Te Vaka

We have received a number of emails wondering what has happened and why the band isn't on tour, so here is a little insight into some of the things that have been going on.....Here at Te Vaka headquarters there has been much creating. Olivia and Matatia have thrown their many talents into the ring and have been creating up a storm. Olivia has written a stunning album and together with Matatia's production skills and beats they have come up with a very exciting sound. The great reviews tell the story -  we…

More than 6 weeks have gone by and we are still buzzing from the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra tour. Four sold out shows in Christchurch, Dunedin and Wellington with their respective Orchestras of more than 60 instrumentalists in each. Performing the songs of Moana, from the heart, with an Orchestra bringing out so much emotion has really had an impact on all of us, in the best possible way.

It all started at the beginning of 2017 when we received the invitation from Kirsten Mason of Orchestra…

Now living in Australia, we don't always make it to the New Zealand Pacific Music awards and in fact we haven't attended since 2010 when Te Vaka won two awards for the 'Haoloto album' and the band performed live on the night. When Universal music nominated, Opetaia, Olivia, Vai, Sulata and Matthew for categories in this year’s awards we were not sure whether we could make it but when they were all announced as finalists, with Olivia in two categories - the "Best Pacific female artist" and "Best Pacific…

Te Vaka has been nominated for and won many awards over the last 20 years but I have always stayed behind the lines, just working by myself mostly, occasionally seeking advice from others in the industry but because Te Vaka isn't a pop or rock band I have had to figure a lot of it out as I went along. When I received the email to say I had been nominated for the MMF (Music Managers) "International achievement" award I was pleasantly surprised but didn't really give it a lot of thought. I was still busy…

Tomorrow we will find out if Moana wins an Oscar or two at the Academy awards. Whether it does or not, doesn't change the fact that it is an awesome movie, created with passion by some very talented and special people. The journey has been one of extreme highs and the ocassional low. A lot to learn in a short space of time, working with people whose creative output in a day is more than most people do in months or even years. Working with the Disney team has been an incredible experience and a dream come…

Christmas is upon us in a couple of days and I am reflecting on an incredible year that I am not so sure I want to end. The overwhelming success of Moana has left us all feeling so good, knowing that all the work that went into this movie really was worth something because people are loving it, you cant ask for more than that. The UK Blue carpet Premiere was very successful and a lot of fun, there is no place like London and we had a chance to catch up with friends and family that we hadnt seen in a very…

Wow!!! I mean seriously wow!!! Sitting in our hotel room in LA writing this blog I am in a place where all dreams can come true. Myself and the Te Vaka team could not have dreamed or hoped for anything better than the experience we had on the evening of the 14th of November at the Moana World premiere Blue (red) Carpet event in Hollywood. Arriving at the El Capitan theater in the afternoon for soundcheck there were still a few logistics to get through like how were we going to walk the blue carpet with…

It's been a busy 3 years working with Walt Disney Animation Studios on the upcoming Epic feature film, "Moana" but I fear it has only just begun. Next week we begin the media work with a full band performance of a track written by Opetaia for the movie at the Australian International Movie Convention in the Gold Coast. And now begins the task of flying the band in from around Sydney, Brisbane and Auckland for rehearsals and performance, preparing all the costumes and drums and all the other work that goes…

We have all been back in Australia and New Zealand respectively for a couple of days now but no-one has landed yet, our heads are still floating in the magic of what we have just experienced. Having all the great Te Vaka singers from 1994 through to 2016 all singing together on the Moana soundtrack was an historical moment for many reasons. Not only had they all never sung together before but to have Pacific voices singing in a Pacific language on a Disney movie has never been done before. The impact was…

News of the MOANA movie is spreading far and wide with the first teaser now doing it's rounds. This one focuses  on Maui but is very cool with Te Vaka log drums and announcing Opetaia as one of the writers - not something ususally seen on movie trailers so a nice little bonus. All the paperwork is in progress for the rush visas and all the best Te Vaka singers past and present are getting ready to fly to LA to give "Moana" their very best at the Warner Bros recording sessions. Of course Olivia will be…