Page 33 - Fiji Traveller Issue 4

By Sera Tikotikovatu-Sefeti “The mango tree is where we would hang out in Vanuatu,
but the actual tree was destroyed by Cyclone Pam,” says Lia.
V5’s jazzy, soulful, and bluesy songs have a sound that sets “The song itself is about our time as kids, when we were
them apart from many Fijian performers. carefree, no care for social standards or labels and life was
So it is a shock to learn that the band members, 15-year- simple and easy.”
old Lia Daunakamakama, her sister 18-year-old Jasmine, and V5 was also nominated at this year’s Fiji Performing Rights
their close friend Vika Tuisawau, are so young. Vika’s brother, Association awards in two categories, for Best English song
Sevuloni is the fourth member, and together they are the very and Best New Artist of the Year.
embodiment of old souls in young bodies. Although the group did not win, they earned the respect of
They first met in Vanuatu, at a gathering of Fijians living many musicians, with some taking to social media to applaud
there. “Our family was really close; we started hanging out, and their musical composition. With one original song under their
then we realised, ‘Oh wait, you guys love music too,’" Jasmine belts, they plan to compose more in future.
says, making her bandmates giggle with the recollection. “We The band has been advised by popular musicians such
just started having jam sessions because my father used to as Makare’s Big Wilz and others. But it hasn’t always been
encourage us to get together and sing, especially in church. an easy journey for the girls, and they admit to having gone
"Every week, as our families have potlucks or anything, we through challenges, particularly when it comes to juggling
have those jam sessions," she continued. school and gigs.
The girls share a love for the classics. Vika says, "Growing “Last year, it was a challenge for me. I remember I had an
up, we had similar taste in music, and because we were exam, and we had a gig at Moments [Cafe]. I remember being
together all the time, we would listen to the same songs, so burnt out…It showed in our performance," says Vika.
find new songs together, and we listen to mostly Bee Gees, Jasmine adds that being part of a close group makes these
Daft Punk, Meghan Trainor, Bruno Mars, Michael Jackson, challenges bearable: “As a band, it makes things easier; we
the Commodores and Aretha Franklin, so there was a lot of can offload needs onto the other person that can help balance
various genres." things out."
Jasmine chimes in, “I feel like our parents had a lot of It is during these times that they also lean on the support
influence over our taste in music growing up." of their family and friends. "I think our parents actually give
V5’s professional debut was in 2014, when the Laughing us a lot of reassurance, and seeing our friends making music
Samoans visited Vanuatu. motivates us to pursue it and keep on striving for the best," Lia
Lia, who was seven years old at the time, says she can says.
barely remember that gig, but Jasmine and Vika, then ten Lia and Jasmine’s mother, Beulah Daunakamakama agrees.
years of age, say: "We actually felt comfortable with the crowd “As parents, we have to recognise what our kids enjoy and
because it was mostly the Samoan community at a restaurant; then just support them, encourage and sometimes push when
it was a good experience." they are unsure.”
The group once had five members. Vika’s younger brother She continues: “I remember Lia used to get upset when she
Jacob filled the role of manager, with the hope he would join couldn’t sound like Jasmine (her sister) and Vika. I said to her
them on stage. Her dad has also filled in as a bass player that her voice was different, and we just needed to find the right
occasionally. At present, the ‘5 ‘in V5 is a floating spot. song for her voice.
The band members' rise to fame at a very young age was “She is now a confident performer in her own right; she is our
due to their unique sound and harmonies. School and other little vude princess and can easily switch between Samoan,
activities such as dance keep them grounded, although they Fijian, Maori and English songs.”
admit to being stopped once or twice by fans who have The band members know that they may not stay together
recognised them. forever, as they take separate paths to university and careers,
"Just last week, I was in the biology lab and this guy comes with Jasmine reflecting, “I think it's comforting to know that
up to me. God bless him, but he comes up to me and he just even if we happen to go into a solo career, our bond will remain
says ‘I.know you’re a singer.’ I was trying to put a sample onto intact; we will continue to rely on each other, remain friends,
my microscope, and I was like, ‘Wait what?’ and he said, ‘I and still have that support system that we have as a band."
know you're famous and people know you,'" Vika says Until that day, V5 continues to be a strong young presence
The girls all giggle again, shyly covering their eyes when in Fijian music, making waves with their unique sound and
they hear of this encounter. showing that there’s space for more music genres on the local
Vika adds: "It gives me a reality check that people actually scene.
listen to our music."
V5's song ‘Mango Tree’ (which was cowritten by bass player @theofficialv5
William Sanday), last year won them the Domo Vou Talei
music competition, and a lot of attention.

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