Vilivo Naseru and Lepani Tagicakibau are sitting cross legged on the floor waiting patiently for Procera Music’s sound engineer, Adriu Saranuku, as they compare notes and discuss the music structure of their group, Uca Mirimiri Ni Delainausa’s debut album.
Lepani is a seasoned composer from Natuvu on the eastern coast of Vanua Levu, while Vilivo hails from Balata in Savusavu.
They are laying down the basic chords of their songs with Saranuku and are waiting for the arrival of Sitiveni Lakolako and Inoke Tabua before they start recording the vocals.
Their enthusiasm is amplified by the fact that this is not the first studio they have entered to try and record their album. Their initial attempts only ended in tears.
Lepani is playing a huge role by not only lending his original compositions for Vilivo to use but to also guide him with the first album he has ever recorded as a musician.
“I am here simply to lend a helping hand to Vilivo and I am thankful that my cousins Inoke and Siti have also put their hands up to help out. For me too, this is a very big learning experience as this is the first for me to be directly involved in a project like this,” Lepani said.
Lepani who has his own group, Voqa Vou Kei Delainakorosaka, had also written songs for Drodrolagi kei Nautusolo, a sigidrigi group that is well known in Fiji.
“Usually in the past I have written songs for them, some of them featured in their Volume Nine but never have I been heavily involved like this one,” he added.
Vilivo is cherishing every moment of the recording.
Apart from his own input he is glad to have rubbed shoulders with some of the biggest names in Fijian music like Lakolako and Taniela Mavi.
“It’s just like playing rugby where you want to wear that white jersey so too is this. I am trying to wear that white jersey and become one of the best in music,” he said.
He has always wanted to be a singer after leaving school and is now glad to be recording his first album that he hopes will make him realise his dream.
The 30-year-old Wailevu man said singing with Mavi and Lakolako around the grog bowl have challenged him to become a good musician, something that he hopes to put into the album that they are working on.
Along with Lepani, Vilivo has been going around many studios and after wasting money on recording two singles in Labasa, they decided to try their luck with Procera.
“That did not sound the way we wanted it to sound, so in the end, they have become songs that we just listen to in the village, but we would like to give it another try and this time we will be recording a full album.
“I am happy to be here and to work with my tau, Adriu Saranuku as we all know that he is a well-known sound engineer and many of the well-known songs out there were produced by him and I feel that this is a very good opportunity for me to work with him,” Lepani said.
He adds that to have Vilivo to be working with some of the best singers and musicians in Fiji will definitely inspire him to strive for better things.
“But believe me, this is also a learning experience for us too, especially for me. As much as I want to see him (Vilivo) succeed, I am also happy to be here with him and get to know more about music production,” Lepani said.
