Ta​’​u Tama

from Our Island by Small Island Big Song

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    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
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    edition of 1000 
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about

From Luc -

When I wrote Ta’u Tama, I was thinking of my
responsibility as a human being to do my best to
respect and preserve our mother earth that welcomes
us and gives us all we need. I want to feel that I have
done my part and that I leave my children with a
planet as beautiful and as alive as possible. I don't
want to be sorry or ashamed of myself when later, I
look my son in the eye and have to take responsibility
for my actions or inactions.

From Vaiteani -

Taking Tehau back to Tahiti was something
very important for me as I couldn’t give birth to
him there. What we could do in Tahiti was bury
his placenta into the ground. This is a traditional
ritual that helps bond the baby to his land. My Dad
did a wonderful prayer that day for the ceremony
in which he called upon all our ancestors. It was a
really powerful moment. We talk about our land as
our ‘fenua’. And the placenta is called ‘pu fenua’.
So even in language, there is a strong connection
between human beings and the land.

lyrics

Originally by Luc in Tahitian of Tahiti

If the ocean drowns
because of me
If the wind blows away
What will I tell my son
The sun shines
The moon smiles at us
The stars sparkle
The rainbow tells us
Take care of life
Take good care of life
If the shark disappears
because of me
If the reef darkens
What will I tell my son
The sun shines
The moon smiles at us
The stars sparkle
The rainbow tells us
Take care of life
Take good care of life
If the glacier suffers from the heat
because of me
If my island is swallowed up
What will I tell my son
Ooh ooh ooh
Take care of life
Take good care of life

Originally spoken buy Selina in Marshallese of Marshall Islands & English

Greetings
If this is the story about our islands,
it is the story for the whole world

credits

from Our Island, track released January 28, 2022
Title in English — My child
Songwriter — Luc Totterwitz
Arrangement — Tim Cole

TAHITI & FRANCE: Luc Totterwitz — Vocals, Guitar, Udu & Kayamb/ Vaiteani — Lead vocals/ Poemoana — Tahitian dance
TAIWAN: Putad — Amis improvised vocals/ Sauljaljui — Mortar and Pestle THE MARSHALL ISLANDS: Selina Leem — Quote from her speech at COP21 Closing Plenary
MADAGASCAR: Sammy — Valiha, Shakers & Sodina
MAURITIUS: Emlyn — Ravann/ Kokol — Ravann
PAPUA NEW GUINEA & AUSTRALIA: Airileke —
Garamuts, Pates
RAPA NUI (EASTER ISLAND): Yoyo Tuki — Polynesian Ukulele

NATURE SOUNDS: Children playing in the Ocean, Kavieng,
Papua New Guinea

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Small Island Big Song Taipei City, Taiwan

We are artists of the Pacific & Indian Oceans.

United for environmental & cultural justice, and to make incredible music.

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