From last week’s narrative about Billy T stepping up to claim his spot in the musical limelight just like his parents — the legendary Lia Osborne and Bill Beddoes — we move to his accomplice and close friend Ratu Elijah G.M.T Naitini. The 22-year-old Raiwaqa kiddo is the rising star who stole people’s hearts with his latest songs Yalayala and Tetewai.
Not much is known about him except the fact he exploded onto the local musical scene and blasted straight to a No.1 hit on the local airwaves.
So who exactly is this mysterious Ratu?
He is another of VT1S’ prodigies behind the new VTbop Music movement.
This week in an exclusive interview with Ratu — we find out more about the former Fiji under-20 rep’s great sacrifice — to give up rugby, to lose a mum and begin a musical career against the wishes of a father.
Ratu joins Fiji’s newest VT1S’ group of young artists — moving to purge a laxity in the music industry — for the sake of all musicians.
Earlier this month, Ratu’s outstanding performance at the VT1S concert in front of a “sold-out” National Gymnasium in Suva marked an epiphany for the youngster.
“Too long living in the shadow of other people’s dream, I’m making my own destiny,” Ratu says.
Originally from Nokonoko, Saivou in Ra and maternal ties to Navuevu, Cuvu in Nadroga he said rugby was a big thing for his family — “especially dad”.
“He wants a better life for me and music had no potential in his eyes — rugby was the big picture. So opting to do music was met with some differences.
“I invited him to the VT1S concert and miraculously he now respects my choice.
“The concert was unreal, I did not know how people would react to my songs, but when they showed up in numbers at the gym I was hissing to get on stage.
“The crowd support was impeccable, a big vinaka vakalevu to all those who attended.
“Brought up in a tough neighbourhood I stood insignificantly as a singer. Most just knew me for my physical stature and prospect in rugby, even though I had so much love for my favourite tunes — and I could effortlessly hit those high and bottom notes.
“Fiji is all about rugby and everyone knows that rugby is the only way for potentials like me. I joined Seremaia Bai academy, went on to play for Fiji U-20 for two years and secured a scholarship to play in the land of the long white clouds.
“It was a joyous time for my family when I flew over to join the New Plymouth Boys’ High School in Taranaki.”
Ratu said the journey was a bitter-sweet-experience. Just nine months in, Ratu was juggling rugby and choir practice after joining the Island Boys Vocal Squad.
“Island Boys Vocal Squad had been dormant, no seniors wanted to run it so I decided to lead it. I recruited the boys, got parental consent and we practiced every day after rugby training.
“I approached every single islander in the school. We entered our first choir competition and won it. It had been several years since the club had won but this was not my epiphany.
“Sometimes, later my school teacher Evan Davies approached me to enter a singing talent quest. I sang Jealous by Labrinth with another colleague Jack Newsom on guitar — people cried.
“I secured a scholarship to study music in Auckland. People told me I had an amazing voice. That’s when I realised music had followed me to Taranaki.
I felt it in my soul but everything changed when I returned to visit my family in Fiji in 2017. My mum had just returned from her nursing job in Palau and fell gravely ill. The woman, who fed us, got us ready for school and one of the strongest women in my life.
“I gave everything up to stayed back and look after her. Frankly speaking it was me saying my last good-byes and she died in 2020. The pain was unbearable, but I had my family and then there was my music that filled that void.
“In 2017, I took a gig at DogFather. From there I started performing with Billy and Chris. We shared the same ambitions about making music in Fiji — even though making a livelihood as a musician here is tough. I want to change that. That’s what VT1S’ new VTbop Music aims to do.
“I believe VT1S will serve that purpose and break barriers. We want to change the way people value music, showcase our creativity and be able to encourage upcoming artists to step-up just as we did.
“Billy sings about culture, thirst to find out more about his roots and identity as a Fijian.
“I too want to leave a lasting impression by sharing love in my songs. To make use of this God-given gift so when people ask “hey you know Ratu? They’ll say yeah! I got married to his songs.”
Ratu took up his new job with Today FM and is working on VT1S’ Volume 2.
He acknowledges his na levu (aunty) Ulamila Kina who stood by him and his family until.
He acknowledges his dad Tomasi Naitini, sisters — Makelesi and Ulamila Naitini, grandmother, Mereoni Naitini, his family from his koro ni vasu, partner Amelia Brown and his children Tahina Brown and Tomasi William Naitini — who remain his heartbeat in his musical journey.
