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Contrary to popular belief, Samoa is separate from American Samoa many are familiar with. In fact, the Samoa is also known as the "Cradle of Polynesia" (1) as its largest island Savai'i is considered to be Polynesia's homeland (1). The Samoan Islands are located 80 miles west of American Samoa and over 1000 miles from its old ruler New Zealand (1). As one could imagine being situated in the deep South Pacific, Samoa's climate is hot and humid but that does not stop is rich history of island music and dance.
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1.  Foster, Sophie. “Samoa.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. . 2018. https://www.britannica.com/place/Samoa-island-nation-Pacific-Ocean.

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If you every came across a conch shell washed up on a beach somewhere, your first instinct was to what? Put it up to your ear and listen to the ocean? The majority of the readers will answer the question "yes" as that is due to our culture of living in a Westernized society where we only know of one use for the conch. However, the Samoan culture has other means for this gigantic sea urchin and that is to produce sound, not listen for it. In fact, the traditional use for the conch shell was used as a signal instrument to call the family home for prayer or fishing activities (2). However, due to the West's influence (tourism), the conch has been used in performances for as shown below in the picture and the above youtube video.

Since the aerophone family member, conch, was used for a signal instrument, the sound therefore resonates an indefinite pitch as not one pitch dominates one another. In fact, there is only one pitch to be made anyways. In addition to the indefinite pitch, there is a drone type melodic contour as the sea shell produces only one pitch and is consistently played similar to Australia's didjerdu played by the Aborigines.  Indeed, using a sea shell is unique to an etic culture, yet there is an even more unique instrument used in traditional Samoan music.
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2.  “Music from Western Samoa: From Conch Shell to Disco.” Folkway Records. 1982. https://search.alexanderstreet.com/preview/work/bibliographic_entity%7Cliner_notes%7C2259500

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Role out a woven mat on the floor and what do you see? A rug of some sort, right? To you yes, but to the Samoans, it is just another instrument. The Fala is considered the only native instrument that can be found on Western Samoa and is woven with dried pandanus leaves (2). How is this instrument played and what does it sound like you may ask? Well, the natives start by rolling up the mat and use two sticks to produce its flat like pitch (2). However, if the performers want to increase the frequency level of the pitch, they can at time include bamboo, though bottles are used today, which will also increase its dynamics as well (2). In addition, the mats can also be used by dancers as displayed in the youtube video below (although it is a native New Zealand dance performance, the same concept applies) (2). Without the massive industries producing instruments, the Samoans make due with what they have, such as with woven leaves mimicking a drum of some sort. However, similar to other wooden instruments, trees are also used to create a noise making machine, but this particular instrument is a bit different than others.
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2.  “Music from Western Samoa: From Conch Shell to Disco.” Folkway Records. 1982. https://search.alexanderstreet.com/preview/work/bibliographic_entity%7Cliner_notes%7C2259500

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ALbert Fale Le Fa'avae at Pacific Dance Choreographic Lab 2015

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Vocal Elements and the Western Influence

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Vocal Elements and the Western Influence

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An idiophone instrument native to Samoa is a hollowed out log of fallen down trees (2).  Contrary to what many might think that this instrument is part of the membranophone, it incorrect, however. For example, the hollowed out log produces sound within by two sticks beating the outside of the instrument. The instrumental timbre produces a sound of hollowness similar to knocking your fist on petrified wood.  That said, depending on what end the sticks beat the log, a higher or lower pitch is generated.

Along the pate, there is a membranohone called a logo which is the largest of all the five drums in the family. The sound of the logo produces a deep indefinite pitch as to help keep the beat and tempo steady for the drum line.

If slit drums and logo drums were not enough, Samoans also improvised the use of empty biscuit tins in which their music (2). However, the biscuit tins are not the traditional instrument as they were in fact imported (2). As one could imagine, this gives a timbre similar to a loud clang and gives the ensemble a make shit cymbal similar to many westernized bands' percussion.

And similar to a drum line in America, when played with a group or an ensemble, the melody produces harmony with several pitches playing at the same time. Now if one were to listen closely, there are at times when the ensemble has some ornamentation, but not too much.

The vocals with the drum line resonates chants or heightened speech.  This could be due to the islands Christianity culture (2). In fact, Samoans pray numerous times throughout the day with hymns and music included (2).

In the great scheme of things, the ensemble of the pate, logo and biscuit tins fills the air with extremely high rhythmic density, yet metered music nonetheless. Although the performances are more than likely a spiritual type style of music, to them it could be considered sacred and not profane despite what other cultures may think.
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2.  “Music from Western Samoa: From Conch Shell to Disco.” Folkway Records. 1982. https://search.alexanderstreet.com/preview/work/bibliographic_entity%7Cliner_notes%7C2259500

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As discussed above, Samoa is takes religion very seriously and therefore much of their music revolves around that culture. Nonetheless, the natives can sing over 30 different types of genres anywhere from lullabies to dance songs, though the majority of their songs are sung in choir or groups or singers, thanks to the influence from the West (2). Yet one of the most important type of singing is used mainly for entertainment. Such song is called a tagi and is a sung narrative by the person telling the story (2). As you can hear from the youtube video, the vocals do in fact resemble a story telling yet singing narrative. The vocal timbre however sounds a bit mellow more so than for entertainment, but again coming from an etic culture one would perceive that sentiment. Nevertheless, the song is displays a homophonic melody where multiple line of music are singing the same and in unison. In addition, the musical instruments shows evidence of a Western influence with the electric instrumental background.
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2.  “Music from Western Samoa: From Conch Shell to Disco.” Folkway Records. 1982. https://search.alexanderstreet.com/preview/work/bibliographic_entity%7Cliner_notes%7C2259500

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When cultures evolve, music typically follows suit. As such, intertwined with the traditional music of Samoa, imported guitars and many other instruments ranging from empty biscuit tins to electric organs are part of performances today (2). In fact, the famous Hawaiian chordophone, ukuleles, have also been introduced to the traditional music of Samoa. As such, the ukulele produces a timbre similar to Hawaiian style when the performers either pluck or strum the strings on the instrument. In fact, whether its a minor or major when the strings are strummed, it gives off a happy emotion, unlike other guitars in America.

