Music is an innate talent that often lies dormant in individuals waiting to be unveiled to the masses at only the right time.
For Viliame Cokanauto, better known for his group name, KKU or Kula Kei Uluivuiya, it all happened during the summer of 2013 at the University of the South Pacific.
This is the man who took Fiji by storm with his debut album Tagimoucia, with the dancy ode to the famous garden island of Taveuni that has topped charts in Pacific island nations.
The tune has courted controversy with notions that some of the lyrics in the song like eitou dou ania are suggestive but Cokanauto laughs these off and maintains it all comes down to how one inteprets it.
“When I wrote it I wrote it for Taveuni — as an artist I created something in my head but no two people can have the same ideas,” said the proud Taveuni man. “
It has been an upward spiral for the artist, who was sitting in a classroom at Queen Victoria School just five years ago.
Cokanauto had long toyed with the idea of being a musician and had competed in talent shows but never really made the breakthrough or reached a level of performance that was self-satisfactory.
The bachelor had been immersed in a vibrant musical fraternity on campus constantly surrounded by passionate artistically inclined individuals who were willing to break new ground.
Things came to a head though one day when he sampled on stage some of his creative works at USP.
“The music I created and lyrics just came together that day and that’s when I clicked,” he said.
There was no looking back for the 23-year-old.
He had discovered that his involvement in music was no fluke and there were sure signs that a future in the industry was promising.
Then the hit song Tagimoucia was released, showcasing the brilliant composition skills the Vanua Levu native possesses alongside a keen sense of what it takes to get people up and dancing.
Two years down the line, Cokanauto is now a bona-fide original entertainer with two albums to show for his efforts.
His songs are being played in regional nations like New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands.
Seni Makosoi reached number two on the Pacific Top 20 this year, just behind the Common Kings’ Before You Go.
In October last year KKU reached number one on the same charts for Tagimoucia, the best placing any Fijian recording artist has reached in recent times.
“When my first album came out and people started liking the songs I realised this is what I’m supposed to be doing,” offered the artist.
“Talent is god-given and free but you have to work on it and concentrate on your strengths in order to get the best out of it.”
The Welagi village native admits that he is the most confident when he is performing on stage.
These days Cokanauto performs occasionally in clubs in the Capital City, his latest gig being at Onyx Bar last week.
These shows are primarily to maintain his vocal skills, sharpen his stage performances and make people aware that he a live performer and not an artist who confines his work to the studio.
Cokanauto spent most of his early years on Taveuni until he joined Queen Victoria School as a boarder.
At QVS he didn’t really excel at music and engaged in normal church choir singing like other pupils.
His musical adventure began when he joined USP in 2010 and joining the Pasifika Voices under award winning composer Igelese Ete.
“That’s where I started experiencing voices and what I could do vocally,” he said.
“Ete taught me a lot and importantly he taught us that music is a powerful tool that we can use to carry a message across to people.
“For me music is mostly for inspiring other people especially now with music being very popular form of relaxation for young people.”
Although gravitating towards English songs and stars like Enrique Iglesias while growing up, he started getting into Fijian music into his mid to late teens after listening to groups like Na Voga Ni Delaidokidoki and Voqa Ker Nasau.
An eclectic music appetite combined to create the artist we know today as KKU.
Now Cokanauto counts acts like Common Kings, who have toured Fiji twice in recent years, as one of his recent musical inspirations.
“I’ve been hugely inspired by them (Common Kings) because for us being pacific islanders they made us realise that we can go out there and make it too.”
KKU is all about originality and he feels too many artists are riding on the coat-tails of others in terms of cover tunes.
“Sa rui levu na vei murimuri (too many artists are copying),” he added.
“As soon as one English song comes out and becomes famous they cant wait to make a local version it,” said Cokanauto with a shake of his head.
KKU’s second album, I AA KKU was put together by J 1 Muzik in collaboration with Sireli Gumatua of Raven Studios and Josefa Matailagi, a fellow collaborator in studio and on stage and has songs with a definite message to the youths out there.
The album contains three English songs alongside seven itaukei ones, in an original album, with all compositions by Cokanauto.
The harsh reality of life is what pushes the artist to put pen to paper.
“My songs are about life experiences, the hardships of life but basically telling people that there is light at the end of the tunnel,” said Cokanauto.
I AM KKU is now available on itunes or at South Pacific Recordings outlets around the country.
