For 28-year-old Mereoni Ramacake, who hails from Drekeniwai, Navatu, Cakaudrove, known in music circles as Oni, the journey into music began quietly, rooted in village life and shaped by personal purpose rather than pursuit of fame.
She described growing up with close family ties, sharing her childhood with her twin brother.
“I have one twin brother,” she said.
Ms Ramacake said her early years were spent in the village before education took her to the capital.
“I grew up in the village and came to Suva to start my education,” she said.
Although music had become a strong part of her life, she said her academic journey continued alongside it.
“I’m currently trying to finish my Bachelor of Engineering (Electrical and Electronic Engineering),” she said.
She currently resides in Suva.
“I live in Vunisinu, Tacirua,” she said.
Oni said music entered her life naturally, not as a calculated career move, but as a form of expression and healing.
“What inspires me is the art and its ability to heal people,” she said.
“My first song was Noqu Vakamau with VT1S.
“The first song I had ever written was Sisi which was also with VT1S.”
Since then, her music journey has evolved, including becoming part of a creative collective with a shared vision.
“I’m now under a label, Redefined Studios, which was founded by Joycelyn Karawa, Ethan Irava and Winsome Aitcheson,” she said.
“We’re still building towards a goal to raise awareness of mental health.”
Oni describes herself as an artist who values authenticity and balance in life.
“Oni is free spirited, funny, loves her food, she loves cooking, mama and her bed so much I love sleeping,” she said.
“My goal is to use my platform to raise awareness on mental health using my music.
“To reach people who are struggling every day and to help them in any way I can.”
Oni said music, for her, was not only about performance but about connection and healing.
She credited her belief in music as a healing tool to the encouragement she received early on.
“This is something my friend Joycelyn Karawa believed in and that’s what I’m working towards.”
Her sound, she said, was influenced by both local and international artists.
“I love listening to Fiji and Omah Lay,” she said.
When asked about the musicians she looked up to, Oni named several artists whose music had shaped her appreciation for melody and storytelling.
“Michael Jackson, Michael Learns to Rock, Bryan Adams, Fiji,” she said.
Despite her growing presence in the music scene, Oni said her focus remained grounded in service rather than status.
“I want to help people with mental illness using my platform,” she said.
As she continues to balance engineering studies with studio sessions, she remains committed to staying true to her purpose.
“What inspires me is the art and its ability to heal people,” she said.
For Oni, music is not just a creative outlet, but a calling shaped by empathy, lived experience and the desire to make a difference, one song at a time.
