‘Being a Tongan musician in NZ is one of the best things I could’ve done’

With a thirst for traditional Tongan anthems, the musical talents of artist Folau are filling cups beyond the shores of the island Kingdom.

Folau’s music is blasting through speakers across Aotearoa, Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Meanwhile, Folau still tours, having just finished the inaugural Give Back Concert - Tonga, a fundraiser event for local schools and communities, staged in Nuku’aofa last weekend.

“It just makes me feel really proud to be Tongan,” Folau tells PMN Tonga host John Pulu about what creating music means to him.

His voice carries the grace and soul of his Tongan roots as he predominantly releases music in Lea Faka Tonga.

Folau takes traditional compositions and revives them through his distinctive Poly-Reggae sound without sacrificing the essence of the pieces.

It was his rendition of Queen Salote’s poem ,Upē 'O Siu'ilikutapu, that really put Folau on the map.

Claiming the sixth spot on the New Zealand Music Charts in 2023 and now sitting at 2.1 million views on YouTube.

Folau did his due diligence in revamping the classical hiva, involving Tongan elders and experts early in his creative process.

“I had to recreate, reproduce, and re-sung the whole song and just to make sure and clarify for all the oldies…Because the last thing I didn't want to do was to change and modernise it,” Folau says.

One of his early releases, Mate Ma’a Tonga, has become a hearty hype song for die hard MMT supporters, where it is often heard at ‘Ikale Tahi rugby matches.

Folau’s breakthrough success earned him a Best Pacific Roots/Reggae Artist nomination at the Pacific Music Awards in 2024.

“I think being a Tongan musician in New Zealand is great, one of the best things I could ever do,” Folau says.

Collaboration has also been a big part of Folau’s visibility with hit tracks such as That’s The Way It Is with Poly-Reggae remix king, Canaane Ene, Loka Siliva featuring Josh Namauleg, and dropping a Tongan verse on Fijian|Māori soul singer Myshaan’s Carry My Heart/’Alu ā.

Folau has taken some inspiration from country music in releasing his cover of Tennessee star Morgan Wallen’s Silverado for Sale.

The official music video premiered at the end of NZMusic Month and has almost tipped 12,000 views.

While there has been an outpouring of love and support for his music, Folau says consistency and a strong inner circle are key to having longevity in a competitive industry.

“It comes with its challenges,” he says.

“I think one of the challenges is just being around the right people who continue to support.

“I've seen a lot of my friends who've come into the music industry and they've gone because they don't see the outcome of being a musician.

“You don't just record a song tonight and tomorrow you become rich - you have to continuously keep releasing music.”

Showing no signs of slowing down, Folau says his next release will be in collaboration with fellow Tongan artist Blkb3ry - a revamped version of a Tongan favourite, Huni o Tavatu’utolu.

Watch the full interview with Folau on PMN Tonga below.