Te Vaka

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Te Vaka
Background information
Origin	New Zealand
Years active	1995-Present
Members
Opetaia Foa'i Sulata Foa'i-Amiatu Vai Mahina Neil Forrest Malcolm Lakatani Manase Foa'i Karika Turua Malcolm Smith Mathew Eneleo Matatia Foa'i Kaipati Naniseni Afa Kalepo Olivia Foa'i

Te Vaka is an Oceanian musical group. It was founded in 1995 in New Zealand by Opetaia Foa'i. The band has twelve members. They come from many different countries. Opetaia Foa'i was born in Western Samoa and his parents were from Tokelau and Tuvalu. The lyrics of the band are in the Tokelauan language. The name of the band means "the canoe" in the Tokelauan language.

Te Vaka is a unique group of thirteen musicians and dancers from Tokelau, Tuvalu, Samoa, Cook Islands, and New Zealand bought together under the inspired leadership of Opetaia Foa’i.

Te Vaka has toured the UK and Europe extensively over the last 7 years, performing in such prestigious venues as London's Royal Festival Hall and Ronnie Scott's nightclub. The group has headlined music festivals throughout Europe and been favourites at WOMAD festivals around the world including the WOMAD festival in Seattle, USA.

Opetaia Foa'i is the songwriter, lead vocalist and leader of the group. The inspiration for his music comes from his multi-cultural upbringing - half Tokelauan, half Tuvaluan, born in Samoa and brought up in a Tokelauan community in New Zealand. Opetaia's musical background spans both the traditional and the diverse influences of contemporary metropolitan culture.

Te Vaka has performed in 30 countries around the world and released four albums and one DVD to date. The first album gained immediate worldwide acclaim and recognition for the group. Released through ARC Music, a UK based Record company, the album was distributed to over 80 countries. The second album, released in 1999 through Warm Earth Records has created an even bigger impact going to number one on world music charts and in some countries mainstream radio. The third album was nominated for Best Roots album and the latest album Tutuki won Best Pacific Music Album in the New Zealand Music Industry Awards. With a 7th world tour planned Te Vaka looks forward to an exciting time ahead.

On tour Te Vaka performs songs from their new album, Tutuki, third album Nukukehe, second album Ki mua and the successful Te Vaka, their first album released in May 1997 and acclaimed worldwide for its original style and powerful tribal, rootsy feel.

Although based in New Zealand, the band's fusion music is inspired by the Pacific Islands, particularly the groups that comprise Tokelau,Tuvalu and Samoa, from whence the family of band leader Opetaia originally came.

The islands of Tokelau, Tuvalu and Samoa were major influences on Opetaia's upbringing and his songwriting. He was raised in Samoa until the age of nine when his whole family emigrated to New Zealand. The Tokelauan community there continued to provide musical inspiration; every gathering was an opportunity for people to sing and dance, and this mood is sustained in the evocative spirit of the band. The addition of band members from many Islands in the South Pacific also helps to add flavours from all over Polynesia to the music and dance of Te Vaka.

Te Vaka has dedicated a song, "Sei Ma Le Losa", for David McTaggart, who was killed in a car accident in 2001.

1 Discography
- 1.1 Featured appearances
2 Notes
3 External links

[edit] Discography

Cover	Date of Release	Title	Charted	Certification
Albums
	1996	Te Vaka^[1]	-	-
	1999	Ki Mua^[2]	-	-
	2002	Nukukehe	-	-
	2004	Tutuki	-	-

[edit] Featured appearances

The group have appeared on a few compilations in New Zealand and throughouy. The following is a list of these albums that have featured tracks by Te Vaka.

(2000) - Magic Of The South Seas (ARC Music) - track unknown.
(2002) - La Compil Choc Vol. 2 (Mangrove Music) - Pate Pate.
(2004) - South Pacific Islands (Putumayo World Music) - Iuliana, Sei Ma Le Losa, Haloa Olohega & Nukikehe.
(2006) - TFM 2006 (Living Works Trust) - Pate Pate.

[edit] Notes

^ Their debut CD released in at least two different formats; Traditional & Contemporary Music from the SOUTH SEAS: TE VAKA by Arcmusic, 2000 (with 13 tracks); and TE VAKA: Original Contemporary Pacific by Warm Earth, 1997 (12 tracks minus Toku Matua song).
^ This CD of theirs is considered more of their dance CD as it is the most up beat & fastest songs, and has no drum solo songs on it, as there are few on their other CDs. These CDs are good for those who enjoy songs with a kind of Hawaiian flavor.