Tahitian musician and composer Teiva Viaris makes powerful solo debut with ocean-inspired track 'Hī Rau E'

Australia Broadcast Center

2 days ago

The release of award-winning Tahitian composer and multi-instrumentalist Teiva Viaris' debut song Hī Rau E is just one chapter in his story as a musician.
Born and raised in Tahiti, Viaris taught himself guitar at 10 years old, he said he "never envisioned to make living out of it, but it just stayed with me through everything," he told Nesia Daily.
The talented artist shared how he juggles his time as a part-time music teacher, sound designer, and lead composer for the award-winning traditional dance group, Ia Ora Te Hura, which he co-founded with his wife.
Originally commissioned by the Tahitian Ministry of Environment but never used, Hī Rau E became such a deeply personal project, leading Viaris to release it as his debut song.
Sung entirely in the Tahitian language, the hypnotic track explores "the ocean, and the relationship Polynesian people have with the ocean," said the artist.
"The phenomenon behind the birth of the islands, volcanic islands from the ocean. And then it draws a parallel between this phenomenon and the inner-functioning of the human body. So that's how the bond between humans and [the] ocean is established in the song."
The accompanying animated music video, created by Mexican 2D artist Erick Cuevas a.k.a Nespy 5 Euro, is rich with references to Polynesian myths and legends — he says, carefully researched to ensure the "graphic vocabulary was respectful and authentic."
Whether composing for dance, film, or now as a solo artist, Viaris remains grounded in cultural storytelling, sharing this advice for young musicians out there, "just be authentic, just be yourself. If you feel like you can express yourself in your music, then you're on the right path."