The idiom “give credit to where credit is due” rings true for the latest album set to be launched by local diva Elena Baravilala.
The 28-year-old singer and songwriter said the album Na iDole was dedicated to all singers and songwriters both past and present who had graced and contributed to the local music industry.
“If it wasn’t for them, I don’t know if I would be doing what I do now as an artiste and especially as a female artiste taking into account the culture and tradition back then.
“I wouldn’t want to name song by song as that would ruin the surprise but definitely one of my favourites Lia Osborne is on the list. While covering one of her songs, I really saluted the women in the music industry who kind of manned up to a male-dominated industry. Just the thought of breaking through culture and tradition that can limit women to just being housewives etc. These women went through the ridicule and gave us the courage to do what we do now as female artistes.
“Now we have it easy, they didn’t, so I would dedicate that specific song to every female artiste who went before us.”
For a young artiste who only burst on to the scene a few years ago, Elena has recorded a few singles and three albums.
It was after the 2014 music award, as Elena recalls, when she was approached by former radio personality Jokatama Qio (JQ) to try and record an album of songs in the iTaukei language.
“He believed in me enough and also mentioned this to me ‘everyone knows you as an English singer, why don’t you do some Fijian songs and in this way you would reach out to our iTaukei audience who love their itaukei songs’.
“I thought it was a brilliant idea and I trusted him for making the decisions for me.
“JQ was very instrumental in this album as there were moments when I just thought I couldn’t finish this album as work and other things got in the way. It was the way he believed in me to finish my album earned my loyalty to finish it. At the same time I was scared throughout the process because I am recording songs that aren’t mine and how do I give justice to it. JQ was instrumental in this. Drix and Fredy were also very helpful and made the process easier.”
While she has always loved R&B, in this album she has a surprise for her fans.
She said artistes gave their time and effort in producing songs and album and pleaded with members of the public to refrain from making illegal copies.
“I just wish the pirates just stop so we don’t have extra worries but just worry about producing the best, being the best and representing Fiji music to the globe well.”
As to what her plans were for the future, she said she hoped to continue writing songs and singing.
“I understand I am not in this business for myself but every young aspiring artiste who want to be part of the industry. I am confident to say that I am already doing that sharing my platforms, giving them opportunities and mentoring them. My future is filled with training young aspiring artistes to do it better than I did or this current generation is doing.
“I first came on to the scene in 2006 and I’ve grown so much though I always feel I am beginning anew in every opportunity given to me. It’s been more humbling than ever as I believe that charisma takes you but only character will keep you.
“As artistes, we need to have values built inside of our personal life so that we are stable and certain about who we are and our identity.
“The day we stray from this is the day of our vulnerability to being like everybody else. In an industry where things can be superficial — never be afraid to remain true to who you are even if you have to stand alone.”
