For decades, the name Freddy Kado has been synonymous with the vibrant sounds of Fijian music.
As a former member of the iconic band Black Rose, he helped define a generation’s musical landscape. His voice alone could be picked out of any song churned out by the band.
Now, at 56, Kado looks back on his journey, branching out and setting the stage for a new chapter under his own name.
In an exclusive interview last week at Sassy’s Kava Bar in Nadi, Kado shared his appreciation for his time with Black Rose and his plans to release new music.
He looked back on the immense opportunities Black Rose provided, from his first plane ride to touring the world.
“I’m so grateful to the late Mr Tony Morelli, Mr Ernie Data, the Black Rose management and Mr James Ratusila for believing in my talent,” he said.
“That was my door. I give credit to Black Rose. The mileage they brought to my name, I capitalised on every moment.”
He described his time with the band as his university where he honed his skills on various instruments from percussions, acoustic guitar to bass and drums.
He learned sound engineering by closely observing the band’s sound man, the late Peter Loy Chong Jr, a discipline he applies in his own home studio and live performances today.
He said this commitment to the craft is evident in his current schedule in which he still performs live four to five days a week, including a regular Sunday gig where he plays the classics for hours, a session I hope to one day attend.
Although Black Rose disbanded more than 20 years ago, founding member and band leader James Ratusila has kept the legacy alive by forming ROSILOA, his iTaueki version for Black Rose. The only original member, Ratusila continues to lead the group with a fresh line-up of talented musicians.
Today, ROSILOA remains active, performing and touring with both new releases as well as classic songs originally recorded by Black Rose.
However, Kado is ready to move beyond the Black Rose legacy and build his own brand. For years, he has felt a strong pull to be recognised as ‘Freddy’ rather than just a former member of the band.
“I want people to look at me and see me as Freddy,” he stresses.
Kado currently performs at the Tanoa Waterfront Hotel on Friday and Saturday evenings accompanied by his niece Stephanie Mafili. Their performances provide guests with a warm and engaging live music experience, blending family harmony with professional artistry.
Kado’s Sundays are reserved for ‘Sunday Chill’ at Sassy’s Kava Bar, which he describes as the cleanest, most well-ventilated and family oriented bar in Nadi.
His set begins at 6.30pm. Once the venue fills up, he shifts into a request circle during which each table is invited to choose a song for him to perform.
He emphasises that Sassy Sundays is the only day of the week when guests personally select a classic of their choice, making the evening a uniquely interactive live experience.
Authenticity in the craft of music creation:
While Kado admires the younger generation’s tech savvy methods and passion, he is a little concerned about the lyrical content of some modern music.
He believes music should be a vehicle to preserve the stories of our time, and he worries that many songs are focused on sadness and use iTaukei words in the wrong context.
“The stories we tell, the language we use.
“It is very important to produce music that will have a positive impact on our society, especially for our next generation.”
This philosophy is the driving force behind his new, unrecorded song Authenticity.
“I was born in a time and age when authenticity was put in a cage.
“If there’s something I want to share from my heart for the next generation, that’s it — articulating messages in your music.”
Kado says most new artists are unable to deliver live what they record in studios.
“There are two categories of artists, the studio artist and the live performing artist,” he said, adding that playing full-time in Fiji as both a studio and live performing artist required consistent practice and a lot of variation to satisfy customer and guest preference.
“Studio singing involves hours of cut, pasting and editing and it makes live performance challenging for studio artists who choose to go live regularly.
“My previous brand and work team before Covid was Wanup Entertainment. The core of my team has moved on to greener pastures, signing up with Resonance Entertainment after Covid.”
His daughter and son perform weekly at the Sofitel Fiji Resort and Spa. “Shane plays guitar and Nicole sings.
“I’ve always encouraged them to sing in any language and perform to any audience to be the complete artist.”
What’s next?
“If I get a full band booking, I still can supply entertainment provided my client meets my full production costs.
“I am comfortable playing keyboard now because it has a band simulator. I worry less for my entertainment team, my sound and product is consistent, plus I get more.”
Despite his past success, Kado remains humble and content although he has several songs ready to go and is considering collaborations with prominent artists.
He has been slowly transitioning over the past five years, and his upcoming releases will be under the brand Freddy Kado Music.
He is determined to release his material on the right platform with the right quality, ensuring that revenue matches the effort put into his hard work.