News

Opetaia and Olivia Foa'i BBC
(Jan 2021)

An in depth insight into Opetaia, his background, inspiration and musical success, with interviews from wife, Julie Foa'i, and daughter, Olivia Foa'i.

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Te Vaka song in Hobbs & Shaw Soundtrack
(Aug 2019)

If you've seen the recent Fast & Furious spinoff "Hobbs & Shaw", then you would've heard Opetaia's song "Taku Uo Pele" featured in a beautiful spot in the film as the characters arrive to Samoa.
Here is the translation to the lyrics which were in the movie:

Fakafetai mo to alofa
te gali ona taimi
heoli lahi te fiafia
kiki ki luga ve he matagi
meake ve he lalolagi a tatou

Thank you for your love
for the best time
we had one hell of a time
kicking up a storm
like we owned the world

"Songs of Moana" live - Te Vaka & Orchestra
(18 Jul. 2018)
A brief trip to New Zealand this month saw 4 very rare and unsurprisingly, sold out, concerts from Te Vaka. It was a unique and powerful collaboration between Opetaia Foa'i, Te Vaka and 3 different New Zealand Orchestras (Dunedin Symphony Orchestra, Christchurch Symphony Orchestra and Orchestra Wellington), resulting in the live experience: "Songs of Moana". Having many of the same voices and musicians found on the movie's soundtrack, and supported by the power of 60-something-piece orchestras, the show was an undeniable hit among adults and children alike.

"Every single item was stirring, effective, and excellently executed, holding the attention of and entertaining all in the audience, young and old...."
"...It’s fair to say that Songs of Moana was a huge success..." - Ihlara McIndo, The Wave

"In the case of Moana, the music's sheer musicality and character carries it safely through to the other side, especially when it is performed with high spirited verve by a group which has established itself as one of today's leading musical voices of the Pacific." - Christopher Moore, The Press

Top Soundtrack at the Billboard Music Awards
(21 May 2018)

Moana, up against the likes of Black Panther and The Greatest Showman, wins Top Soundtrack at this years BBMAs!

Moana at the 60th Grammys
(28 Nov. 2017)
The Moana soundtrack is nominated for "Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media" in the 60th Recording Academy Grammy Awards!

PICTURE: Music team (Left to right); Mark Mancina (scoring), Opetaia Foa'i (songwriter), Lin Manuel-Miranda (songwriter), Tom MacDougall (Music Supervisor).

Moana wins AMA Top Soundtrack
(19 Nov. 2017)
Up against Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and Trolls, Moana (music co-written by Opetaia Foa'i and Lin-Manual Miranda and scored by Mark Mancina) takes Top Soundtrack in the 2017 American Music Awards!

New Zealand Music Awards 2017
(16 Nov. 2017)
After a powerful opening performance of "We Know the Way" and "Tulou Tagaloa", Opetaia received the International Achievement Award at this years VNZMAs.

Te Vaka and Walt Disney Records
(18 Aug. 2017)
Walt Disney Records released "Te Vaka Greatest Hits, Songs that Inspired Moana" which features 10 Te Vaka songs hand picked by the head of Disney/Pixar Creative, John Lasseter. The album also includes a brand new track, "Lakalaka."

Pacific Music Awards 2017
(1 Jun. 2017)
Opetaia was awarded the "Special Recognition Award for Outstanding Achievement" after the show was opened with a beautiful tribute to his work in Moana, performed by the SaintzUp Performing Arts School.

Moana on the Billboard Charts
(9 Jan. 2017)
"The Moana film soundtrack rises from No. 6 to No. 2 with 64,000 units (up 21 percent) and 44,000 in traditional album sales (up 37 percent — it is the best selling album of the week)."
(excepted from the Billboard website)

(17 Dec. 16)
"We Know the Way" (Opetaia and Lin-Manuel Miranda) spends 2 weeks on the Billboard Top 100, peaking at No. 93.