The Passion for Music in the Happy Isles

One Tox- Solomon Islands' well known RNB band.

By Harold Maesulia. Follow me on twitter.

I've seen Radio Australia's Pacific Break Competition as another step on which our home grown artists can stand to portray their music, and perhaps our passion for music, to the world out there.

Solomon Islands has recently been through a lot. The ordeal brought about by the ethnic tension in the late 90s crippled most of the income-earning sectors of our beloved nation. Sadly, we're economically wrecked. On the other hand, the good name we used to have was tarnished. And from the "hapi isles" we were dubbed by others as the "troubled isles".

But amidst these troubles, two aspects of life that many seem to hold dear to their hearts continue to thrive. To many it's their way of life and I can't imagine a Solomon Islander without these two-soccer and music.

The following that our local music is having both locally and regionally is tremendous. Our local hit songs are no strangers to cities like Port Morsbey and Suva.

Sharzy is one of the local stars who gain stardom in PNG over the years. Recently, Kekene plus other bands in the likes of One Tox and the stylish Door Man's Project a.k.a DMP stamped their own names in the music industry of the neighbouring nation.

Culturally, Solomon Islands is a diverse country. The chain of archipelago houses Melanesians, Micronesians and even Polynesians. The diversity interestingly comes with some unique ways of making music. The most famous is the renowned traditional bamboo bands which uses bamboos to produce music. Some local groups who master this art have recently acclaimed international firm taking their music to nearby countries and as far as Europe.

But how did modern music start in the islands? Western-influenced music started a humble journey in the 60s. It was born as "local string bands."  Inspired by country pioneers like Hank Williams, String band pioneers like Fred Maedola produce songs in pidgin and the local languages. With his guitar, he went on to make a name for himself in PNG and the New Hebrides now called Vanuatu.

The trend developed interestingly. One of the interesting twist was Tom Stranger's take of Charlie Bright's style of singing.

With the emergence of modern musical instruments, music then took another turn in the islands. Aspired to reflect their international idols, many local artists came up with rock n roll records which became big hits among the locals.

The evidence of what has started long ago is showing today. Every time I listen to a melodious local tune on the local radio stations, I marvel at the amazing talents some of these locals have. With the aid of technology, some artists are creating for themselves new names. Today songs from Santa Isabel are hitting the airwaves in style. People dance to their beat to celebrate events. And even on islands like Malaita, you'll get to see people who find it pleasurable listening to the "Gema" hits while having a cold beer.

Like soccer, music has a way of uniting the people. When a favourite band plays in town, people will flock the concert in numbers to watch it live. Music appears to be part of people's lives. Some love to knock the day off armed with a guitar and a song on their lips while the sun beautifully sets behind the horizon. On public buses, local songs can be heard playing. While in the rural villages, even the kids can be heard singing along to the words of the latest local song on the airwaves-thanks to the promotion these songs are getting from our local FM stations.

You have to come to the Solomons to experience this passion.