Who Is Opetaia Foa'i?

Opetaia Foa’i is a multi-award winning Polynesian composer, singer-songwriter and record producer hailing from Samoa. He is best known for his work on the soundtrack of Disney’s 2016 animated film Moana.

Early Life and Career Beginnings

Foa’i was born in Samoa in 1959, and he learnt the traditional style of songwriting from the age of five. As a young adult, he began performing at festivals across the Pacific Islands with his group Te Vaka. In 1996, he released his debut album, Nukukehe. In 2001, Te Vaka performed at the Wakakusa Yamayaki Festival in Japan, which served as an important opportunity for them to gain international recognition.

Moana and Recognition

In 2016, Foa’i provided the soundtrack for Disney’s Moana alongside Lin-Manuel Miranda. The soundtrack was a huge success and was nominated for Best Original Song at the 89th Academy Awards. At the same time, his band Te Vaka toured Europe and released their album Hiva!. In 2019, Foa’i featured on the song ‘We Know The Way’ alongside Jemaine Clement for the film’s sequel Moana: The Lost Island.

Awards and Achievements

In 2017, Foa’i was awarded a Queen’s Service Medal from the New Zealand Government for his services in music. He was also recognised by Variety in its list of ‘Music Impact Report: 10 Global Music Luminaries Making A Difference’. In 2019, his daughter Olivia Foa’i joined him on stage to perform at the Grammy Awards with Te Vaka. This marked the first time that a Pacific Islander had performed at the award ceremony.