Knox for live gigs
HAVING made his mark in the local music scene, musician Inoke Kalounisiga believes in providing opportunities for budding young talents as a way of giving back to the industry.
Known within the music circles as Knox, the name has stuck with him over the years — a name that his mother used to call him by.
As an established icon in the Fijian music industry, Knox’s dream of providing a platform for young musicians resulted in the birth of the Thurston Food and Music Festival, an event founded by him and his wife Ellana Kalounisiga.
After performing at several festivals in Australia over the past seven years, Knox was inspired to host a similar event locally to provide exposure for upcoming musicians.
With their shared passion for music, the couple wanted to build a lasting legacy for local musicians and a platform for them to perform professionally as compared with those provided overseas.
Their goal was to bring together various sectors of the community to appreciate and enjoy the value of live music.
“We also wanted to show the performers the other side of being a part of festivals like this by having performance agreements and media expectations in place,” said Ms Kalounisiga.
“We intend to lift the standard of the live music industry in Fiji, lift the rates of pay for performers and hopefully encourage other event managers to pay the performers fairly.
“This is a community-based event and we love nothing more than sitting back and seeing families come to Thurston Gardens and enjoy amazing live performances.
“This year the festival comes with a $45,000 price tag because we value musicians and we pay them well.”
Ms Kalounisiga said they wanted to show performers that their industry was super important, professional and that they did deserve to be paid well.
“Many people don’t consider the many lonely hours a musician practises to perfect their craft,” she said.
“Tickets are just $25 so the public who are actually paying just $2.50 per hour to be a part of this beautiful festival which starts from mid-day to 10pm this Saturday.”
With a tinge of rock and reggae, Knox would also be performing at the event with local musicians come Saturday.
Originally from Naimasimasi Village in Tailevu, Knox quickly is following the footsteps of his father Suliasi Tamanalevu who was a music enthusiast.
The eldest of three siblings, Knox wanted to be a doctor or pilot and took science subjects in school with this aim in mind. The idea of being a full-time musician didn’t cross his mind although he loved music and playing instruments.
He moved to different primary schools because his father was a teacher at the time and continued his secondary education at Marist Brothers High School in 1999.
Knox finished high school at Rotuma High School. After foundation studies at the University of the South Pacific, he switched to the Fiji Institute of Technology where he took up music and electronics.
He started as the lead guitarist for the Kulture band but after the lead vocalist left the group, he stepped in.
In 2003, Knox worked for the Robinson Crusoe Island on which he entertained tourists. Another highlight was when he participated in the Reggae Roots and Rhythm concert that featured BoneyM and Te Vaka.
His song Jah Love, Jah Crucify gave him his first international recognition in 2007, topping the reggae charts in New Zealand and getting airplay around the world, with people often describing him as the Fijian Jack Johnson.
Knox thinks it is important for musicians to realise they are never bigger than the music itself.
“It’s a passion, something you live and die for. It’s everything in my life. I realise that music is something bigger than you and your own artistic ego or your band.”
The dreadlock singer/musician has been playing professional music for 12 years, starting in cover bands — which he says are huge in Fiji — as a guitarist.
Knox only picked up a guitar in his late teens, but was making music with his family long before that.
When he was five years old, Knox and his parents performed as a vocal trio at their local church, while his father studied and taught Indian classical music.
This year artists such as Knox, Nem & Talei, Inside Out, Glass Alley, The Gang, Groove Co, RAKO, Hope Fiji, Four Quarters and Solomone would be out to share their craft and passion at the Thurston Food and Music Festival.
Three young budding musicians will also be performing on stage — students of a newly-opened music school run by well-known local musician David Stevens.
Members of the public are more than welcome to be part of the event which will be held at the Thurston Gardens in Suva.