Te Vaka

Music

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Pate Pate

Album: Ki mua

Released: Apr 14, 2008

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Pate Pate
3:19
34,138 plays
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Tamahana
4:03
57,624 plays
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Lelei ilo tenei
3:29
21,095 plays
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Lovely world
4:02
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Nukukehe
3:36
3,547 plays

Total Plays: 205,911 / Plays Today: 1See All Featured ►

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General Info

Genre: Fusion / Roots Music / Tropical
Location Sydney, New South Wales, Au
Profile Views: 108363
Last Login: 1/6/2013
Member Since 9/8/2007
Website www.tevaka.com
Record Label Warm Earth Records
Type of Label Indie
Bio
Te Vaka is a group of musicians and dancers from Tokelau, Tuvalu, Samoa, Cook Islands and New Zealand brought together under the inspired leadership of Opetaia Foa'i. Te Vaka has been enchanting the world with their own brand of South Pacific Fusion since 1997. Using the rhythms of the log drum ("pate"), combined with traditional and contemporary instruments, Opetaia Foa'i and the band deliver a kaleidoscopic array of Pacific flavors in a genre all of it's own. Te Vaka has performed in the USA and toured the UK, Europe & other parts of the world extensively over the last 13 years, performing in such prestigious venues as London's Royal Festival Hall and Ronnie Scott's nightclub. The group has headlined music festivals throughout Europe and been favourites at WOMAD festivals around the world including the WOMAD Festival in Seattle, USA. They are in demand for many important world events and have represented New Zealand and the South Pacific with performances for the America's cup events in Auckland, the Commonwealth games in Melbourne, the Rugby World Cup in Paris and the Olympic Games in Beijing. Opetaia Foa'i is the songwriter/ lead vocalist of the group. The inspiration for his music comes from his multi-cultural upbringing - half Tokelauan, half Tuvaluan, born in Samoa and bought up in a Tokelauan community in New Zealand. Opetaia's musical background spans both the traditional and the diverse influences of contemporary metropolitan culture. Described as "one of New Zealand's finest songwriters" and " a true son of the Pacific", he won the Senior Pacific Artist award in 2005 for his contribution to the Pacific Arts. Te Vaka has performed in more than 35 countries around the world and released six internationally acclaimed albums to date. The first released in 1997 through ARC Music, a UK based record company, gained immediate worldwide acclaim and recognition for the group and was distributed to over 80 countries. The second album, released in 1999 through Warm Earth Records created an even bigger impact going to number one on world music charts and on mainstream radio in the South Pacific. The third album, released in May 2002, was described as "Phenomenal" and gained the group a nomination in "Best Roots" category in the New Zealand music awards and nominations for BBC 3 World music awards in the UK. The 4th album Tutuki , entered the European World Music Charts at no. 4 & the USA Global Rhythm top 10 chart at No. 3. It won a Tui for "Best Pacific Music Album" in the New Zealand music awards as well as Songwriting Awards in both the USA and Australia. The fifth Te Vaka album Olatia, released in July 2007 entered the European World Music Chart at No. 4 and won a "Tui" for "Best Pacific Album" in the 2008 Pacific Music Awards. Te Vaka has a very exciting future ahead of them with new album "Haoloto" receiving rave reviews and already winning 2 awards -"Best Pacific Group 2010" and Best Pacific language song"and tours to the USA, Canada planned for 2010, 2011 & 2012. .... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ...... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..Te Vaka You Tube.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
Members
Band leader, guitarist, percussionist lead singer and song writer for Te Vaka. Opetaia has written and arranged all the band's material as well as co-produced the five Te Vaka albums. Opetaia has been described as ..."one of New Zealand's finest songwriters - his sentiments are universal and his subjects deeply personal"... .. Drum kit, log Drums, skin drums, Percussion. Born in New Zealand, Matatia is quarter Tokelauan, quarter Tuvaluan and half New Zealander. The youngest drummer in the group he started performing with Te Vaka in 2003 and makes his way around log drums, skin drums and percussion with ease and skill beyond his years .. Olivia is part Tokelauan, Tuvaluan and New Zealander. Born in New Zealand she has performed with Te Vaka since 2005. As with many members of the group, Olivia is multi-talented and loves to perform - singing and playing keyboards when she is not dancing. .. Singer & dancer. Talaga is full Tokelauan, born in Tokelau. He joins Te Vaka on tour for the first time in 2007but his voice can be heard on the first Te Vaka album recorded in 1996. .. Bass player and Pau'u Malu (goat skin bass drum). Luavasa has been with Te Vaka since 1994. He left the band in 2000 but is now back on the bass. Vasa is half Tokelauan and half Tuvaluan born in Samoa and brought up in a Tokelauan community in New Zealand. .. Guitar, Pate Toa (rhythm log drums), Pate liki (double log drums), Pa'u Malu, skin drums, keys & flute. Neil has been with Te Vaka since 1994 and is a New Zealander. He has been involved with music for most of his life, learning piano at the age of eleven, and going on to play drums, guitar, flute and log drums. .. Tremayne was born in New Zealand . Part Niuean, Cook Island, Maori and European, Tremayne is a passionate dancer. She joined Te Vaka at the beginning of 2005 and has been stunning audiences around the world ever since. .. Drum kit, Pate Toa (rhythm log drums), Pate liki (double log drums) He is quarter Tokelauan, quarter Tuvaluan and half New Zealander. Manase joined Te Vaka in 1995 as a drummer and dancer, but his exceptional skills on the drums have not allowed time for the dance as he moves around a multitude of drums in any one show. .. Lead Dancer. Half Tokelauan, quarter Cook Island and quarter Tuvaluan, born in New Zealand. He has been dancing since the age of five. Joining Te Vaka in 1997, he made his debut at WOMAD Pacifica. Since being with the band he has contributed his traditional and contemporary dance skills and also assists with choreography for the stage shows.
Influences
Traditional music of Polynesia, Peter Gabriel, Jimi Hendrix, Joan Armatrading and more
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Mar 21

Te Vaka

New Te Vaka website and good news! http://lnk.ms/f1mgt
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Mar 10

Te Vaka

Posted a new comment "On the 9th of March friends, family and Te Vaka members flew to the Gold Coast ..." http://lnk.ms/dmDQT
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Mar 05

Te Vaka

Tutuki is a finalist for ISC awards & eligible for the "People's choice" award. http://lnk.ms/dz7gh
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Mar 05

Te Vaka

Te Vaka team all getting ready to go to the Gold Coast to watch Manase fight at "Total Carnage" on Saturday night
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Feb 16

Te Vaka

Posted a new comment "Opetaia has 2 songs named in the list of finalist for the ISC songwriting comp...." http://lnk.ms/dmDQT
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