AS the Fiji music industry continues to strive towards global recognition, local artists, young and old, have embraced the unity that comes with achieving that goal by working alongside each other while keeping the spirit of competition.
Speaking of competition, 22-year-old Lomaiviti lad Aisea Buliruarua is a former member of the group Paradise Roots and is currently chasing his own unrealised potential by doing what he’s always been advised to do – believing in himself even when no one does, even when you’re doing it alone.
“Ever since I joined the music industry, I have always been encouraged by my family and senior musicians that I will be able to achieve what I want when I believe in myself,” Buliruarua says.
“Growing up, I would never miss a family function because I always knew that there was going to be a band playing. From then on, I told myself I was going to be like that one day, to perform with a band.
“That part of my dream was achieved when I joined Paradise Roots. I absolutely loved it.
“I had gone to an audition that was suggested to me by a friend, Benjamin Amori, and the manager, Setareki Baleirara, provided me the opportunity to showcase my talent,and turn my dream into a reality.”
Buliruarua’s passion for singing would also feature during Sunday school. That passion led him to learn the guitar and ukulele at 14 years old.
Of course, his interest in music did not only begin with watching bands and singing in church.
“My family is a musically inclined family. It all started from home,” he adds.
The young artist is a distant relative of the Voqa ni Delai Dokidoki band members, a band that was popular in the early 2000’s with hit songs such as Au mai Vakila, 1996 and Sereki na Rarawa.
The band won the Best Performer Award in 1981 with musician and composer Temo Soko Lote winning the Best Composer Award a year later.
The band consisted of brothers who would sit down and play sigidrigi during grog sessions and, being a distant relative, Buliruarua would feel the close musical connection with them, discovered his potential and found his voice.
“Just like everyone else, I grew up listening to Dokidoki,” he says.
“But for me, it was different. I watched how they made music, I listened to how they would write songs, and I performed alongside them on stage and at family functions.
“That was it for me. That was how I knew in myself that I wanted to achieve what they had achieved on the music platform.
“Times have changed. Now we have the internet which has played a big role in the music industry by offering platforms to showcase musical talent.
“I would love to see the Fijian music industry grow and, hopefully, doors will open up for me in order to showcase more of my talent.”
