Te Vaka
Te Vaka | |
---|---|
Origin | New Zealand |
Genres | South Pacific Fusion |
Years active | 1995–present |
Labels | Warm Earth |
Members |
|
Past members |
|
Website | www |
Te Vaka (English: The Canoe) is an
History
Te Vaka is a group of musicians and dancers with origins from various Polynesian backgrounds (including Tokelau, Tuvalu, Samoa and New Zealand) 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,
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[3] and the Olympic Games in Beijing.
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.[4]
Musical style
Te Vaka uses traditional musical instruments from the
Most of their songs are written in the
As a result of this mixture of sounds and diversity of influences, their music has been referred to as "a truly pan-Pacific sound".[2]
Current lineup
- Opetaia Foaʻi: vocals, guitar, percussion
- Olivia Foaʻi: vocals, dance
- Matatia Foaʻi: percussion
- Sulata Foai-Amiatu: vocals
- Douglas Bernard (a.k.a. D.Burn): vocals, keyboards, percussion
- Joe Toomata: electric guitar, percussion
- Neil Forrest: bass, flute, percussion
- Etueni (Edwin) Pita: dance
- Dave Kuresa: dance
Awards and nominations
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2002 | BBC Radio 3 Awards for World Music | Nominated | |
2003 | Te Vaka | BBC Radio 3 Awards for World Music - Audience Award | Nominated |
Nukukehe | New Zealand Music Awards - Best Roots Album
|
Nominated | |
2004 | Tutuki | New Zealand Music Awards - Best Pacific Music Album | Won |
2005 | Opetaia Foaʻi | Senior Pacific Artist | Won |
2008 | Te Vaka | Pacific Music Awards - Best Pacific Band | Won |
Te Vaka | Australian Songwriters Association Awards - Best Live Performance of the Night | Won | |
"Tamahana" | Australian Songwriters Association Awards - International | Won | |
2010 | Haoloto | New Zealand Music Awards | Nominated |
Te Vaka | Pacific Music Awards - Best Pacific Group | Won | |
Haoloto | Best Pacific Language Album | Won | |
2011 | Haoloto | Hawaiian Music Awards - Polynesian | Won |
2012 | Havili | Pacific Music Awards | Nominated |
"Lovely World" | ISC Awards - World Music | Nominated |
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
Compilations
DVDs
- 2003 Live at Apia Park
- 2007 Live in Concert 2006[5]
Singles
- "Lakalaka"
References
- ^ pacificmusicawards.org.nz
- ^ a b c Lusk, Jon. "Te Vaka". BBC.co.uk. Retrieved 4 April 2008.
- ^ nzmusician.co.nz (Rugby World Cup) Archived 27 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 28 September 2009.
- ^ Tapaleao, Vaimoana (17 August 2015). "NZ-based group joins next big Disney movie". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 5 December 2016.
- ^ amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 30 September 2009.