Brotherhood Musiq celebrates faith-driven journey with historic PMA nomination

Brotherhood Musiq is celebrating their first nomination at the 2025 Pacific Music Awards, describing the recognition as both humbling and unexpected.

Junior Tuiloma, a member of the three-piece band, says their musical journey has always been rooted in faith and gratitude.

“It’s a real humbling and kind of exciting experience for us. Something [that] wasn’t on the books for us, it wasn’t a set goal for us. For it to come naturally, it’s just a blessing,” Tuiloma says in a Behind The Beat* interview with NiuFM.

From high school friends to nominees for Best Pacific Gospel Artist, Tuiloma, AJ Pualau, and his brother, Harry Pualau, believe a major shift took place when they stopped trying to please crowds and started to sing from their hearts.

Their most popular song is a cover of Michael W. Smith’s Open The Eyes of My Heart Lord, with over 130,000 streams on Spotify and 1.4 million views on YouTube.

Tuiloma says the song carries a strong message of growth and enlightenment. “There’s something in our faith called ‘spiritual blindness’.

“So to have your eyes opened is to receive and understand what God has called you to do. Ephesians 1:18 breaks it down, I encourage you guys to go and read that verse.”

The verse highlights the transformative power of faith and the divine illumination that allows believers to grasp the depth of God’s love.

“It's just about the enlightenment and opening up your eyes to see the love that God has for you and the purpose that he wants for your life,” Tuiloma says.

Looking ahead the group has set their sights on covering the Hillsong classic. “Me and Harry were discussing this one - You Are Holy,” Tuiloma says.

While many modern worship songs focus on individual experience, Tuiloma believes You Are Holy is a powerful return to exaltation.

“[It] is just exaltation where we actually worship God for who he is. He's the same yesterday, today and forever. We're really grateful that we're in a position to cover songs as such.”

This year’s PMAs feature a record 34 finalists across 13 categories, including Brotherhood Musiq, one of 15 first-time nominees. The group is alongside established artists like Shane Walker and Aaradhna, who each have four nominations.

For those hearing their music for the first time, Tuiloma hopes the message is simple yet impactful.

“Jesus loves you and Jesus wants to use you, if you allow. It's that old saying, ‘you can't box with someone if they're not willing to get in the ring’,” he says.

“It's the same analogy we use when accepting Christ into our lives. Know that God is good forever and always. Even when it's bad, are we willing to lift our hands and still say, Thank you, Jesus?

“Or are we going to dwell in the storm and not get anything out of it? But there's a blessing in everything. Opening your eyes, being spiritually open to all of those things, and receive.”

*Behind The Beat is a social media series featuring sit-down interviews with PMA finalists, where artists share their creative processes and inspirations. It is available to watch on Niu FM’s social media platforms.

The Pacific Music Awards will be held at the Manukau Due Drops Events Centre on Thursday, 21 August. Tickets are available here.