Taonepuna Lakatani, Malcolm Lakatani & Pacific Kids Learning

Malcolm Lakatani aka MAL #musicandlife 
If fusing languages and music genres were a sport, then NZ born Niuean musician Mal Lakatani would be a gold medalist.  Mal is an accomplished singer/song writer in English and Niuean.  He is a wonderfully, gifted musician with talents that extend from lead vocals, guitars, keyboards and drums.

After many years traveling and touring the globe, with Polynesian group Te Vaka, Mal was inspired to embark on a personal voyage to pursue his own musical dreams.  His first solo performances were at the 2004 and 2005 Pasifika Festival. His first musical dream came to light in 2009 upon the independent release of his debut EP “Quote Unquote”. This beautiful piece of work saw Mal merge his soulful vocals alongside his contemporary interpretations of traditional Niuean classics. This was an innovative feat that earned him three official nominations at the 2010 Pacific Music Awards.   His next release “Nukututaha” was featured on the compilation CD celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Pacific Music Awards.

Mal is a renowned guitarist performing in many bands including Che Fu and The Kratez and Daylight Robbery with David Dallas– and his own 2 piece band aQstik Soul.  Mal is also regularly invited as a guest artist for special events and performances.  “He’s not just a jammer he’s a supreme musician.” - Dixon Nacey from Bands by Design
 
Mal Lakatani has fully immersed himself within his craft so it comes as no surprise to learn that he is also a qualified music teacher. In 2014 he established ‘The Creative Souls Projects’, and the ‘Little Souls Music Academy’, which are programmes that fully develop “the talent, strengths and spirit of young people in the arts.” 
 
Focusing on his work and family in recent years.  2015 saw Mal return to work on his own music, beginning with Fiti Lagakali” – which saw him recognised at the 2016 Pacific Music Awards.  He followed this with the releases and videos for ‘True to You’ in 2018 and ‘Smile’ in 2019.  Since then Mal has been working on an album, celebrating Vagahau Niue. 
 
An advocate for his language and culture, Mal formed a natural partnership with Pacific Kids Learning.  Pacific Kids' Learning aims to fill the digital space with culturally affirming content in Pacific languages and English, to support Pacific learners in maintaining connections to their culture and heritage as they navigate today's world.
 
Working with the support of Pacific Kids Learning, who produced the projects, he created
‘Ulihega’ and ‘Vevela Mai He Lā’.  Both songs were recorded, mixed and mastered by MALKS PRODUCTIONS and released by Pacific Kids Learning on their compilation Pacific Digital Dance Vole 2.  Through this collaboration, they are encouraging our communities and families to embrace their language and culture – using music as a vehicle to learn and enjoy.
 
'Ulihega' is composed by Taonepuna Lakatani & Malcolm Lakatani, with the next part of the project involved creating the video clip, a digital animation of song and dance celebrating the use of a local Niue delicacy in "Ulihega" aka raw fish. Mal involved his children Aundreah Lakatani and Trinity Soul Lakatani, and brother Monty Lakatani for the video that was released earlier this year.
 
 
Nominated for:  ‘Ulihega’, ‘Vevela Mai He Lā’
Finalist for:
PACIFIC MEDIA NETWORK BEST PACIFIC LANGUAGE
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