Tahitian musician inspires Pasifika with debut single celebrating identity and the ocean

Award-winning Tahitian instrumentalist and composer, Teiva Viaris, is encouraging young Pasifika artists to take pride in their identity as he releases his debut solo single, composed and performed entirely in his native tongue.

“Be yourselves and remain authentic in what you do,” Viaris tells Tofiga Fepulea’i on Island Time. “Be proud of your identity.”

Born in Tahiti, the 38-year-old’s new track, Hī Rau E, is inspired by his deep connection to the ocean and his Polynesian heritage.

“The song is about the connection of the Polynesian people with the ocean, which is a relation that I have myself. I think it’s important in my own life,” he says.

“It’s the first reason why I came back to live in Tahiti, because I couldn't be away from the ocean too long, and I needed to go at least twice or three times a week.”

Viaris says culture plays an important role in his music.

“I think the situation we're in, in the whole region of Polynesia in general, but specifically in Tahiti, is that we are claiming back our own identity after years of repression,” he says.

“So, it's really important for our generation to rebuild our identity and to claim it back.

“That’s one of the ways I found to do it in my own art, is to use Tahiti as the first language.”

Teiva Viaris saya Hi Rua E explores the ocean and the relationship Polynesian people have with the ocean. Photo/ Facebook

Although he was raised in a culturally-rich environment, Viaris admits he does not speak Tahitian fluently.

Composing a song entirely in Tahitian is impressive.

“I understand it a lot because my grandmother used to talk to me in Tahitian, but I don't use it on an everyday basis,” he says.

“The first time I actually tried to compose a song in Tahitian, I felt something clicking and I felt instantly that I was going in the right path.

“So, I'm probably going to do my whole career in this language, which I find beautiful, by the way.”

Balancing his cultural influences as someone raised in Tahiti and trained in France, Viaris has come to accept his multicultural identity.

Ia Ora Te Hura, the award-winning Polynesian Traditionnal Arts Group founded Teiva Viaris and his partner Poerani Germain. Photo/Facebook

"Whenever I'm asked to compose something or to express myself in music, I just totally assume who I am and accept who I am and just express my personality in my music,” he says.

“I don't expect everybody to adhere to it, but I'm proud to be of multicultural influences and to assume all these influences.

“So, yeah, I feel like I'm at peace with my multicultural identity. “

“Hī Rau E” features Viaris’ signature sound, blending traditional Polynesian culture with Western indie folk, creating a ritualistic and hypnotic tone.

“It's pretty new, but mostly because I haven't had many chances to compose something in my own name before,” he says.

“I was mostly focused on my career as a film scorer or a documentary scorer, so I always used to put myself at the service of somebody else's vision.

Hi Rua E is composed composed and performed entirely in Tahitian. Photo/ Facebook

“I didn't reflect much on the shape it would take if I were to build something for myself and myself only, and I'm kind of discovering it too with this song.”

Viaris, who co-founded the Tahitian traditional dance group Ia Ora te Hura with his partner, considers this release a major milestone in his career.

“I always used my services as a composer for projects that were not mine, like documentaries, films or even a traditional dance,” he says.

“So, this is the first time I'm actually doing this in my own name and for myself.

“It's also the first time I get to connect overseas with music, so it's definitely a big leap forward.”

The music video for Hī Rau E features stunning animation by internationally-renowned Mexican 2D animator Erick Cuevas, also known as Nespy, who lives in Italy. They connected through Instagram to collaborate on the project.

Teiva Viaris is now working on a second single and wants to release an album in the near future. Photo: Facebook

Viaris believes the animation highlights the true essence of his music.

"I wasn't really comfortable with showing my face in the clip because I felt I wanted the music to speak more than the image or the artist behind it,” he says. “I found that animation was a subtle way to keep that humble position vis-à-vis my music.”

Viaris says he would like to collaborate with artists Fat Freddy's Drop, European Pia Sfaccini, and the legendary band, The Beatles.

Supporters can look forward to another single release soon.

“I have another single, which is in the making right now,” Viares says. “But, I'd like to release an album pretty soon. If not next year, maybe the one after that.”

His music is available on mainstream platforms, including Spotify, Deezer, Tidal, and YouTube.