4/4 Pacific Music + Arts Volume 2:1 Oct 2016 | Page 8
How did your journey with music begin?
I’ve been making music for over 10 years now, since my
last years of high school.
Outside of music, what do you do for work?
There was a time coming to the last years of school and I
thought maybe I should start a band and one my friends
had just come from doing the competition Paci ica Beats
so I thought why not give it a go. Funny thing is, that
we won the whole competition, so that kind of made me
I’m a youth worker in a residential setting but try to
incorporate as much musical elements as I can. I also
work in the remote indigenous communities here in
Australia doing workshops with young children.
really want to pursue music seriously and we did for a
couple of years after that with the band Spaci ix.
Who inϐluences and inspires you?
From a young age I’ve been inspired by local talent like
Nesian Mystik, Che Fu, Sons of Zion, Katcha ire, Three
Who supports you to make music?
My wife & kids and all my family and musical family
here in Brisbane.
Houses Down, Vince Harder, Sammy Johnson, Cydel. The
list goes on because I’m such a huge fan of NZ music and
have been for years.
I’m heavily in luenced by other artist both overseas and
Where does your artist name come from?
local, I love listening to Fijian Music and Samoan Music
My artist Name is JSQZE (J Squeezy) and it was actually
a nickname that I had in high school. No one could
and I also live listening to Polynesian artists based over
in America it inspires me to create.
pronounce my last name Soqeta (Song - Geta) so
because there was a Q in my last name everyone just
called me Squeezy, as it was easier for them. At irst I
was a bit like hmmmmm I dunno, but it kinda stuck.
Who do you work with to create your music?
Other local talent around Brisbane, producers and
artists. I love listening to things like Soundcloud where
you can ind all these underground producers and
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What motivates you to create music?
artists and connect with them to make music.
Life in general and a passion to make something great.
I am currently with the label called CBK Records (City
I love making music especially with other artists it
Boy Kings). We work together to release music but
motivates me even more when I can just bounce ideas
most of the production side I do at home in my own
off of other people, also my mum she told me to chase
studio. For mixing and mastering I give my music to
the dream when she was alive and I’ve always held that
Ben Leota (Dj Fobsterlean) then he sends it back ready
close to my heart.
to go.
Who do you make your music for?
How much do you listen or research other music?
I make music for everyone and anyone if I can bless that
All the time I’ll watch videos of musicians, to watching
persons ears with a lyric or a melody I get so humbled
the process of how artists’ tour and record, how they
to hear that. I also do this for my family and I want my
write their songs, the way harmonies are done. I listen
kids to always know that they can chase their dreams
to all these things when I listen to music and its one of
no matter what.
the reason why I love music so much.
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