"An Island reggae band coming out of Dunedin? The people up north were asking, 'Geez, are there Islanders down there?'."
'Koile band leader Hiliako Iaheto is referring to his group's success at last weekend's 2011 Polynesian Blue Pacific Music Awards, at which the group received a winner's trophy in the Tagata Pasifika Best Language category.
The award was significant not only for the band, it was the first time a Dunedin act had featured in the nominations for the event, which has been running for seven years.
The group's EP, Te Hua, was one of three nominations in the Best Language category. The others were Pacific Underground's Island Summer and Taura Mani's I Runga Taua.
The members of 'Koile were not even in Manukau City's TelstraClear Pacific venue when the award was announced last Saturday night. Instead, they were outside, doing vocal warm-ups and going through their usual pre-show routine.
In their place, 'Koile manager and spokeswoman Pip Laufiso accepted the award for the band members, several of whom had left Dunedin in the small hours of Saturday, driven to Christchurch, caught a flight to Auckland, then headed quick-smart to the venue for a sound check. Bass player Nio Ikahihifo had even further to come - he lives in Perth.
Joining a list of performers that included hip-hop artist Young Sid, Christchurch-based Pacific Underground and Otara roots-reggae eight-piece Three Houses Down, 'Koile played two songs at the ceremony, giving Iaheto a chance to acknowledge the band's win.
"Some of the musicians we played with [at the awards ceremony] have never been down South. We felt like we were representing Dunedin, you know," Iaheto says.
"'Koile is a Dunedin-based group and although we have a name that is based on Tokelauan, we speak Tokelauan, Tongan, Rarotongan as well as English One of our first drummers was Scottish. The Islanders bring in the island flavours but our Pakeha brothers bring in stuff, too. We are cross-cultural.
"I was born in the islands. I came to New Zealand when I was 13 and went to boarding school in Masterton. I came here with my language. People who listen to 'Koile might not be able to speak [the languages] but they totally understand.
"I guess the message is: don't be shy about speaking your language. It's about trying. The more you speak a language, the more confident you get. It is part of who we are."
Formed by Iaheto in 2000 after his return from a trip to Tokelau the year before, 'Koile initially began under the name Grassroots (and included drummer Jarney Murphy, who subsequently joined the Black Seeds).
Although the band roster has ebbed and flowed over the years, the group's Dunedin core currently comprises Iaheto (guitar, vocals), Rangitakau Tekii (lead guitar, vocals), Eshan Dean (ukulele, percussion, vocals), Aidan Fraser (keyboards) and Ralph Miller (trumpet). Members based outside Dunedin are Teu Ikahihifo (Auckland, keyboards), Nio Ikahihifo (Perth, bass and vocals), Tim Walsh (Wellington, trombone) and Paul Young (Wellington, saxophone).
Recently there have also been collaborations with Christchurch bassist-producer Pos Mavaega, of Pacific Underground, and drummer Malo Seumanutafa.
"Because the band is actually quite spread out across the country - and our bass player lives in Perth - I would love to have a budget to bring all the players back home. However, we are limited to what we can do. The five of us who are based in Dunedin have been working with session musicians to fill in the gaps," Iaheto explains.
'Koile might be known as a roots-reggae band, but it also roams into elements of rock and includes in its set a few ballads. All-important is the singing.
"The vocals are very important," says Iaheto, who is also keen to play down the tag of band leader.
"People call me that but I believe we all stand there shoulder to shoulder; we all work together.
"We have four singers in the band. Most bands have one singer and some others doing backing vocals, but we have turns at singing main vocals. It revolves. We also do a cappella, sing in unison then split into harmonies, add different layers, do all the different things that come with our cultures.
"Traditionally, the voices are the main part of the music. Some of the music is traditional and we have rearranged it.
"Of the songs we've written ourselves, a lot of it is political. One song, Home, was written when I was back in Tokelau and is about how global warming is affecting our islands; it is also asking what and where is home.
"I was born in Tokelau but I regard Dunedin as my second home. My roots are here now.
"My son [who is 18] was born here. He plays music, too. I've had the pleasure and honour of sharing the stage with him. When we play festivals or go on tour, we take our children with us. Sometimes they come on stage. I always encourage them. It's all part of it."
Iaheto says the group also harbours hopes of taking its music back to the islands, "to do an ancestral tour to our villages".
Regardless of where 'Koile performs, or how far some of its members travel, one quality it doesn't lack is energy.
"It's like the Highlanders, the rugby players ... you've got to psych yourself up," Iaheto says.
"You don't do it half-heartedly. The energy we create ... we have to carry that on stage and just put on a show.
"People come to a 'Koile show to see something different".
Next weekend, 'Koile will perform at Fetu O Mataliki, part of the Dunedin Matariki Festival. It was at the same event last year the band launched Te Hua, the EP that earned the band its Tagata Pasifika award. An extra reason to put hands together, then?
Catch them: 'Koile plays at Fetu O Mataliki, Macandrew Bay Community Hall, on Saturday, June 11.
About the name: 'Koile (pronounced koy-leh) is derived from "puakoile'', a Tokelauan noun describing an early stage of coconut (before milk has
formed inside).
