Latest news with #MELODOWNZ
NZ Herald
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- NZ Herald
Kava goes viral: How the Kavafied song and new trends fit around Kava's traditional use
But as it expands to the point where Americans are growing it in the continental US, Pacific youth are celebrating it in song and going viral. Samoan/Māori artist MELODOWNZ is no stranger to bringing kava into the mainstream, previously hosting celebrities, politicians and sports stars on his Kava Corner talk show. Now, alongside Revus, he has released a paean to kava, Kavafied, and told the Herald the drink helps him connect and create. 'I got into kava through my time spent in Vanuatu. They drink it more recreationally there compared to my Samoan culture, where it's more used for ceremonial and more traditional purposes,' he said, revealing that it occasionally helps him in the music-making process. 'Every now and then I'll mix at the studio and make songs,' he said, noting wryly: 'Just as long as my raps aren't fast.' He said Kavafied got its start while he was drinking at Four Shells Kava Lounge, a modern kava lounge in Auckland's CBD. 'It was an organic process, my bro was playing gat at the kava lounge one night and I started freestyling the chorus, next minute we got a song.' The guitar-driven song features the hand claps that often accompany kava and sees Revus and MELODOWNZ singing the praises of the root. Faikava (literally 'to do kava' in Tongan) is often a musical space and another Four Shells regular, singer Sammy V, went viral recently for his honeyed rendition of faikava classic Smoke Your Cigarette. MELODOWNZ is Samoan/Māori and Sammy V traces his roots back to the Cook Islands. Kava's use is largely ceremonial in Samoa. Aotearoa's climate did not allow early Māori to grow it and missionaries removed nearly all kava use from the Cook Islands – so what does the growing popularity of kava among tangata moana from across the Pacific say about the drink? 'Kava or 'ava is part of all Pacific cultures, and has been used by our people and ancestors for time,' MELODOWNZ told the Herald. 'Living in the city being able to connect through kava with friends and other Polynesians also makes me proud of still being able to practise such an ancient tradition in these modern times.' MELODOWNZ included journalist Patrick Gower, no stranger to virality himself, in the run-up to the song's release and Gower professed the drink was 'bloody awesome'. Warning: Contains strong language, Paddy G doing questionable hand signs But when it comes to kava on TikTok, one sound currently reigns supreme. Tongan remixes have a habit of becoming earworms and the latest, set to the Vengaboyz song Shalala Lala, has taken over on TikTok. The song, I want to faikava, has inspired a dance and a flood of videos from Pacific peoples across the world. Others have embraced the trend and the dance, with many non-Pacific commenters suggesting they are keen to try kava for the first time. The comment section in this video saw some desperate to allow the dance, with some stating that one of the dancers 'has Tongan eyes'. 'Dox, what are Tongan eyes?' another replied. 'We're direct descendants' So, is this increasing embrace of kava from outside its traditional base a good thing? Speaking from a Tongan perspective, researcher Kava'onau 'o Tapululululu Caroline Fanamanu told the Herald her generation had not always passed on the importance of cultural traditions in the waves of migration from the Pacific in the second half of the 20th century. 'What we haven't done very well is that we've left a lot of grey areas for our children and we've decided 'drop this' or 'we'll only do this in Tonga''. She said that had led to some children of those migrations growing up without kava being a 'way of life'. 'We took on this Aotearoa New Zealand culture so we could survive in it,' Kava'onau said, noting that many migrants did not always appreciate the importance of kava until others began to appreciate and exploit it. She said kava was a commodity in Tonga but also a way of living, and its commercialisation on a global stage had highlighted its importance. 'You know, we're looking 'oh, what are these Palangis doing with our kava?'' Noting how kava's commercialisation and gradual global growth had quickened recently, Kava'onau noted: 'We're living in separate kava worlds with very little understanding of each other.' She told the Herald that, as businesses pop up here and overseas that were operated by non-Pacific peoples, 'we need to be careful that the traditional culture goes alongside these trends so that people know what actual kava is'. But alongside that plea for kava not to be divorced from its cultural origins, she warned that culture can't just be tacked on to help sell a product. She told the Herald that, without talanoa, the open and respectful dialogue that accompanies kava drinking, kava becomes just a drink. 'Just drink it, don't go through the theatrical clapping and that sort of stuff because it looks out of place.' 'They're going to be the holders of it in the future' Kava'onau said the scene portrayed in the video for Kavafied was a good example of an emerging kava culture in Aotearoa. 'That's what we do in New Zealand,' she said, adding that it was distinct from a 'disappearing' traditional Tongan way of families drinking kava together in the home with a patriarch or matriarch officiating the kava. 'Still very informal, but it's still got the hierarchy essence ... so it's used for checking in, to give information. 'It's a session where it could be providing a resolution to something that happened, but many of us have discontinued that practice.' Kava'onau said the younger generation had missed out on some elements of cultural transference and were now creating their own positive ways of using kava. She suggested those generations should seek to absorb some of what might not have been passed on, and their elders needed to enter into that dialogue. 'The most important thing is that we go in and reconnect with our younger generation ... let them know it's okay, they can have kava a certain way. 'They're going to be the holders of it in the future. 'Times are not changing, they have changed.'
