckland, the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, the Rugby World Cup in Paris and the Olympic Games in Beijing. Te Vaka toured the world extensively performing in 40 countries between 1997 and 2018.
In 2010 and 2011, the band completed two tours in North America. That same year, Te Vaka released their seventh album, Havili.
In 2015, the band was selected by Walt Disney Pictures to contribute to the soundtrack of the 2016 animated film Moana, and later contributed to songs and the soundtrack for its 2024 sequel, Moana 2.

Musical style

Te Vaka uses traditional musical instruments from the Pacific region like pate, paʻu, and bass drums.
Most of their songs are written in the Tokelauan language, reflecting the heritage of band founder, singer, and main songwriter, Opetaia Foaʻi. Foaʻi was born in Western Samoa, to a Tokelauan father and a Tuvaluan mother, and raised in a Tokelauan community in New Zealand. He has said that the inspiration for his music comes from his multi-cultural upbringing. However, some songs are also written in Samoan and Tuvaluan languages, which are the native tongues of most of the other band members.
As a result of this mixture of sounds and diversity of influences, their music has been referred to as "a truly pan-Pacific sound".

Current lineup

  • Opetaia Foaʻi: vocals, guitar, percussion
  • Olivia Foa'i: vocals, dance
  • Matatia Foa'i: percussion
  • Sulata Foai-Amiatu: vocals
  • Douglas Bernard : vocals, keyboards, percussion
  • Joe Toomata: electric guitar, percussion
  • Neil Forrest: bass, flute, percussion
  • Etueni Pita: dance
  • Dave Kuresa: dance

    Awards and nominations

Discography

Studio albums

  • 1997 Te Vaka
  • 1999 Ki Mua
  • 2002 Nukukehe
  • 2004 Tutuki
  • 2007 Olatia
  • 2009 Haoloto
  • 2011 Havili
  • 2015 Amataga
  • 2017 Te Vaka Beats: Percussion Album Vol. 1
  • 2020 Te Vaka Beats Vol. 2
  • 2022 ''Te Vaka Beats Vol. 3''

    Compilations

  • 2017 ''Greatest Hits: Songs That Inspired Moana''

    DVDs

  • 2003 Live at Apia Park
  • 2007 ''Live in Concert 2006''

    Singles

  • "Lakalaka"