AFTER many years on the music front, singer and songwriter Marika Nakete feels it’s time to give recording another go.
Some of the local hits Marika worked on alongside his aunt Laisa Vulakoro include A sia dina arai and Aule which made it to the top of the local radio hits in the past few weeks.
“I come from a musically inclined family.
Laisa Vulakoro is my aunt, my father’s cousin sister.
My father was a choir master and he introduced me to music early on. In fact, I started playing the ukelele before I even started school,” he shared.
From playinmg the ukelele, to the guitar and the key board, Marika says it is these instruments that have helped pay the bills and put food on the table for the past 22 years.
The Yacata, Cakaudrove native last recorded an album back in 2003 and since floated around the local music scene playing at hotels, clubs and writing songs for various groups such as Cadra ko Muana and Domo ni Savu.
“When I first started out, my wife would ask me to find a stable job as it was hard earning a living from music,” he said with a smile.
“But I refused, this is my passion and my talent and it has served us well. One thing I have to keep in mind is to look after my voice, and be disciplined, all this comes in a package — being professional.”
There are 12 songs in Marika’s new album titled Marama Serene and is expected to be released next week.
One of the songs is on the car accident at Nabou in Sigatoka where eight people died. It was released three weeks after the accident in August, 2018.
“Right now, we’re putting everything together in the recording.
“Hopefully, in the weekend we can release it,” said Marika.
