Oni rises above the ‘butterflies’

KNOWING you have the gift of a great voice and performing to showcase that gift are two different things.

At every first-time performance, even the best singers must conquer their nerves to ward off one of mankind’s greatest fears — the fear of being laughed at.

Singers stand front-stage, clearly for all eyes to see.

Rehearsal and training play a vital role, but I can’t say for sure that all Fiji’s greats went through a brilliant first-time performance. Back then, you got a standing ovation or got booed off the stage. Undoubtedly, musicians of the late ’70s and ’80s, too, found it hard to shake their nerves. Live acts weren’t as easy as the advanced gadgetry at play these days. Back then, live acts had no replay on TV cameras or mobile phones to capture moments, so being in attendance was the one and only experience.

Big shows such as the Herbs, Lucky Dube, Jimmy Cliff, Junior Marvin and Fully Fullwood capitalised on that when they toured Fiji.

Local bands of the ’70s, such as Nostradamus and Harvana Boys and solo acts such as Jimmy Subhaydas, Jese Mucunabitu and Danny Rae Costello, and in the early ’90s Laisa Vulakoro, Seru Serevi, and Jah Knox, each shared a common relative of first-time experiences. Fast-forward three decades, we meet an incredibly talented group of rising singers, first-timers starting their own musical journey and who’ve had a face-to-face encounter with nerves on show night at the amazing VT1S March 5 concert in Suva.

They are also vital members of the VT1S musical movement. This week we continue the journey with VT1S’ Mereoni Semira Ramacake, 24, aka Oni of Drekeniwai, Navatu, Cakaudrove; Joji Kevetibau (Pojee), 23, of Nausori Koro, Tailevu with maternal links to Tavualevu in Tavua. Here are their stories in two parts going into the final story next week. positioned

Singing in the shower

Oni was raised by a single mum and really didn’t know she could sing, “but I had a burning passion for music in general”.

“I never knew I could sing,” she says.

“I had an uncle who had guitars and a number of ukuleles lying around, so my cousins and I made use of them and formed a family

Noqu Vakamau

Noqu Vakamau

Vakananu.

I’ll be able to make more music in the future and collaborate with other artists or probably start a gig somewhere if I am ever given a chance.”

Pojee’s induction into VT1S

A third-year student at USP studying for a bachelor’s degree in geospatial science, Pojee has always wanted to sing as a child.

“I would sing with the wrong lyrics just as long as the melody sounded right to me,” he says.

“I took singing lightly until I won Season 1 of the Selah Quest Gospel Singing Competition. That moment changed my life, and I said to myself, this is the start of my music career — I will go as far as I can and share my love of music, not only locally but internationally.”

Pojee has a unique talent — he can switch from a high falsetto to low bass notes with ease.

“I grew up in Nausori with my parents and three siblings. I am the second eldest in the family,” he says.

“I lived with my grandma for a number of years and she was just like a mum to me. I loved her so much. I only wish Bu were still here to witness how far I’ve taken my music.”

Formerly of Ratu Sukuna Memorial School, Pojee’s first stint was in church.

“I have always sung in church. My grandma would take me with her to sing with them in the choir. When I was in Class 4, we had our school concert. We formed a small male group, and we sang a gospel number.

“I wrote a short Fijian version of Wade in Your Water by Common Kings and uploaded it on social media. To my surprise, it went viral that the people wanted a fuller version of it. But because I couldn’t complete the song, I had to look for someone to help write the lyrics completely.

“A friend then introduced me to Serenation, and it was this introduction that has opened the doors to another

world.”

Next week read more about Pojee’s journey and the talented 19-year-old Elizabeth Sophia Vamarasi aka Liz Vamarasi

Showtime... Oni during the VT1S concert earlier in March. Picture: COURTESY OF LIGHTHOUSE PHOTOGRAPHY band, mostly for leisure.” Oni began to play the ukulele during grog sessions but hardly sang. She was part of the school choir at Adi Cakobau School in Sawani but sang bass parts, a far cry from her single debut hit written by Seranation. “So, I began singing in the shower for hours, mostly when I was alone at home,” she says. At USP, she met OZZ who was featured earlier in this Backtracks series (https:// www.fijitimes.com/the-guy-called-ozz/). “We found out he was interested in music the same way I was and we became really great friends. We’d karaoke under the trees at the engineering block benches. That’s when I knew I could sing.” Oni was raised by her maternal family and her mum raised both her and her twin brother. “They’re my biggest supporters and I love them so much,” she says. “Everything I’m today is because of their love and never-ending prayers.” Oni’s debut on stage, her first time, was with a choir in Sawani. In 2020, she got acquainted with William Driver, BillyT, Taufa, Naomi and other artists. “All sparked during the pandemic when OZZ told me to audition for this virtual singing competition that was set up by Phil Dakei, Michelle and Mervin Singh and VLY. It was called Viti Virtual Vocal (2021). “I won that competition, surprisingly. A few months later, Stee Vereakula (Serenation) sent me a demo of my single which was produced by Tropic Thunda (George Wasile). “I immediately fell in love with the track and they came home to pick me the very next morning because they were so keen to record it. It was released later that October. “I later recorded my first collaboration with Taufa of VT1S and Etu — the single “Tropic Thunda and Serenation really threw light on to my passion for music and for that I’m very grateful — I owe them a lot.” For Oni, music has always been a go-to. “I always have my episodes where I don’t feel good about myself or if something messes with my mood. And when that happens, all I need is to listen to one song and it will make me feel so much better. “Sometimes all I need to do is listen to a song when I wake up, then I’m set for the whole day. There’s so much power in music that we cannot describe. It speaks when words cannot and that’s something I’ve adored about the art. “It has the power to heal, clear your mind, hype your day and reset your mental health. “I’m learning a lot from the VT1S family and I’m picking up stuff along the way. Hopefully, VT1S concert at the National Gymnasium in Suva on March 5. Picture: COURTESY OF LIGHTHOUSE PHOTOGRAPHY Pojee on show night at the National Gymnasium earlier in March. Picture: COURTESY OF LIGHTHOUSE PHOTOGRAPHY