ROSI Batimala’s musical journey is no secret to many Fijians, as she has become a household name in the music industry.

Often covered by the media as a famous singer, her journey didn’t start from performing different genres in the tourism industry, but was simply from accompanying her grandmother to villages in Nadroga during choir competition.

It was through her grandmother’s love for music that prompted her to pursue a career in music, even though her genre changed over the years, she quickly acknowledges her love of music to her dad’s mum.

“Growing up in Volivoli Village in Nadroga I was surrounded by a family that loved music, with my grandmother being the source of it all,” she said.

“As a young girl, my grandmother would take me with her to nearby villages to sing in various competitions and it was that encouragement that allowed me to truly embrace singing.”

She said her grandmother loved to smoke her sika (dried tobacco) while singing and she thought it was an odd combination since smoking didn’t go hand in hand with singing gospel.

“My dad encouraged me to carry on with singing and to respect my talent because one day both of them would be gone and I would continue the love of singing for my family,” she said.

“Waisea Vatuwaqa later taught me everything I needed to know about becoming a professional singer and I was able to record 12 albums because of those simple lessons I learned over the years.

“I started singing in resorts at a young age and spent 15 years in the tourism industry singing different genres ranging from jazz, rock and roll, country and many others.

“All of that soon changed for me in 2008 when I recommitted my life to God after listening to Pastor Atunaisa Vulaono.

“I realised I needed to change my life completely and I stopped singing in resorts and started working in Gospel ministry, focusing on spreading the Gospel through my talent.

“I started contributing to the community through the Fiji Corrections Centre working closely with inmates and with the police singing gospel music.

“I’m always focused on love and the need for us to love one another. It’s very hard to always love and to forgive certain people, but through working with the corrections fellowship I was able to learn a lot.”

Last year Ms Batimala had the chance to compose her first song.

“I’ve always listen too many artists who compose their own music and to be able to do it last year was just amazing,” she said.

“I heard a voice from God that said he would give me the lyrics to the song and he did. I got the lyrics of the song and even the tunes to it and I’m happy to share it Fijians who love Gospel music.”

She said she hopes to inspire more people through her music.