SOLOMON Islands music has made history in Australia after one of the country’s top local producers Schultze Maetoloa won the best reggae music producer award last year.
The 6th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art music awards was organised by the Queensland Art Gallery attended by the Pacific’s big names in music like Oshen from PNG, George Veikoso from Fiji, and bands from New Zealand and Australia.
Mr Maetoloa, who is famously known as ‘Solid T’, won the award for the best reggae producer after the organisers surprisingly chose a video clip he produced and featured in with Anstine Energy titled “Mi Wari”.
Mr Maetoloa, who is also the owner and producer of Third World productions, was amongst the many producers and artists around the Pacific who were invited to attend the music awards.
Speaking to Solomon Star from Brisbane, he said he didn’t expect that his type of music would catch the heart of the selectors.
“It has been a pleasure to receive such an award and it is a breakthrough not only for me but also for the local music industry,” he said.
Mr Maetoloa has worked alongside a lot of famous local artists such as Wally Pazzi, Anstine Energy, Pagasa, Sisiva and more.
So far his production has released two DVD clips which are making their marks in PNG at the moment.
He added that studios in Australia have also offered to work alongside him to help promote young up and coming local talents in the country.
“I never knew that Solomon Islands music really had a huge impact on the fans here and it’s interesting to see that a lot of people here like our type of music which I believe is unique,” he said.
•Get a copy of our Weekend Magazine to read the full story of the producer and how his love for music took him to the top.
By DOUGLAS MARAU
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