Undeniably so, the importation of music transformed the traditional way of music for the Samoans culture, yet that is not the only thing that changed as a more contemporary style arose within its ranks which quite possibly ignited a variety of music across the Pacific and into the United States.
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2.  “Music from Western Samoa: From Conch Shell to Disco.” Folkway Records. 1982. https://search.alexanderstreet.com/preview/work/bibliographic_entity%7Cliner_notes%7C2259500

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Eliza Keil started her journey of artistry performing duets with her brothers, who were a popular New Zealand rock and roll group called "The Keil Isles", in which were all born in Samoa (3). Each member of the Keil Isles rock and roll group consisted of musical elements such as, piano, guitar, and an electronic sound effect machine (3).  In fact the band played their version of "The Twist" which eventually outselling Chubby Checker in New Zealand's market (4).

Eliza eventually left the group in search for solo media opportunities for herself. Her genre of music was classified in the musical category as pop music. Her popular song titled "Every day is Sunday." Her career began in the 1960s and carried throughout the 70s. A popular U.S. song became the title of one her albums called, "Raindrops keep falling on my head" which derived from the original artist BJ Thomas. Throughout her career, Eliza incorporated Polynesian dances into her performances as it was tradition for Samoa natives to tell stories or tales through art forms of body movement.  Indeed, great contemporary rock stars such as Eliza Keil and "The Keil Isles" arose out of the Samoan ranks; however, fast forward into the 1990's, another genre evolved with Samoan background.
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3.  Bourke, Chris. “ The Keil Isles Profile .” Audio Culture. 2013. http://www.audioculture.co.nz/people/the-keil-isles.

4.  Bolcarovic, Christine. “Music A Driving Force In Life Of Guitar Builder From Samoa.” Orlando Sentinel. 1990. http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1990-03-23/news/9003233574_1_keil-fender-music-guitar.

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Eliza Keil   Everyday Is Sunday   New Zealand 1972 20 Studio One Hits

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This group of Samoan natives chose a different route from the tradition of Samoan music. This tribe integrated their style of music into Hip-Hop mixed with a metal sound. It has been documented that this group in particular "played a pioneering role in the development in gantsa-rap" (5). The BOO-YAA T.R.I.B.E. consists of 6 "Samoan-American" brothers.  In an interview with an international media company FRANK151, member Kobra sits down to discuss their origin, cultural influences, history, family, and more. 

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This group of Samoan natives chose a different route from the tradition of Samoan music. This tribe integrated their style of music into Hip-Hop mixed with a metal sound. It has been documented that this group in particular "played a pioneering role in the development in gantsa-rap" (5). The BOO-YAA T.R.I.B.E. consists of 6 "Samoan-American" brothers.  In an interview with an international media company FRANK151, member Kobra sits down to discuss their origin, cultural influences, history, family, and more. 

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5.  “The Origins of Boo-Yaa T.R.I.B.E.” Frank151 n.d. http://frank151.com/the-origins-of-boo-yaa-tribe/.

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All things considered, with the use of sea shells as instruments and storytelling via dancing, Samoa does indeed have some unique music culture.  Yet, like many other cultures across the globe, cultures change, and music typically follows suit.  As such, over the course of the years, influence from both the West and the Pacific, artists transitioned into a more contemporary style way of production from “The Keil Isles” pop to BOO-YAA T.R.I.B.E that helped shaped the evolution of music around the world.

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All things considered, with the use of sea shells as instruments and storytelling via dancing, Samoa does indeed have some unique music culture.  Yet, like many other cultures across the globe, cultures change, and music typically follows suit.  As such, over the course of the years, influence from both the West and the Pacific, artists transitioned into a more contemporary style way of production from “The Keil Isles” pop to BOO-YAA T.R.I.B.E that helped shaped the evolution of music around the world.

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Bolcrovic, Christine. "Music A Driving Force In Life Of Guitar Builder From Samoa." Orlando Sentinel. Accessed June 19, 2018. http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1990-03-23/news/9003233574_1_keil-fender-music-guitar.

Bourke, Chris. "The Keil Isles Profile." Audio Culture. Accessed June 18, 2018. http://www.audioculture.co.nz/people/the-keil-isles.

Foster, Sophie. "Samoa Islana Nation, Pacific Ocean." Encyclopedia Britannica. Accessed June 18, 2018. https://www.britannica.com/place/Samoa-island-nation-Pacific-Ocean.

Music from Western Samoa: From Conch Shell to Disco. Accessed June 18, 2018. https://search.alexanderstreet.com/view/work/bibliographic_entity%7Cliner_notes%7C2259500.

The Origins of Boo-Yaa T.R.I.B.E. Frank151; [accessed 2018 Jun 20]. http://frank151.com/the-origins-of-boo-yaa-tribe/