Fresh off of their recent Australian tour, Makare is all set to release a Christmas album.
With their renditions of timeless Fijian classics like Sa Bera and Dro Mai Vei Au, the band has endeared itself to the hearts of many in Fiji and abroad.
The group, the core of which comprises Phil Dakei, former Black Rose member Simi Rova, Felix Chaudhary and band leader William “Bigwilz” Waqanibaravi, has experience with a touch of originality in store for their growing fan base.
Dakei said the band was only following a time honoured tradition of releasing an album for Christmas featuring vintage Fijian hits.
“It’s something we will be doing for Christmas and essentially will comprise three songs and we are discussing putting in a few originals as a bonus,” said the West-based musician.
The album, due for release in December, will feature songs that were done by Lagani Rabukawaqa.
Lagani, a child singing prodigy, was perhaps, the closest Fiji ever got to producing a music superstar, having enthralled audiences with his talented vocals during the early 1980s.
“It’s basically all the songs that Lagani did and it’s part of our effort to revive the old Fijian songs,” explained Dakei.
“We’re going through a pool of songs and we still have to nail down the selection to three.”
Essentially, it has been a busy period for Makare after impressing with their Fiji Day gigs in Sydney.
The band was inundated by support from the sizable Fijian population in Sydney who appreciated the blast from the past tunes that the band exhibited in their own style.
With their own distinct style, the band has in effect honoured the contribution of late great local musos like Wise Vatuwaqa, Sakiusa Bulicokocoko, Tui Ravai, Paul Stevens and Vili Tuilaucala and others still living like Gilman Lasaisuva, all of whom emerged during what has been termed the glory days of Fijian music.
Starved of live Fijian classics for so long, Sydneysiders of Fijian descent soaked in Makare performances in a show of support that overwhelmed band members, and now they want more.
Aside from work that beckons at Noisy Oyster Studio, the band also has another trip Down Under in the pipeline for December.
Dakei said they have also been in collaboration with the Sydney Fijian Musicians Association for further performances but the details have not been finalised.
The band will be in Sydney for a private performance but given their success and popularity, it’s safe to assume they will be under pressure to perform elsewhere.
The success of their recent Australian jaunt was driven mostly by their popularity on social media sites like Facebook.
Their rendition of these Fijian classics has garnered interest as far as the US, Australia, New Zealand and Europe and the band has been selling these tracks online on the music website Reverbnation.
It is also understood that the band is in demand to play for a Fiji audience at a gig that coincides with the USA 7s in Las Vegas in February which is basically when masses of Fijians living in America coverge at one given time.
Makare’s success to date has been a result of their mastering of classic Fijian hits, adding a touch of class to songs that people grew up with on the radio in decades past.
Their immense success in the past two years is also an indication that music tastes of many more or less harken back to the glory days of Fijian music.
People are gravitating to the music of old and with their blend of modern and contemporary sounds, Makare is delivering the goods.
History certainly has a way of repeating itself.
