This release is a way for us to share 'Our Island' beyond the song, its 60-page booklet gives full lyric translations along with artists' insights into their songs, and illustrations of the artists created from cultural elements and nature grant us a pathway to explore their cultural perspectives. With a hands-on meditation of creating your own globe, ‘Our Island’ is in your hands.
‘Our Island’ was recorded remotely from our island homes. Many of us have never met in person, we are yet to discover if we have legs. Online we shared our stories, songs, concerns and loves, usually interrupted by Sammy’s spontaneous Kabosy solos, Putad, Vaiteani & Luc’s children or our internet freezing again (even in the tropics!).
We could support each other in our concerns for our planet, we know at times these feelings are overwhelming, that’s a healthy response, but know you are not alone, there are many sharing these feelings. We are a part of a movement, a momentum for cultural change which puts our relationship to our planet at its core.
Available at our concerts, bandcamp & our website.
#1 Trans Global Music Chart 2022 Feb
Nominated - 2022 Golden Melody Awards TAIWAN - Best Indigenous Album & Album of the Year
Includes unlimited streaming of Our Island
via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
...more
ships out within 10 days
edition of 1000
Purchasable with gift card
$30USDor more
about
From Sauljaljui -
I wanted to write a song about my relationship with the
mountains and the ocean. For someone who lives on the mountain
like me, how do I connect my story with the islands from afar even
though I am fearful of the ocean? Once I asked my Ina (mother), how
would our elder describe the ocean in Paiwan? She said “no way, we
couldn’t even see the ocean when growing up. Ocean is huge, we can
only use ‘aiyanga’ (sigh in Paiwan) to express our feeling towards
something outside of what we can imagine and describe.
We had a serious drought this spring. One day I took my dogs
for a walk on the dry river bank. I remember feeling sad for the river,
but suddenly I thought “Even though the river is dried up, it will
know its destination, the ocean, when the rain comes.” This gave me
the inspiration to write this song Madjadjumak.
I brought in the perspective of the river, and wrote “Even
though my eyes are covered, I will pave the way for you. Even
though my legs and arms are severed, I will pave the way for you.”
Even though there’s destruction and drought on the land, water,
the source of life, will guide us. I also wanted to invite Selina of
the Marshall Islands to collaborate on the song, because part of her
traditional custodial land is also underwater, due to rising sea levels.
That is not in the future, but right there, right now. This is not just
a matter of environmental concerns but survival. Writing this song,
I thought about my family across the ocean from the Austronesian
diaspora, we’re so far apart but then so close. Our voice is our
shared path to our way out. The world is too grand to change by any
of us alone, but if we are willing to lend each other a bit of courage
and strength, creating a space where we unite not divide, I think we
might actually have a chance for hope and for the better.
lyrics
Originally sung by Sauljaljui in Paiwan of Taiwan
Oh the endless great ocean
You are the path of my life
Oh the endless great ocean
You are the strength of my life
O~hai yan ho~~ho ~~o
O~hai yan ho~~ho ~~o
(Spoken word)
I know the sun tomorrow
Will rise from the same place
I will no longer be saddened as yesterday
I will find you across the mountains and valleys
I choose you to ease my pain
Listen to the calls in my heart
Listen to the tears I long for
(let’s sing together)
Listen to the calls in my heart
Listen to the tears I long for
(let’s sing together)
Even though my eyes are covered
I will pave the way for you
Let’s sing together
Even though my legs and arms are severed
I will pave the way for you
Let’s sing together
Originally spoken by Selina in Marshallese of Marshall Islands
The leaves on the day after
Are red as the sun’s fire
The trees
Their branches are broken/ their bones broken
The fronds have stopped playing with the wind
The thick rain (meaning heavy rain)
Has forgotten their children
In the soil/ land
The ocean the sea
Our ancestors/ elders
They were the ones who sailed
Fast as the flying fishes
And we all look at one another
And run towards them
As our feet touch the ocean of tears
We hug our people
They have come to save us
Haka by Jerome In Maori of Aotearoa (New Zealand)
What is right is always right! Indeed
What is right is always right! Ah… yes
Be true to yourself, my son
What is right is always right! Indeed
What is right is always right! Ah… yes
Be true to yourself, my son
You have raised my concerns, so listen up!
What is right is always right! Indeed
What is right is always right! Ah… yes
What is right is always right! Indeed
Have you got that?
Right, let’s go on!
Originally sung by Mogu in Tok Pisin of Papua New Guinea
Your land. Your rivers
The sea, the jungle & its animals,
look after them
For tomorrow
Look after them, for the next generations
credits
from Our Island,
track released January 28, 2022
English title — Finding one another
Composition — Sauljaljui
Arrangement — Tim Cole
TAIWAN: Sauljaljui — Lead vocals, guitar/ Putad — Vocals, electric bass MARSHALL ISLANDS: Selina Leem — Spoken word
PAPUA NEW GUINEA & AUSTRALIA: Richard Mogu — Kundu drum, Kuakumba, shakers, chant/ Airileke — Garamut, Pate log drums MADAGASCAR: Sammy — Jejy
MAURITIUS: Emlyn — Ravann, vocals/ Kokol — Ravann/ Kan Chan Kin — Ravann
RAPA NUI (EASTER ISLAND): Yoyo Tuki — Hoko chant
AOTEAROA
(NEW ZEALAND): Jerome Kavanagh — Excerpt of Haka chant “Ngati Kahungunu” written by Ancestor Waimarama Putara
BORNEO: Alena Murang— Chant
AUSTRALIA: Tim Cole — Shakers
NATURE SOUNDS: Sounds of Longan river in Taiwan (including eagle sound)
I love these women. the voices mesh together perfectly; also the world music is exceptional. I have all of their albums and they're all excellent. Give them a listen. Steve Lake
