Maoli girl oshen biography

Currently unsigned to a major label, his last six albums were independently produced in PNG and Hawaii. Interview: The Pier was able to catch up with O-Shen to answer a few questions and introduce himself to The Pier community. The Pier: Being an American growing up in Papua, New Guinea and living in Hawaii, tell us what the culture of the music is on the islands right now and how it may differ from the rest of the world?

O-Shen: Well, Its actually different from island to island as well, because the Pacific is so culturally diverse. For a lot of fans on The Pier, this could be their first impression to your music. How do these songs represent your work as an artist, and what do you want fans to take away from your music? O-Shen: Well, these particular 2 songs are about girls.

I do appreciate girls, but I stand for so much more in my music and lifestyle…. The Pier: I understand you were sentenced to a maximum-security prison at 19 for armed robbery? O-Shen: Yes, Unfortunately that is true. The just-released "Faya! Reggae beats and melodies match wits with the occasional verse of flow delivered hip-hop style.

Songs featuring lyrics in English and reggae-style patois combine with maoli girls oshen biography sung entirely in the native Papua New Guinea dialects that have made him a celebrity in that island nation. The family's move to Spokane, Wash. Raised and educated in the village of Butaweng population 1,a community where neighbors took care of one another, a strong sense of cultural identity was imprinted early in life, and no one judged anyone by the color of their skin, O-Shen suddenly found himself in a world where it was far easier to get by burying his identity instead of celebrating it.

After falling in with a "thuggish" crowd and barely graduating from high school, O-Shen, by age 19, was in Washington State Prison on a three-year sentence for burglary. While incarcerated, he reconnected with his culture, taught himself languages and upon release immediately returned to Papua New Guinea. Eventually, he found a new home in Honolulu.

Experimenting with music while working a Waikiki day job, O-Shen got his first big break after sending local musician Fiji a demo tape that impressed Fiji enough to let the eager twentysomething do a Niugini pidgin rap on his "Gratitude" disc. For "Faya! My upbringing. Where I came from. Also maybe to stand out a little bit and let people know that I like living here, I like being respected and being given status almost as a local artist.

But I still have to keep it real and let people know I'm not from Hawai'i I spoke with O-Shen about "Faya! I try not to be confined by whatever kind of project people expect me to follow up with. I try not to be limited by any genre or type of music. I try to expand on my use of the languages and involve the culture a little bit in the music.

More and more, I'm trying to do music that has more international appeal. I haven't let out the fire yet. I've kind of held back. I would say I'm a little bit limited by the market. Sadly and unfortunately, I'm limited in Hawai'i if I don't sing in English. You'd think it'd be the other way around. That I'd be limited if I didn't sing in Hawaiian.

But if I did a reggae song in Hawaiian, it would have less chance of playing on the radio than an English reggae song. The songs on my album in other languages are played on the radio a lot more there. On O'ahu, the format is a lot more English-oriented. So I've been very blessed that they let any of my music in, because a lot of my music is in foreign languages that a lot of people here wouldn't understand.

Is it OK with you that most people here who buy "Faya! It's kind of interesting. And because of that, the artists there sing in many languages. Over there, anybody who listens to local music turns on the radio and hears languages they don't understand all day long. So coming from that background, where I listened to a lot of different dialects of island languages, it became easy for me to sing in almost any language.

That's pretty common. Most artists over there sing in at least 10 languages. Determined to connect with diverse cultures, he taught himself Tahitian, showcasing his commitment to cultural understanding. Following his release, O-Shen relocated to Hawaii, where he worked as a beach boy in Waikiki. He sent a demo tape and a heartfelt letter to the renowned artist Fiji, who was then producing CDs for his label.

His lyrics often delve into serious issues, aiming to foster pride in island cultures and languages. His pledge to these themes has resounded deeply with audiences across the Pacific and beyond, establishing him as a powerful voice in the music world. His music reflects his connection to his homeland, and he actively works to raise awareness about the challenges it faces.