| Description |
Released on wantok 2020
Sorousian is the highly anticipated debut album by Ni-Vanuatu artist Tio.
The title, Sorousian, loosely translates to “story” and combines the many facets of Tio’s musical identity and history. Across the album, Tio effortlessly blends his traditional music customs and sounds with modern instrumentation and production to paint a story of his experiences; from living in his home island of Ambrym, Vanuatu’s capital Port Vila, and in Melbourne, Australia.
Sorousian is a multi-faceted album exploring the dichotomies in Tio’s life; tradition and modernity, urban and island life; Ni-Vanuatu cultures and Australian life. The variation can be seen in the two singles that have already been released; ‘Mumbwe’ is a modern interpretation of a song used in the Rom custom dance sung in a language so old that the direct translation has been lost. ‘Black Butterfly’ however is a contemporary original which he wrote about city life and Tio’s belief that people need to live and work more truthfully; asking the audience to rethink their lifestyle’s relationship with nature.
The album was produced by Wantok Musik’s Creative Director David Bridie with Andrew Robinson and shares the way Tios’s musical traditions shift and combine with new styles to create rich sonic narratives.
credits
released September 25, 2020
All songs written by Tio Bang except:
Mumbwe, Bungbung Myaek (Tio Bang and Andrew Robinson)
Morning Star Bae Kam, Myage, Pun Milye (Tio Bang and David Bridie)
Save My Soul (Sofia Mono and Tio Bang)
Recorded and mixed by Andrew Robinson at Haus Bilas, Thornbury, Australia and at Further Arts, Port Vila
Produced by Andrew Robinson with David Bridie
Mastered by Naomune Anzai
Tio Bang: vocals, guitar, bass, ukulele, percussion
Hendrik Baransano: bass
David Bridie: piano, keyboards, vocals
Hope Csutoros: violin
Emmanuel Hakalitz: drums
David Leha: vocals
Helen Mountfort: cello
Luke Richardson: bass
Yosua Roem: vocals
Noemie Severin: violin
Kireni Sparks-Ngenge: vocals
Phil Wales: guitar
Illustrations by Joaquim Rufat
Photography by Sarah Doyle
Cover design by Rosa Coyle-Hayward
Tio is a singer/songwriter from Ambrym island in Vanuatu who grew up immersed in traditional practices, customs and stories. His first interest in music was born from his early encounters with the traditional ‘tam tam’ (a wooden slit-drum) and songs in his language, Daakaka.
Whilst living in Port Vila, Tio was involved with many groups in local music scene including local reggae and roots groups, Koncerners and Dropvcull. He has also collaborated with a broad range of artists from across the Pacific, Australia, Africa and Europe including members of Airileke, Blue King Brown, Kalja Riddim Klan, Simangavole, Kaumaakonga, Impossible Odds, Hermann Hartel, Natano Pasifika, Rize of the Morning Star, Tabura and Black Rose.
A talented multi-instrumentalist, Tio switches between violin, ukulele, guitar, tam tam, djembe and bush bass. He is driven by his passion to mix traditional and contemporary beats and styles and share his traditions with other musicians. In Vanuatu, he is passionate about encouraging Ni-Vanuatu youth to use local instruments and create music based on their unique cultural rhythms and mother tongues.
Tio released his debut album Sorousian in 2020 which received a 5-star review in Songlines Magazine UK as well as international acclaim and radio play. The title, ‘Sorousian’, loosely translates to “story” and combines the many facets of Tio’s musical identity and history. Across the album, Tio effortlessly blends his traditional music customs and sounds with modern instrumentation and production to paint a story of his experiences; from living in his home island of Ambrym, Vanuatu’s capital Port Vila, and in Melbourne, Australia.
In 2019, Tio was involved in the We Have Come To Testify Project, a CD and book to raise awareness of the 1998 Byak Massacre in West Papua as well as the ongoing violence against West Papua Independence activists.
Source: Wantok Musik
(David Bridie & Steven Gagau, May 2025) |
