We all have something that we can look at, feel or listen to that make us feel at home no matter where we are in the world. These little things transport us back to the place where we’re most comfortable whilst making all the problems we have simply melt away. For Joel Havea listening to Tonga music has always done that for him and he uses the rich culture from his homelands music through the Joel Havea Trio’s latest single titled Ki ‘a Lavaka.
Close your eyes whilst listening to this song and you’ll be transported to a tropical paradise. The warm inviting melodies are a highlight of the track with them only amplified by the uplifting vocals of Havea that have this ability to just make you smile from ear to ear. However the best part of the track is the traditional Tongan elements of the track that I’ll let the trio explain for themselves:
“This song is written in a traditional Tongan opening tuning (the Lavaka Key) typically used in Kolomotu’a / Sopu (suburbs of Nuku’alofa, the capital of Tonga) during a ‘Faikava’ session, where men sit around in a circle drinking the Tongan national beverage (Kava), whilst singing in 4 part harmony and playing traditional songs.”
Overall this is a gorgeous track that I know I’ll be listening to over and over again for many weeks to come.