Te Vaka
Te Vaka
Te Vaka drummers
Te Vaka at WOMAD
Te Vaka in France
Te Vaka in France
Te Vaka in the UK
Te Vaka in New Caledonia
Te Vaka in New Caledonia
Te Vaka in New Caledonia
Te Vaka in Australia
Te Vaka in Australia
Te Vaka at WOMAD UK

Songs

These are just preview samples. You need a valid account and be logged in to hear the full tracks.
  • country:New Zealand
  • region:South Pacific
  • style(s):Fusion, Polynesia
  • label:Warm Earth Records
  • type:Band, Composer/Songwriter
  • gender:male, female
  • instrumentation:instrumental, vocal
  • artist posted by:Te Vaka Management

Line up

  • Etueni Pita (Dance, BVs)
  • Liana Kaio (B.vocals, dance, percussion, keyboard)
  • Manase Foai (Drum kit, log drums)
  • Matatia Foai (Log drums, skin drums, drum kit)
  • Neil Forrest (Electric guitar, flute, skin drums)
  • Olivia Foai (Vocals, dance, keyboard)
  • Opetaia Foai (Songwriter, lead singer, acoustic guitar, lead log)
  • Talaga Sale (Vocals, dance, percussion)
  • Tremayne Lihou (Dance)
  • Vasa Foai (Bass guitar, bass skin drum)

Links

Te Vaka is a group of ten musicians and dancers from Tokelau, Tuvalu, Samoa, Cook Islands, and New Zealand brought together under the inspired leadership of Opetaia Foa'i. They have been wowing international audiences since 1997, presenting a rich, luscious mix of Polynesia's ancient culture to the modern world. In 2008 they won a total of 4 music industry awards "Best Pacific Group" and "Best Pacific Album" in New Zealand and in the Australian Songwriters Association Awards they took first place in the "International songwriting category" and won "Best Live performance" of the night awarded by the Phonographic Performance Company of Australia.

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. They have performed at the Apec ministerial dinners and 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 five internationally acclaimed albums to date. The first released 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. 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. 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 latest Te Vaka album Olatia, released in July 2007 has also achieved rave reviews both in New Zealand and internationally, entering the European World Music Chart at No. 4 and winning a "Tui" for "Best Pacific Album" in the 2008 Pacific Music Awards. Te Vaka has a very exciting future ahead of them with a new album set for release in September 2009 and a live show which is stunning audiences the world over "Te Vaka is an experience".

www.tevaka.com