Dad inspires Saula
WITH less than one week remaining, the city of Suva is gearing up for what is promised to be a music show packed with a thrilling display of musicality and showmanship for all attendees.
“This second show comes as a result of the growing enthusiasm our team is witnessing from music lovers and interested people all around Fiji who not only want to hear live music, but also enjoy the sophisticated artistry of the featured performers at the show”, expressed by Isireli Vulaca, UpBeat Events partner.
Mr Vulaca additionally stated, “One of our big goals is to nurture and expand the current appetite for musical sophistication to the general public so that there is a good diversity of musical tastes and options for all consumers to enjoy.
“I am encouraged to hear that some of my fellow musical colleagues are also starting their own initiatives in offering a wider variety of musical experiences to the public; this should be welcomed, as consumers, music lovers, artists and musicians all win out of this.”
Because the objective of the show includes an evolving expansion of musical sophistication to a wider audience with revolving artists and musical acts, the Suva Soul Revival also features a few new artistic talents; one being another well-known local pianist and producer Saula Radrodro.
The pianist has been a growing staple in the local music industry, having performed extensively with acts such as Nem & Talei over his musical tenure and featuring with various housebands for numerous festivals and live events around Fiji.
Brought up in the village of Namulomulo, Bua, Saula shared that it was through his father, when only in class five, that he started to learn the piano.
“I remember that my father was always inspired by the Mawi family, especially how Tom Mawi and Sami Mawi were playing together as a duo group on the guitar and piano.
“He had never met them before but he always pushed me to learn the piano so that we could be a duo just like them in our own way.”
The now well-respected pianist began his humble musical journey at his local village church, Nawaca Assemblies of God in Bua, Vanua Levu, where he would regularly accompany his father to choir practices.
“My father would always listen to records like Earl Klugh or George Benson and then try to bring that same flare from the jazz world to the church-setting as a way of pushing the band to new levels of musicianship”.
This, Saula says, is what inspired him at an early age to pursue music further.
Saula was fortunate later in his career to have played at a variety of significant musical festivals and events, particularly enjoying a two and half year residency in China, which he expressed, assisted immensely in developing his musical independence to an even higher level.
The international residency, the pianist reflected, was also a way of honouring an important promise he had made to his father, to one day perform to an international audience overseas.
When asked about his final thoughts regarding the local music industry and its future trajectory, Saula reiterated, “I believe we are now in a time where it is much easier to access different resources and software that can help with musical development; I do not see many reasons now why we as Fijians cannot get to the same musical
Saula Radrodro.
level as the international artists and musicians we listen to”.
The Suva Soul Revival, organised by UpBeat Events in partnership with Kanalevu Kitchen and Party & Events
Fiji, will be held on November 25, 2022 at the Kanalevu Kitchen Restaurant from 7pm to 10pm.
I believe we are now in a time where it is much easier to access different resources and software that can help with musical development; I do not see many reasons now why we as Fijians cannot get to the same
musical level as the international
artists and musicians we listen to
– Saula Radrodro
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