A young mother from Rewa has recorded her first professional single, stepping from church choirs into Fiji’s commercial music scene with a debut titled "Kawai" on VT1S’s Ga Ni Vatu project. Kayzia — one of three new artists introduced by the VT1S collective — says the track is intended as a celebration of appreciation and emotional strength in relationships, a deliberate departure from the heartbreak songs that often dominate local airwaves.
Hailing from Muana, Toga in Rewa with maternal links to Nacomoto in Kadavu, Kayzia’s musical pedigree runs deep. She traces her roots to family performers — grandmothers who sang as a trio and an uncle who wrote for Cadra Ko Muana — and says music was a constant at village gatherings, devotions and community events. “I would say it’s already in the blood,” she told reporters, noting that she began singing in church at age 13 and that those early experiences continue to shape her sound.
Balancing motherhood with a budding music career, Kayzia is a full-time mother to a three-year-old son and describes much of her life until now as centred around home and church. That routine is changing as she works with producer Tropic Thunda and songwriter Jay Tauleka on "Kawai" and other emerging opportunities with VT1S. The collaboration, she says, has been “nerve-wracking and exciting” — a new professional environment compared with the familiar safety of church performances.
"Kawai" is being positioned as a conscious alternative to the typical narrative. “It’s not a heartbreak song,” Kayzia explained. “It shows how much us girls appreciate our partners and the feelings that we have for them.” Influenced by artists like Liz Vamarasi and Paradise Rootz, she hopes the single will help her carve out a place in Fiji’s evolving music landscape while offering listeners a different emotional perspective.
This month Kayzia joined fellow VT1S artists on location in Namosi for music video shoots — an experience she described as both fun and eye-opening. She told reporters the trip gave her a taste of life on set and strengthened her resolve to pursue a career beyond church stages. Looking ahead, she aspires to tour with her team and perform on bigger stages across Fiji.
As the Ga Ni Vatu project rolls out, Kayzia is among the new voices VT1S is promoting to broaden the country’s musical roster. For young women contemplating similar paths, she offers this counsel: “Never be afraid to follow your passion. Your background does not determine where you start in life … it does not determine your future.” Her debut signals a fresh personal and artistic chapter that organisers and collaborators hope will add new textures to Fiji’s music scene.
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