Sounds of the Pacific Islands

Available for 29 days

In Jamz Supernova’s Global Sounds, Jamz delves into the heartbeat of musical scenes across the globe. Across this four-part series, Jamz explores global sounds from Japan (uncovering the country’s diverse club and underground music movements), Uganda (tracing the evolution of electronic Kadodi and Uganda’s experimental club movements), and Brazil (delving deeper into Brazilian Funk and the alternative sounds pushing things forward). In this episode, Jamz explores the contemporary sound of the Pacific Islands, tracing it from cultural roots and traditional instruments to the new wave of DJs and producers blending ancestral traditions with modern global music movements. From the bass-heavy club beats of Aotearoa to the spiritual sounds of Polynesian storytelling, this episode highlights the voices redefining music in the Pacific. Jamz catches up with Lady Shaka, whose high-energy DJ sets and advocacy for Pacific representation have put her at the forefront of the movement. She also hears from 15 15 (formerly QuinzeQuinze), who discusses the three main principles of Tahitian music. Te Vaka, the celebrated Polynesian group, share how they’ve kept traditional sounds alive while reaching global audiences and how they came to write the soundtrack for the Disney movie Moana. Meanwhile, Half Queen reflects on the intersection of Pacific club culture, identity, and underground music. Plus, Mokotron and LogTronix depict how they're bridging Māori heritage with modern electronic production. This is Global Sounds: Pacific Islands.