THE road to international recognition was not built on music alone for Setareki Baleirara, the founder, director and executive producer of Paradise Rootz.
It began from a humble upbringing shaped by values instilled by a single mother, and a determination to keep moving forward, no matter the obstacles.
Today, after 11 years of building the band, those lessons of sacrifice, resilience and hard work have helped shape Paradise Rootz into one of Fiji’s biggest bands, with 50 million YouTube views, tours across 10 cities in Australia and performances before audiences in Wales, England, Scotland and Vanuatu.
For Baleirara, however, the journey has always been about more than the numbers.
“Paradise Rootz is more than just a band name,” he says.
“Paradise represents the beauty of our islands, our people, and the place we call home. Rootz represents where we come from — our culture, our identity, our language, and the values that keep us grounded.”
That sense of identity is central to the band’s music and the vision behind its growth.
Baleirara learnt early what it meant to sacrifice, make the most of limited resources and persevere when things did not go according to plan. Those experiences would later become the foundation of his approach to building and managing a band in an industry where success requires more than musical talent. His upbringing taught him responsibility and resilience, as well as the importance of holding on to a vision even when the journey initially had to be carried alone.
From 2015 to 50million views
Paradise Rootz was formed in 2015, with Baleirara building, managing and overseeing the band from the beginning.
Looking back on the journey, he recognises both the challenges and the progress made along the way.
“It’s been a long journey, and when I look back, I’m proud of how far we’ve come.”
A defining moment came in 2019 with Na watiqu, written by Maciu Salauca. The song marked a breakthrough for the band, helping expand its reach and strengthen its place in Fiji’s contemporary music scene.
From there, Paradise Rootz continued to develop its catalogue, releasing the album Fuel the Love and popular songs including Au taroga lo, Galili, Kavoro featuring Fiji, Liwa Donu Tu featuring Ledua Cakacaka, Velavela featuring Rosi Soqeta and Aji featuring The Gang.
The growing popularity of its original music has helped carry the band beyond local stages to international audiences. Its journey has included performances at the One Love Festival in New Zealand, the UB40 Big Love Tour, 14 shows across 10 Australian cities, a UK tour with the Fiji Rugby Team and WAN Pasifika in Vanuatu.
Among these experiences, Baleirara recalls the Vanuatu performance as a particular highlight, demonstrating how music can bring people together despite differences in language and culture.
“Our recent experience with WAN Pasifika in Vanuatu has to be one of the highlights, where the power of music cut through the language barriers — we had the Vanuatu crowd singing back our lyrics word for word.”
For Baleirara, seeing an audience sing along to the band’s music reinforced the belief that Fijian music has the ability to connect with people well beyond its shores.
Behind the spotlight
While audiences experience the music and performances, Baleirara says the work behind the scenes is often less visible.
Running a band involves managing finances, organising productions, coordinating people and making decisions that affect both the music and the business.
“People often see the entertainment side, but behind every release and every performance, there are costs, responsibilities, and difficult decisions.”
Funding, production, team management and consistency remain among the challenges. Another priority is protecting the band’s original sound while adapting to changes in the music industry.
For Baleirara, maintaining that identity is essential to the band’s long-term success.
He wants Paradise Rootz to have a sound that audiences can immediately recognise, regardless of where they hear its music.
The journey has also taught him that progress does not always follow a straight path. Mistakes, setbacks and difficult decisions are part of building a sustainable operation, and learning from them has helped shape his leadership.
“I’ve learned that you can’t give up just because things don’t go according to plan. You must be willing to make tough decisions, learn from mistakes, and keep moving forward. Some lessons have come at a cost, but they’ve helped shape how I lead.”
The determination to keep going, he says, can be traced back to his childhood.
His upbringing taught him that giving up was never an option. That mindset has stayed with him throughout the band’s development, particularly during periods when resources were limited and the demands of managing a growing music business were challenging.
Milestones that matter
Over the years, Paradise Rootz has accumulated achievements that reflect its growing influence in the local music industry.
In 2020, the band received the Fiji Performing Rights Association (FPRA) awards for Best iTaukei Song and Best Composition. Further recognition followed in 2026, when the band received Artist of the Year, Best Composition of the Year at the Premium Awards for Kavoro featuring Fiji, and Best Sigidrigi.
Other milestones include Au Taroga lo reaching number one on radio, the band attaining 100,000 subscribers and its YouTube views reaching 50 million. For Baleirara, the recognition of the band’s original music has been particularly significant because it has reinforced his belief in the value of developing a distinct musical identity rather than simply following trends.
“If I had to identify a turning point, it was seeing our original music gain that level of recognition. It reinforced my belief that we didn’t need to follow everyone else.”
The achievements represent more than popularity. They affirm the band’s commitment to its own sound and its potential to compete on an international stage while remaining connected to its Fijian roots.
Looking beyond Fiji
With a growing international audience and an established catalogue of original music, Baleirara is now focused on what comes next.
His ambitions include exploring opportunities in the United States and other parts of the Pacific, strengthening the band’s independence and developing new ways to support its growth.
He also wants to build stronger relationships with sponsors, develop the band’s own events, expand merchandise sales and ensure that the business behind the music remains sustainable.
For Baleirara, the long-term vision is not simply to perform for larger audiences. It is to establish a stronger foundation that allows Paradise Rootz to continue producing music, creating opportunities and expanding its reach.
“Most importantly, I want people to understand that Paradise Rootz is not just a group of musicians who come together to perform.”
“There is a whole journey behind the name: the sacrifices, the planning, the people, the investment, and the belief that our music deserves a place on the international stage.”
It is a vision built around the idea that a successful band requires more than talented musicians. It needs a dedicated team, a clear identity, sound management and the ability to invest in the future.
Baleirara’s goal is to strengthen all those elements while ensuring the band remains true to the culture, language and values reflected in its music.
“We’re only getting started on the next chapter.”
The team behind the sound
Behind Paradise Rootz’s performances and recordings is a team of musicians, producers and management personnel who contribute to the band’s creative direction and operations.
Baleirara also acknowledges the contributions of Ledua Cakacaka, The Gang Fiji, One 2 Eight Band, drummer Steven Ronny Naivalurua and Precise Digital.
Their involvement forms part of the wider network of people who have contributed to the band’s journey.
From the lessons of childhood to the demands of international touring, Baleirara’s story reflects the persistence required to turn an ambition into a lasting enterprise.
Paradise Rootz’s 50 million YouTube views and international performances mark significant achievements, but for its founder, the greater goal remains building a sustainable platform for Fijian music.
And as the band looks towards new markets and opportunities, Baleirara continues to draw on the values that shaped him from the beginning: hard work, resilience and a belief in the vision, even when the road ahead is uncertain.
