VT1S has pushed fresh voices into Fiji’s music scene with the release of Ga ni vatu, an album that introduces three debuting singers — Tulagi, Mohelata and Kayzia — among six artists featured on the project. The record marks a deliberate expansion of the label’s roster and brings together a mix of personal stories, island ties and varied musical textures that organisers say signal a new chapter for local music.
Leading the newcomers is 39-year-old Tulagi, who grew up in Nabitu, Tokatoka, Tailevu, and has maternal links to Nabaitavo in Naitasiri. His debut track on the album, “Sevataki,” channels heartbreak and emotional loss but subverts the usual slow-ballad template by folding in Afrobeat-influenced rhythms. “Usually heartbreak songs are slow,” Tulagi said, explaining the song’s structure: slower verses that open into a faster, more driving chorus. A former contestant on television’s Kaila! Star Search, he went on to win the local Vocal Battle competition in 2023 while juggling work managing a bar and performing small gigs. His audition for VT1S and experience in a professional studio environment — “the team is very friendly and supportive” — culminated in his inclusion on Ga ni vatu.
Demetria Tawake, who performs as Mohelata, brings a resilience-themed debut with “Senitoa.” From Namacu Village on Koro and carrying maternal links to Lovoni in Ovalau (with a personal connection to Sawana, Vanua Balavu), Mohelata draws on family responsibilities and a history in dance and group performances — including time with Sweet Sensation — to shape her music. “Senitoa” uses the hibiscus as a symbol for endurance and the song is presented as an anthem for young women shouldering familial duties. She said her father first noticed her singing talent and that she hopes her songs will carry meaningful messages for listeners who face similar pressures.
The album’s third new voice, Kayzia, is a young mother from Muana, Toga in Rewa with maternal roots in Nacomoto, Kadavu. Her debut single “Kawai” is a deliberate counterpoint to heartbreak themes, celebrating affection and appreciation within relationships. Kayzia traces her musical foundations to church performances from the age of 13 and family gatherings where elders and a composing uncle for Cadra ko Muana helped shape her sensibility. She has recorded with producer Tropic Thunda and songwriter Jay Tauleka on the VT1S project and cites artists such as Liz Vamarasi and Paradise Rootz among her influences. “It’s not a heartbreak song,” she said, noting the track’s message of gratitude and mutual care.
Together, the three newcomers broaden the album’s emotional range — from Tulagi’s Afrobeat-tinged lament to Mohelata’s resilience narrative and Kayzia’s celebration of love — while underscoring connections to Fiji’s islands and family networks. VT1S presents Ga ni vatu as both a platform for emerging talent and a showcase of contemporary Fijian sounds that mix traditional themes with global influences.
While the album features six artists in total, VT1S has highlighted these three debuts as emblematic of its direction: lifting voices rooted in village life and community responsibilities, and fostering professional studio experiences for artists previously known only in local circuits. Ga ni vatu arrives as a timely reminder that Fiji’s music scene continues to evolve, with new performers drawing on heritage, personal struggle and modern production to reach wider audiences.
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