Ron Moala: Tongan-Fijian gospel artist is spreading faith through his love for music

Tongan-Fijian Gospel musician Ron Moala is garnering praise for his gospel-focused music and creative enterprises.

The Australian-based barber and artist released his gospel-inspired song Thank the Lord earlier this year and is working on another Tongan gospel track with American Black Gospel influences.

Speaking to John Pulu on PMN Tonga, Moala says his music aims to fuse Tongan lyrics with American Black Gospel elements and follows his purpose in his craft.

“I'm really influenced by the American Black Gospel,” he says. “I think at heart I've always been a gospel musician.

"When you're young, you're exploring and trying to pick up different genres and see what you like. But at heart, I've always wanted to do gospel.”

Moala says an upcoming song, which he will release soon, is made in collaboration with his close friends and fellow musicians Finau and Noke Tuita.

Musical roots and entrepreneurial drive

The multi-talented artist also works as a barber, overseeing Backyard Barbers in Australia, at a Darwin-based barbershop he built from casual trims at his family home.

Having moved from New Zealand as a teenager, he finds that his parents’ pastoral roles and interactions with diverse communities influence his entrepreneurial drive and openness to new ventures.

Watch Noke Tuita, Finau Tuita and Ron Moala’s latest track - Sei 'O Fafine.

As for his music career, Moala credits his faith as the driving force behind his professional and creative career. He is inspired by his older siblings' musical talents.

“They all sing and they've been musicians and just watching them and obviously singing in church, as we all do.”

He says his first recorded song came at age 13 with his cousin, marking it on “his little computer and mucking around”.

“It just started off like that and that's when I got a real taste of recording. I liked it and enjoyed it. So from then until now I’ve slowly tried to pursue my little recording dream and music.”

Moala begins exploring reggae, a popular sound in the Pacific, which then evolves into RnB.

“My first proper release song was with my cousins. They had a little group called Yamba Boys back in the day. So we started off like that and had my first gig with them as well then from there, I tried to do my own thing and started making music on my own.”

Watch Ron Moala’s track Thank the Lord featuring Sione Toki and Toki.Mo:

Listening to his heart

Over time, Moala lands on gospel music, drawing inspiration from his church upbringing and family roots.

He attributes his first gospel track, OKU ‘IAI HA KOLO FUNGANI, to his grandmother, who taught him the original in Sunday school and would ask him to sing it for her.

“I always used to sing it to her when she used to ask me. It's such an old Sunday school song. I've done a few songs after that which were cool, but it wasn't as fulfilling as when I recorded that gospel song.”

He decides to fully commit to the gospel genre, which leads to his song, Thank the Lord, featuring Sione Toki & Toki.Mo. Released last month, it was created in 2019.

“Not long ago, I was thinking, ‘Man, what happened to the song that I made?’ So then I pulled it up, I finished it off and released it early this year.

“I'm so grateful for the platform that I'm able to share the good news and the message that we are meant to share for the people to know about God and his love and grace.”

Watch Ron Moala’s full interview on PMN Tonga below.