For many decades, the music industry in Fiji has seen people from all walks of life grace through with their immense talent in singing, playing and song writing.
To even be present at their concerts or gigs will leave you feeling a mix of intense positive emotions stemming from the combination of powerful music, shared experiences with the people you’re with, and the feeling of pure joy and connection with the artists.
This was how it was at the 2024 Reggae Music Festival held at Bidesi Ground last month when a young, vibrant group of cousins and siblings took to the stage to deliver some of their best reggae renditions.
Chapter 5 (C5), a fifth generation of those who had settled in from Wallis and Futuna, consists of Nicholas Smith (drummer), Michael Yalani (lead guitarist), and Niko Yalani (rhythm guitarist).
Later on, Filipe Yalani (bassist) and Maya and Niu Smith (vocalists), joined and helped changed their sound by including recent and popular covers.
But of course, music was always in their blood.
“We are the fifth generation, which basically inspired the name of our band,” drummer, Nicholas said.
“The first generation had a band, so did the second generation and the fourth.
“The fourth generation, that was when our uncle, the late Arthur Philitoga and them marked their names in the industry so music has always been in the family.”
For those who grew up in the ’90s, the late Arthur Philitoga was known to be brutally honest and never afraid to voice opinions on issues concerning the music industry, or what constituted live music.
With a music career that spanned more than three decades, he was described as someone who was larger than life, and a go-getter.
In 1993, he formed a band called Kulture which began as a solo act.
According to the band’s then financial controller and manager, Mesake Sugumai, Philitoga was already exploring the idea of forming a band when he was singing solo.
For those who personally knew him, he could spot talent and knew how to nurture it with a big heart.
That nurturing was then passed down to his nephews and nieces who are now gradually distinguishing themselves in the industry.
“It’s tough in the music industry, especially coming from a family of musicians,” Nicholas added.
“We just one day decided to form a band while jamming around a basin of grog, and now that we are here, there is a lot of pressure.
“Uncle Arthur had set the bar really high, so everybody is like, ‘oh, that’s Arthur and them’s nephew and nieces’.
“But we always let that be our goal and our inspiration, that’s what makes us stand out because we’re a family and we know each other well.”
So far, it has been great for the band. They receive gig invitations every week aside from their usual gigs at the Mana Coffee at Selbourne St in Suva.
“Musical journey has been challenging because of the pressure, but it’s fun,” he said with a smile.
“We are all aged from 25 years and below, so there is a good thing about being cousins and siblings, but of course, there’s a bad side to it as well.
“Good thing is we can always talk and communicate, so that’s how we are able to solve our problems, we try and compromise most of the time.
“In terms of inspiration, we have a lot of local artists that has inspired us like Olsen J Sefo, the frontman for Sweet Sensation, Myles Manulevu, such a talented guitarist, and our eldest brother Sebastian Yalani.
“Sebastian would always make us jam around the basin because he was the one who used to do the same thing with our uncles.”
The group of passionate musicians were initially introduced to their idol, Olsen J Sefo, through their uncle Oliver McCaig who brought him over for a grog session.
The yaqona session turned into an opportunity for the cousins to start C5 after they managed to secure their first gig through Olsen’s recommendation.
With only over a year of experience as a band, C5 is already receiving good comments from those who have watched the band play.
Their popularity and success will continue to grow with the huge support from their parents in their music journey, and the support from other fellow musicians.
