The Samoana Jazz & Arts Festival opening in Apia tomorrow is more than just jazz for the amazing young talents in one of the festivals main acts, the Andrew Faleatua Quintet.
It is part of a journey in search for Samoa “as their cultural and spiritual home and finding meaning in a distant place that seems so far yet so spiritually aspiring".
The talented 26-year-old Andrew is completing a PhD with the elite Sydney Conservatorium of Music focusing on jazz composition. He is the first Samoan to have entered the Conservatorium.
What that has come out in his original compositions, is the search and yearning to know Samoa more.
The search becomes more distinct and comes through in his compositions as a young Samoan born and living outside of the islands.
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Originals performed last weekend at the first leg of Samoana Festival in American Samoa such as “Samoa Forever” and “Take Me Away” cry out “to know more about the place I never knew, but I feel is much a part of me. Show me the place I never knew, It’s in my blood and heritage,” explains Andrew Faleatua.
Son of a Samoan Presbyterian pastor Reverend Keleva Faleatua originally from Gataivai, Savai’i and a European mother, Andrew calls himself an
“afakasi” (halfcaste) Samoan. He uses his music and compositions to learn more and connect to Samoan culture.
“This is the beginning of the journey for me as jazz is natural to Samoans and this can be a parallel for them,” he explains.
His vision “is to have more of a Samoan jazz flavour with the use of Samoan instruments such as fala, patē and lali in his compositions. But listen to the beats of exceptional drummer Dylan Elise and there is no mistake of this fusion already in motion and part of the vision is to make jazz more interesting and appealing to younger and wider audiences.
The Quintets common element is the shared heritage of the band members who were all born away from Samoa and using their amazing talents to make the spiritual and cultural reconnection.
Lead vocalist, 21-year-old Kiwi born Louana Pereira-Dinnan studies under respected vocal teacher Cheryl McClaine and will graduate with a degree of Jazz Performance at the New Zealand School of Music in 2015.
Having looked at the beauty of the islands and immersed herself in Samoan culture, she laments “I don’t know why they left,” referring to those who migrated providing the diaspora of Samoans overseas.
She talks about the potential of the islands to provide “organic food so we can be eating healthier and creating an essence of who we really are as a beautiful people".
The journey and question for them is “Look at yourself, who you are?”
This is the essence of SAMOANA, the Jazz & Arts Festival that aspires to connect musicians from New Zealand and Australia and other countries to Samoa and their heritage. This is the Samoana brand already carved and created and looks to have artistic, cultural and economic benefit for Samoa in future.
The Andrew Faleatua Qunitet are Fa’afetai Kepu Tofilau – patē/percussions, Junior Nansen – bass guitar, Dylan Elise – drums, Louana Pereira – lead vocals and Andrew Faleatua – keyboards.
The Qunitet along with all other musicians taking part in the festival are being hosted by the New Zealand High Commissioner at her residence at Letava tonight.
The Quintet and the headline act of the Festival, Iva Lamkum’s participation are sponsored by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The headline concert will be at the Sails Restaurant, Saturday 8 November but the Quintet will appear on other free daytime venues tomorrow and Saturday.
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