In what is a historic first for local music, singer and songwriter Ratu Elijah Naitini better known as RATU, is the first local artist to collaborate with the godfather of Island Reggae, George “Fiji” Veikoso.
The song titled ‘Vude Mai’ released globally this afternoon.
Funnily enough, RATU says he received a call while on the bus from his producer/songwriter friend Joe Malafu in Australia one evening, as he was going to have some grog with friends.
RATU says he was wondering why Malafu was calling at that time asking him if he was alright.
He says Malafu told him ‘Mana, someone wants to talk to you’ before handing the phone to Fiji.
RATU says he just screamed inside the bus when he heard ‘Bula Boy.’
He says he had to ask to call them back as the noise inside the bus was deafening and he could barely hear them.
The singer/songwriter says that bus ride till he got off had to be the longest ever as time seemed to have slowed down.
He says he has struggled over the last couple of months keeping the secret that he had recorded a song with his idol George Fiji.
RATU says at one point he was trying to figure out if the song was going to be released, because it was so long since they had worked on it.
He says he was also trying to get in touch with Fiji to ask if he should do a retake, be a bit more energetic or sing his part different or even rap.
RATU says he has been working hard to this point adding how he has always wanted to do a song with his hero, and now it is finally a reality.
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