Blind brothers turn lived experience into strength through music

Growing up blind, brothers Moni and Ese Aumalesulu turned faith and perseverance into their superpower, earning Creative New Zealand’s Pacific Toa Award for 2025.

They were recognised at this year’s Arts Pasifika Awards ceremony held at Te Papa Museum in Wellington and hosted by Kent Gardner, Chair of the Arts Council Toi Aotearoa. The awards, established in 1996, celebrate excellence across Pacific arts, from theatre and design to music and heritage.

Eight categories were presented at the event, including the Pacific Toa Award, which acknowledges an artist or collective with a lived experience of disability who has made a significant contribution to their field.

Moni and Ese, both blind musicians, are the founders of Tejit Records, an Auckland-based audio production company. They offer professional audio production services to artists and businesses, specialising in high-quality music and recording work.

Established in 2019, the studio was born from “a dream shared by two brothers” who wanted to make professional recording affordable and accessible for their community.

Speaking with PMN Sāmoa, Ese Aumalesulu says their award recognises those with lived disabilities who are “making a change or daring to defy the odds”. Ese acknowledges musician and disability advocate, Fonoti Pati Umaga, who was the inaugural Toa Award winner in 2019.

Fonoti Pati Umaga. Photo/Creative NZ

“[Umaga’s] also a legend within the disability community, or as we like to call it, ‘the superpowered community’. So it's an honour for us to have been recipients this year and to have been given this prestigious award,” he says.

“We like to think that everybody can feel that we carry them wherever we go. We always imagine that they're always on our shoulders, behind us and all around us whenever we go and accept these wonderful opportunities.”

Moni says being recognised alongside icons such as Anapela Polataivao ONZM “felt like the Grammys”. He says that although they do not seek validation for their work, allowing their creations to “do the talking”, he appreciates being recognised.

Watch Moni and Ese’s full interview on PMN Sāmoa below.

Tejit Records has collaborated with a range of Pacific musicians and groups, including acclaimed artists such as Vaniah Toloa, Sammy Atoa, Kini Aii, and The Four Fathers band. The studio has also supported emerging collectives like the Pasifika youth group Bodies of Art, known for their track “Our Narrative”.

Moni says their creative journey started in church, where music became their “blanket and pillow every night”. He remembers performing their first gig as children, when he was 10 and Ese was 12.

“I was playing [the piano] and singing, Ese was playing drums and singing. It all started from there. My dad brought us here for a better future and even though the struggle was real in the beginning, music was always our blanket and our pillow every night. Music was always our go to.”

Ese reflects on their childhood, describing how perseverance and faith guided them. He says navigating social norms growing up was difficult, but that they did not let those challenges hold them back.

“We didn't stop there, we didn't sit back and go, ‘oh gosh, I’m going to get into a corner about it’. It was just, let's move on to the next thing. When we were young, we were envious of others. I think that was life saying, ‘This is not your time yet, keep going the way you guys are and keep striving for those dreams’.

“Now we're in a position where people are envious of what we do and to us it's nothing to get big-headed about. It’s more so the fact that we're thankful for the gift and opportunity to serve because who are we if we can't serve people with our talents? If we don't use it.”

Moni says the support of their families, Christian beliefs, and their “beautiful wives and our wonderful children” has been their driving force in overcoming life’s hardships. Looking ahead, Tejit Records plans to launch a new website and logo and develop a recording programme in Sāmoa.

“So stay tuned for that. Winning the award doesn't change anything for us, it’s the same grind, the same mentality, we’re just a bit more focused now. It's all been me and Ese just finding our place in the world, finding our feet and providing for our children. It's always been that way and we thank God for this opportunity and where we are now,” Moni says.

“To everybody… I’ve seen all your wonderful messages of support and congratulations. Thank you guys so much for the love. Thank you guys so much and God bless each and every one of you, our families, friends and the community.”