4/4 Pacific Music + Arts Volume 2:2 Oct 2017 | Page 24

QUICK FIRE QUESTIONS
How did attending the awards and being part of the VPMA impact you?
|It impacted me in a positive way to see how far the whole presentation and celebration of the whole night went.
The opening for the awards was amazing and was really humbling to see the future of our Paci ic people show
respect in the form of art and music that has been passed down from our ancestors. The night in general has
become a platform each year for our people to showcase their hard work and I’m happy to see what the future
holds within our people and the industry.
Can you please share your favourite memory from the 2017 VPMA ceremony
De initely the opening with the “Moana” themed act. Probably the best opening act I have witnessed at the VPMA’s.
How and why are the VPMAs important to you, to other artists, to the industry
It is very important because I feel without this our people get overlooked in the music industry. This gives us an
opportunity to express our music our culture our ancestry. Music runs through our Paci ic People naturally as it
has been an art form from the beginning of time.
Can you outline what winning the awards on the night meant to you?
It is always a blessing to receive an award on any scale as it shows that all the hard work you have created has paid
off. All the long nights in the studio with no sleep plus traveling with tours in between making records is always
challenging so to receive an award for your work proves you are heading in the right direction.
Was there one award that meant more than the others?  If yes, why?
No I don’t think so because the amount of awards you receive or not receive doesn’t make you the artist you are.
Not every artist is fortunate to receive an award. So for the artists that do get one they should always cherish it
because it isn’t an everyday opportunity.
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