Mix two New Zealand brothers with Maori Samoan traditions plus great singing voices, and you have Adeaze. This popular R&B duo will perform in the BYU-Hawaii Cannon Activities Center, Saturday, 16 June 2007, from 9 to 11 p.m.
A pre-show featuring Aradhna; Fiji, a local group; and the current BYU-Hawaii Idol, begins at 8:30 p.m.
The brothers, Nainz Tupa’i and Viiz Tupa’i, began their musical careers at the ages of four and fives years of age, singing for church and community events. They attended the Excel School of Performing Arts, graduating at the top of their class.
During a tour of New Zealand representing Excel, they caught the attention of Brotha D from Dawn Raid. In 2002 they officially signed to Dawn Raid Entertainment and began work on their debut album, “Always and for Real,” which was released in 2004 and topped the album chart in New Zealand.
An online review described their sound this way: “Their harmonies are angelic and their commitment to upliftment is inspiring. It’s like if you took Fifties gospel quartets and updated their sound to the 21st century, then boiled down the personnel to a duo but kept the grand sweep of four-part harmony.”
Twenty-one year old Aradhna, from Wellington, New Zealand, began singing at the age of 12, when she began singing along with her mother to traditional Samoan and country songs. She began writing her own songs at age 13. After attending Porirua College, she formed a five piece girl group called “Lovera.” Her mother is of Samoan descent and her father is Indian.
The aim of this Toa Productions’ Polynesian Power Tour 2007 is to bring together successful Polynesians from around the world. The tour was created through Toa Productions’ involvement in providing the theme song Polynesian Power for the ESPN documentary Polynesian Power: Islanders in Pro Football.
The tour will take the group to Salt Lake City, Utah, June 23; to Portland, Oregon, 29 June; and to Seattle, Washington, 30 June.
Tickets are $5 for BYU-Hawaii students, $8 for faculty and staff, $12 for the general public and are available at the Aloha Center information desk, or at any Ticketmaster outlet.
