Since emerging as a talented young vocalist in the late 1960s Saimone Vuatalevu has established himself as one of the older statesmen of the local music scene.
Now into his 44th year as a musician, Vuatalevu recently released his fifth album titled Na Loloma Uasivi, a 10-track compilation of some of his more memorable work.
It follows the launch of a similar album Healthy Multi-cultural Fiji, which was opened to the market in December last year.
The new album, which he dedicated to his mother, has been in the works over the past six months.
“I’m basically trying to preserve my songs because most of them were recorded on cassette,” said the Suva-based entertainer.
In past decades Vuatalevu amassed four albums under South Pacific Recordings (SPR), covering about 60 adaptations and original compositions.
Na Loloma Uasivi contains tracks like Tukuni UU!EE (1995), Raica Lesu 1986) and even Yeh Sham Mastani, a Hindi song he performed during Fiji Ka Sangeet Sitara in 1973, a competition he eventually won.
“There were 23 contestants altogether and I was the only iTaukei competing but I managed to win it,” recalled the native of Mavana in Vanuabalavu in Lau.
Five years earlier, Vuatalevu had also won Fiji’s English talent quest organised by the Fiji Jaycees.
He took out the contest with two Cliff Richard hits namely Gee Whiz Its You and All My Love.
“It was really tough competition I faced because there were a lot of good singers and the performers all presented themselves well on stage,” reminisced Vuatalevu who worked as a civil servant in Suva during those formative years.
Little did he know, the win would set the ball rolling for him eventually forming Quintikis, a band that would become known in the Suva music scene in the years to come.
“Shortly after I won, Cecil Dass and Eddie Krishna came over to me and asked me whether I wanted to join their band,” he said.
Dass, Krishna and Vili Likusuasua, who had been playing in the live band that backed talent quest contestants had decided to form their own yet lacked a good singer, a gap that Vuatalevu willingly filled.
The five men ensemble which had, at one stage, included a young future Vude King in Seru Serevi went on to play at venues such as the old and new Suva Town Halls, St John and QVS Club and even as far as Tavua and Vatukoula.
“Seru used to come over as a student still in uniform together with Jimmy Nathu, they were both students just sitting around with their guitars and following the band,” said Vuatalevu.
At the time, Maxie’s Mules, a popular band, were playing at La Tropical in Nina Street and other acts such as George Knights’ Falcons and Maroc 5, led by Manoa Rasigatale were also making an impression in the live music hungry Capital City.
In the early 1970s, the band was paying off their set of instruments with Dragon Music and after a gig would split $15, with members sometimes taking home 50 cents each “which was plenty for us back then.”
Vuatalevu tapped into his music inspiration from the likes of The Beatles, The Monkeys and the Rolling Stones, to deliver as a vocalist.
But every good thing must come to an end and the band eventually split in 1975 as members got married and moved on with careers.
Although the band broke up, Vuatalevu kept the Quintikis name which he continues to use to this day.
The muso would tap into the talent of his six brothers, and they helped carry the outfit through after the departure of Dass, Krishna and other former members.
Quintikis would also collaborate with some of the creme de la crème of Fiji music, like guitarists Wise Vatuwaqa, Villi Tuilaucala and the ultra-talented multi-skilled Sakiusa Bulicokocoko. A retired visiting fellow of music at the Fiji National University, he has banked on musicially talented students at the institution and combined with the skills of his son Archie, continues to score gigs around the country.
Vuatalevu’s new music, while retaining much of his old style, also incorporates new modern sounds and has modern beats and even saxophone in certain songs.
Although well known locally, the Lau man has also made an impression outside of the country.
With his song Tucake Mai, Vuatalevu won 1st prize in World Music Category at the South Pacific International Song Contest in 1998.
His achievements so far have certainly guaranteed his status as one of Fiji’s prominent musicians although, as Vuatalevu explained, music was always going to figure prominently in his life.
“Music has always and will continue to be a part of my life and I still feel I have a lot to give.”
* Get Na Loloma Uasivi through direct order on 9911763 or contact Saimone Vuatalevu on saimonevuatalevu@gmail.com.
