Te Vaka

Infobox musical artist 2
Name = Te Vaka


Img_capt =
Background = group_or_band
Origin = New Zealand
Instrument =
Genre = World music
Years_active = 1995-Present
Label = Warm Earth Records
Associated_acts =
URL = [http://www.tevaka.com Official website]
Current_members = Opetaia Foa'i
Melodee Panapa
Manase Foa'i
Vasa Foai
Neil Forrest
Jeff Harris
Matatia Foa'i
Etueni (Edwin) Pita
Tremayne Lihou
Olivia Foa'i
Talaga Sale
Past_members =

Te Vaka is a New Zealand music group that performs original contemporary Pacific music. The group was founded in 1995 by Opetaia Foa'i in New Zealand. They received the "Best Pacific Music Album" award for their 2004 album "Tutuki" from the New Zealand Music Awards.

History

Te Vaka is a group of twelve musicians and dancers from Tokelau, Samoa, Cook Islands and New Zealand. The principal songwriter, Opetaia Foa'i, was born in Western Samoa to a father from Tokelau and a mother from Tuvalu. The group has created "a truly pan-Pacific sound" from this diverse heritage.cite web |author=Lusk, Jon |title=Te Vaka |publisher=BBC.co.uk |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/world/awards2003/profile_vaka.shtml |accessmonthday=April 4 |accessyear=2008]

Te Vaka's music is "grounded in the rhythms of the Pacific by the use of pate (single and double log drums) and Pa'u (indigenous goat skin conga and bass drums)." Most of their songs are written in the Tokelauan language, with some also written in Samoan and Tuvaluan languages.

In 2004, they received the "Best Pacific Music Album" award for their album "Tutuki" from the New Zealand Music Awards. [cite web |url=http://www.nzmusicawards.co.nz/awards2007/history2004.asp |title=2004 Winners |publisher=Nzmusicawards.co.nz (Official New Zealand Music Awards website) |accessmonthday=April 4 |accessyear=2008] They have also been acclaimed by the BBC as "the world's most successful band playing original contemporary Pacific music."

Discography

tudio albums

* 1997 "Te Vaka" (re-released in 2000 as "South Seas: Te Vaka" with an bonus track)
* 1999 "Ki Mua"
* 2002 "Nukukehe"
* 2004 "Tutuki"
* 2007 "Olatia"

Featured appearances

The group have appeared on the following compilations.

* 2000 - "Magic Of The South Seas" (ARC Music)
* 2001 - Gardens of Eden (Putumayo World Music) - "Tautai e"
* 2001 - Caterpillar Vo.4 (Ala Bianca) - "Pate Pate"
* 2002 - Soundtrack Album "Legend of Johnny Lingo" - "Tamahana," "Ki mua," "Manatu"
* 2002 - "La Compil Choc Vol. 2" (Mangrove Music) - "Pate Pate"
* 2000 - "Rough Guide to World Music Vo.ll" (World Music Network) - "Pate Pate"
* 2003 - WOMAdelaide Real World Records - "Nukukehe"
* 2003 - BBC Radio 3 Awards for World Music (Union Square Music) - "Alamagoto"
* 2004 - "South Pacific Islands" (Putumayo World Music) - "Iuliana," "Sei Ma Le Losa," "Haloa Olohega" & "Nukekehe"
* 2006 - "TFM 2006" (Living Works Trust) - "Pate Pate"

Notes

External links

* [http://www.tevaka.com Official website]