DOMO Vou Talei producer Phil Dakei is an artist, songwriter and performer in his own right.
His songs have taken the Solomon Island man – with maternal links to Ovalau – to countries he never dreamt he would set foot on.
When it comes to music, he knows what he is talking about.
Dakei said in all the years he had been producing music, he could not believe the talent he heard from the 10 finalists that he recorded at the Tiny Sounds recording studio in Suva last week.
“I’m glad to say that the master (the original sound recording) has been distributed to each artist and the sponsors and it is all done and completed,” he said.
“During the two weeks, there was a certain level of pressure that my assistant and I had to go through because it was 10 songs that we had to do to a certain quality and it had to be delivered within a week.”
Dakei said it was an eye-opener for him to meet the artists.
“Especially the new talents — they came in with a lot of new techniques and new ideas.”
The composer, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist for popular iTaukei band Makare is calling on members of the public to support the musicians at the Woodstock Uprising Music Festival on July 9.
“It’s just a time for everyone to come out and chill, especially after the whole pandemic lockdown because of COVID-19.
“I encourage the public to come and support our new talents especially raw talent that is hard to find.
“The Domo Vou Talei 10 finalists will perform their original songs that they have been working on over the past two weeks for the first time to the public and we want people to come down and have a listen to them.
“The team will perform later towards the afternoon around 2pm to 5pm so it’s a good time to bring the family and bring the kids out and come and support our Fijian talent.”
The Fiji Times is a sponsor of Domo Vou Talei along with the Australian High Commission, Westpac, Communications Fiji Ltd, Fiji Performing Rights Association and Knox Entertainment.
Vote for your favourite artist by liking and sharing their music videos on the FijiVillage Facebook page or texting their initials to 511, 50 cents per text and it’s open to Inkk and Vodafone users.
The text platform is now live and closes on July 8 at midnight.
The winners of The Fiji Times $5000 and the $3000 Westpac People’s Choice awards will be announced on Saturday, July 9 at the Woodstock Uprising Music Festival.
Tickets are available now.
