Pacific community pays tribute to award-winning musician

Tributes have poured in from across the Pacific community following the death of the award-winning musician Chris Faiumu.

Widely known as Mu and DJ Fitchie, he was the founder of the band, Fat Freddy’s Drop.

Sāmoan hip-hop artist Bill Rangi Urale, known as King Kapisi, paid tribute to Faiumu, who recorded Urale’s first rap group single, Overstayers from Kua.

“He was my Sāmoan Welli uso,” Urale stated in a post.

In a Facebook post, Auckland councillor Lotu Fuli, representing Manukau, says she’s sad and shocked at the news.

“Sending our alofa and sincere condolences to the Faiumu and FFD whanau. RIL Chris.”

Fat Freddy’s Drop started in Wellington in the late 1990s, featuring vocalist Dallas Tamaira and trumpeter Toby Laing.

The trio began hosting laid-back jam sessions at Faiumu’s seaside home, where Mu skilfully layered beats and bass on his Akai MPC.

Fat Freddy’s Drop grew into a seven-piece band, known for shaping a unique fusion of dub, jazz, soul, reggae, and electronic music.

Fat Freddy's Drop is a New Zealand seven-piece band from Wellington, whose musical style has been characterised as any combination of dub, reggae, soul, jazz, rhythm and blues, and techno. Photo/Fat Freddy's Drop

They released their debut studio album, Based on a True Story, in 2005, which became New Zealand’s third-highest-selling album.

Despite being released without formal marketing, the album remained in the Top 40 for over two years, achieved nine-times platinum status, and won every category it was nominated for at the 2005 New Zealand Music Awards.

Chris Faiumu transformed his home into a mixing studio, spending up to 18 months refining Based on a True Story, before mastering the album at Fantasy Studios in San Francisco. Photo/Fat Freddy's Drop

The band celebrated its 25th anniversary last year.

Over the past 25 years, they have performed more than 1000 shows around the world, built a fiercely loyal following known as the “Fred Heads,” and sold over half a million albums.

Watch Fat Freddy's Drop perform HOPE For A Generation (2002)