Music truly runs in his blood for Steven Vereakula.
It’s something he deeply believes is in his DNA, passed down from his uncles, members of the sigidrigi group Vagadrokadroka ni Saqani in the 1970s — who were very prominent in Cakaudrove.
One of his uncles, the chief of Saqani, Taukei Natadra Sairusi Daugunu, founded the group and composed songs that become classics. (https://www.fijitimes.com/song-for-the-brave/)
Classics such as Isa Lei Lia and Pakiakia, two songs proudly composed by the band and written in iTaukei, songs that speak of love riding on the back of catchy sigidrigi guitar strumming.
Steven, a.k.a Stee, nephew of the chief, continues the family tradition of songwriting.
He is the mastermind and writer of the lyrics in songs fronted by VT1S’ such as Taqaniika and Yalayala to name a few, upbeat tunes that have helped define what’s being described as ‘VTBop Music’ that’s hitting Fiji and the world.
Stee and Tropic Thunda, who featured last week, had planned to bring together singers such as Billy T, Ratu, Liz, Oni Noami, Taufa, Ozz and Pojee to front the songs and make their dream a reality.
If you’re wondering who’s the guy behind the curtains, the one writing VT1S songs? That would be Stee.
And who was that rapper on stage with Billy T at VTIS’ jam-packed concert last month? That would be Stee.
You tell him a story and he’ll give you a song.
He’s the guy behind the scenes who claims ownership of the lyrics because he does it with so much passion.
Before all of this, Stee had dedicated his life to farming after high school.
Literally rapping with a digging fork in hand, he’d subconsciously put words together to make a song.
“I’m from Waitabu Village in Bouma, Taveuni with maternal links to Saqani in Cakaudrove,” says Stee who recently announced his new marriage on his Facebook status.
“I’ve been doing music for 10 years, mostly hip hop. Recently, just a few years ago, I began to write songs in iTaukei.”
Stee’s debut in the music scene happened at Votualevu in Lautoka with a rap group called Team Stay Focus (TSF). He joined school friends taking on the name Cracker and later experimented with the band Young Blood in hip hop.
“I have always been interested in music. It’s been in my family ever since I can remember. My mum’s brothers were musicians, they were in a sigidrigi band, so music has been a part of my growing up.”
Along with the years has come confidence which Stee believes will help him lift the standard of music lyrically and, hopefully, help support his family.
“I started writing songs in English with friends and later tried writing in iTaukei.
“So, writing I believe is God-given. One of my uncles wrote many songs and I think I inherited that. He wrote the song Isa Lei Lia and Pakiakia which the band Makare sang.”
Stee’s parents were schoolteachers who travelled the rural areas and outer islands.
“So, my upbringing was far from the city, but my mum still checks my work, particularly my English, for grammatical mistakes and my iTaukei.
“The song Taqaniika came about when I attended a lecture in Australia, a Fijian pastor told me the story and I was fascinated by it.
He’s been to Tanganyika in Africa, and he told me about the legend and I told myself that I would write a song about it.
“One day, some years later in the studio, Thunda played a beat and we agreed that it should be the Taqaniika song. “I based that story on the ‘ko ira na vuda’.
“So, music is like art. It depicts different ways of story-telling. I got some historical facts from there, combined with my own interpretation and that’s how it was done.”
On the other hit song Yalayala, Stee says it was very easy because “I based my lyrics on weddings — talking about vows and love”.
“Writing songs come to me naturally, especially when I’m doing farm work. I sometimes go to the rural area to relax and get motivated to write songs.
“That’s where new ideas come to me, so when I come to meet Thunda and he plays a beat, we make it work — it’s just like chemistry.”
Stee’s involvement with the VT1S movement has been very exciting and “we have more to show”.
“We have a new album coming up, so stay tuned.
“And the best thing for us now is support from our listeners — we appreciate you all.
“A big shout out to those who supported us on concert night, and those who enjoy listening to our music just as much as we enjoy making it.”
