When the words “Local Music” is mentioned, what springs to mind? Cheery, smiley fijians standing on white sandy beaches, smiles beaming away, ukaleles in tow, harmonious tunes echoing in the pacific breeze? Calm stringed melodies singing of times of old, when times were simple and the grog flowed like the stream next to the house?

If you were just visiting our shores at the local hotel then, yes.

However, a cursory glance at localmusicinfiji.com will reveal a totally different picture.

Times are a’changin’, and amongst many young musicians today, its definitely all about the hip rap hop.

With the advent of westernisation, cheap computers and coupled with the ease at which the internet has made itself available to many families today (ah the good old days of dial-up…or maybe not), anyone and everyone with a musical bone or a lyrical leaning towards rap can make themselves heard. Several rappers have already made a name for themselves, such as Sammy G, Mr Grin, and Red Child, to name but a few.

The distribution channels for local grown music has improved with the help of the internet via bebo groups, reverbnation profiles etc, but the traditional means still remain, either through radio, a music video (if you’ve a video production company at your disposal), and even through public performances:

Not to be outdone by the advent of hip hop, krumping is also making headwaves with its subsequent introduction and growth.

It would be interesting to see just how far this genre of music and dance would develop, and with plenty of raw talent and the internet as their oyster, we should be in for alot of surprises in the coming years.