GET ready Fiji. A new sound is about to hit our shores.
Manutabu, a six-piece band made of local musicians residing in Sydney, are in the midst of recording their debut as-yet-untitled album.
The brand new group that looks set to take the Pacific by storm features the vocal talents of Iowani Morisio, William Fugawai, Joseph Vuicakau, Leslie Tagivetaua, Mosese Jnr Tagivetaua and former One2eight lead vocalist William Vatubua.
This writer was granted the opportunity to hear a few tracks off their debut outing and the music is a fresh marriage of rhythm and blues with iTaukei lyrics and outstanding harmonies.
Makare lead guitarist and vocalist Simione Rova was commissioned to travel to Sydney and produce the album.
The results have been nothing short of amazing.
I asked group leader Iowani Morisio about the origin of the band’s name.
“On the island of Cikobia and coastal areas of Cakaudrove a webbed-foot sea faring bird called the Manu Tabu nests in trees to the Western tip of the island,” the Qamea, Taveuni, native shared.
“An adult bird nests with its elderly parents and children. Every day it travels long distances and on the way back home it has to run the gauntlet of Manumanu ni Cagi (Wind Birds) that have no webbed feet and once they spot a Manu Tabu with a fish catch in its beak, they chase it to disgorge its catch.
“Many an aerial battle is fought in the Manutabu’s attempt to get home with its prized catch. Hence the saying ‘mai na were ga ki bure’ (from the workplace to the family).
“This means ensuring the catch has to reach the place it is destined for and not to the Manu ni Cagi who may try and get us to disgorge our pay cheques before we get home,” he laughed.
The band was formed by founding members William Fugawai, Joseph Vuicakau and Iowani Morisio who had played music together for a number of years under different band names.
During a chance encounter with William Vatubua, Leslie Tagivetaua, and Mosese Jnr Tagivetaua, a decision was made to bring their unique music talents together and create a new sound for iTaukei tunes.
“The love and passion for music was what brought us together and Manutabu has become more of a family unit.
“Music is what brought us together but it’s our Fijian heritage, culture and traditions that is the glue behind our sound.”
It’s the rich musical pedigree of each member that defines the Manutabu sound.
Leslie Tagivetaua grew up playing keyboards in his local church band since the age of 15. He has had the best of both worlds.
Apart from earning a Diploma in Music Studies at the Hillsong Music College, he has also toured all over Australia and the US with renowned Sydney band Kabani.
He is the main keyboardist for Manutabu.
Growing up in a musical family Mosese Tagivetaua picked up the bass guitar at 15 because no one was playing the bass guitar in the family gospel band.
After travelling around Sydney playing for various Gospel conferences and community events, he got together with Leslie, another brother Rodney and William and formed Unfinished Bizness before joining Manutabu with his brother Les.
William Fugawai developed a passion for the drums at the tender age of 14. He went on to join Sydney band Rasputin before delving into the gospel scene at age 19 for a decade.
Like Leslie, he also joined Kabani for four years before joining Manutabu.
Guitarist and vocalist Joseph Vuicakau has performed at The Deadly Awards, the Australian Indigenous Music Awards with singer and actress Ursula Yovich at the prestigious Sydney Opera House.
He has played guitar and sang on TVS program ‘Angle TV’ and is the program convenor and host of the “Fijian Voice Of Youth” program on Radio SkidRow 88.9 FM.
He has also supported acts such as Earth Boy and Hermitude as well as performing at some of Sydney’s prime live music venues including the Basement, Annandale Hotel, The Sandringham hotel and regularly performs at popular venues in Sydney, Circular Quay and Darling Harbour.
Manutabu’s front man and lead singer William Vatubua grew up in a musical family and from an early age, he was destined to walk in his late father, Bill Vatubua’s footsteps.
In 2004 he took part in a singing competition, called “Join The Band” and reached the finals.
He met fellow former Marist Brothers High School scholars Ratu Joe Tabakaucoro, Nesbitt Hazelman and this writer and formed One2eight.
Vatubua moved to Sydney in 2007 and in 2009 joined the band FixEight’ alongside legendary musicians Henry and Lawrence Foon, George Knight and was blessed and honoured to perform alongside his wife, something, he said, he would cherish forever.
The founding member of Manutabu, Iowani Morisio has more than 30 years of experience in the music industry having played with some of Sydney’s top local artists.
Since he first strapped on a guitar from the age of 13, he has never looked back.
Morisio’s experience in the tourism circuit in Fiji’s Western Division from the 1980s to the mid 1990s played a big role in his success in the Sydney music scene.
