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by B. Chen-Fruean
Samoa News Correspondent
Singing group "Elite" returned Monday evening after spending a week in the independent state of Samoa recording their first CD which is expected to be released later next month.
The group is composed of local residents Steve Pele, Smurf Sili, Francis Vaivao, and Miriam Te'o, the only female member. The new CD, entitled "Roll with Elite," is bilingual - English and Samoan. The CD was recorded by Victor Keil, who is the other half of Polynesian singing sensations Victor and Fanu, and local boy Shy Guy of Keila Records in Vaigaga, Samoa.
Vaivao, 25, a sales representative at ASCO Motors said their new CD consists of a mixture of musical remakes as well as original music selections composed by each group member. Vaivao's original song, co-written by his friend BJ Afalava, is entitled, "Whenever I Look Into Your Eyes."
Vaivao said they hooked up with Victor after meeting him during the My Idol show last year. The group then made contact with Victor's sister Rosabelle who was influential in connecting them with Victor and setting up the recording gig.
Vaivao is hopeful that the launch of their new CD will put Elite in the category of household names but quickly added, "I am not in it for the popularity, I just want to express and share my God-given talent of singing."
He said their experience in Samoa was "good, although at times it was stressful." The recording was exhausting, as they would enter the studio at 9am and sometimes record until 11pm., he said. Vaivao said it took Elite a month to prepare for the recording, with weekly practice sessions.
Vaivao is keeping his fingers crossed that the release of their new CD will be good enough to land them a spot on the music charts in New Zealand "because that's where most of the Polynesian groups are, like singing brothers "At Ease." We went through a lot of obstacles and I would like to see us succeed in our musical aspirations."
Smurf Sili, 22, of Nu'uuli said prior to their trip to Samoa, he had never actually been in a real recording studio so his experience was "cool." He added, "The recording went by fast and that's what we wanted so everything kind of worked out for us."
Smurf's original song entitled "My faimalu," describes the way he met his current girlfriend Saitutuila Tagaloa. "The song basically details how me and my girlfriend got together and how we are still very much in love today," Smurf explained.
The son of Charmaine and Aniani Sili of Nu'uuli, Smurf is a former ASCC student but has decided to put school on hold, for the time being, to pursue his singing career.
Steve Savelio Pele, 24, of Lauli'i described his experience as a great one. The son of the late Konelio and Susana Mulitauaopele, husband to Jessica Pele, and father to one-year-old Kahlini, Steve's fun-loving personality shines through his original song entitled, "Roll With Elite," which he describes as being a hip hop song about having fun.
"I was just trying to bring up that hip hop flavor and the song is basically about having fun, and there is not much violence in the lyrics. The song simply states that people should leave the drama at home and come and party," Steve explained. He wanted to recognize Ben Vai, the back-up singer for Polynesian singing superstar Fiji "who helped us out with some songs."
Referring to their trip, Miriam Te'o, 29, commented, "It was everything I thought it would be, which was hard, exhausting work. It was fun and well worth it. There were times when we'd go into the studio in the morning and not come back until the following morning. We got a little taste of what musicians and entertainers go through."
Te'o's original song is entitled, "Stay with me," a song inspired by fellow singer Francis Vaivao. "The song is about finally meeting that one special person who you think is the one you want to be with for the rest of your life," Te'o explained.
Te'o said their trip to Samoa pushed them to "put our heads together trying to figure out what kind of music we wanted to compile. There was one song that we put together at the last minute and it came out really good."
Te'o said her involvement with Elite has not at all interfered with her role as the owner of Samoa Island Daycare Center in Faleniu.
She added, "With our new CD, we want more opportunities not only for us, but for our local youngsters. We did everything on our own, without the help of a manager and the good thing about it was, when we arrived in Samoa, the recording company was amazed at how we knew exactly how we wanted our songs. According to them, we are the only group from Tutuila who they have recorded a CD for, in only one week at their studio."
Altogether, the recording gig cost $4,000 SAT.
While in Samoa, Elite performed at Jottas Karaoke in downtown Apia. They were also invited to perform during the biggest weekly showcase in Samoa, the Star Search program on Sunday evening, which is aired on the Samoa television station.
Elite performed R. Kelly's hit, "I Believe I Can Fly."
Reach the reporter at blue@samoanews.com
Osini Faleatasi, Inc. dba Samoa News reserves all rights.
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