Scoop
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Beyond The Beat Flips The Script On Kiwi Music With Bold New Series
(New Zealand, Wednesday 30 April 2025) - Aotearoa's music scene gets a bold reinvention in Beyond the Beat, a bold, beat-driven music series that reimagines some of the nation's most iconic tracks through the fresh lens of rising musical talent. Premiering this Thursday 1st May, and continuing with weekly drops throughout New Zealand Music Month - May, the series offers an electrifying glimpse into the future sound of Aotearoa. Each episode of Beyond the Beat pairs a rising star with a legendary Kiwi hitmaker and their most beloved track. Together, they dive deep into the song's DNA—unpacking the stories, cultural context, and musical roots behind it—before the new artist flips the song on its head in a completely new style. The series features Reiki Ruawai, MELODOWNZ, Sly Chaos & Cee Blu, Mazbou Q, Liberty, Kings, Ashy, Drax Project, TîMMY the FIRST and Cassie Henderson. "Beyond the Beat was never just about flipping tracks," says creator & director Gal Hochman. "It's about creating a platform for our Kiwi artists to be seen, heard, and celebrated for who they truly are. As a person of colour and a minority myself, I wanted to highlight the rich diversity of talent we have in Aotearoa—and how different perspectives shape our sound, making it unique and deeply resonant." At the helm is visionary music producer Mazbou Q, who guides the rising artist through a process of experimentation, collaboration, and transformation. The result: an innovative reinterpretation that's equal parts homage and bold artistic reinvention. The journey culminates in a live radio drop, where the original artist hears the reimagined track for the very first time—on air. 'This isn't just covers,' says Mazbou Q. 'It's about honouring legacy while pushing sound into new territory. It's raw, it's real, and it's the future.' The limited series shares a unique glimpse into music production & Aotearoa's next generation of artists. "I wanted to showcase the hustle, heart, and raw creativity that goes into every beat. That's who I am as a director. It's about more than just creating something fresh; it's about elevating the voices that are shaping the future of Aotearoa's music scene." says Hochman. With five Remake artists, five massive hits, and one shared mission—to redefine Aotearoa's musical landscape—Beyond the Beat is more than a music show. It's a sound revolution. Celebrating a new artist, a new sound, and a new take on an iconic Kiwi track. This NZ Music Month, with new tracks premiering live on air. A FRESH EPISODE DROPS EVERY THURSDAY NIGHT THIS MAY Tune in to The Edge, Mai FM, and George FM every Thursday night Stream the series on Youtube: BeyondTheBeatNZ and on ROVA: from May 1st. May 1st: Reiki Ruawai Remakes MELODOWNZ "$on of a Queen" May 8th: Sly Chaos & Cee Blu Remake Mazbou Q "Go and Be Free" May 15th: Liberty Remakes Kings "Don't You Worry Bout' It" May 22nd: Ashy Remakes Drax Project "All This Time" May 29th: TîMMY the FIRST Remakes Cassie Henderson 'Seconds to Midnight' Behind the Beat At its core, Beyond the Beat exists to amplify the voices of Aotearoa's musical talent. Our mission is to create a dynamic, culturally rich platform that reflects the true diversity of New Zealand's music scene—celebrating the creativity, resilience, and originality of our artists. In an industry where noise is constant and opportunity is rare, Beyond the Beat offers space for authentic expression and meaningful connection. By pairing emerging artists with iconic local hits, we provide a powerful stage for collaboration, reinvention, and storytelling—showcasing the unique perspectives and talents that define our creative landscape. Driven by kaupapa Māori values and a deep belief that our artists are taonga, we are committed to nurturing the future of Aotearoa music. Beyond the Beat isn't just a series—it's a movement. One that champions artistic innovation, uplifts underrepresented voices, and builds lasting bridges between generations of musicians, all while connecting with audiences in fresh, accessible, and engaging ways.
