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Small Island Big Song Concert & Impact
‘Our Island’
Framed in a theatrical narrative amongst panoramic visuals of the artist’s homelands, the audience experiences a musical journey across the breadth and into the soul of island nations of the Pacific and Indian Oceans, meeting an ancient seafaring ancestry and confronting the impacts of environmental changes head on.
Drawing on a roster of respected islander artists maintaining their musical lineage, ‘Our Island’ is a unique oceanic collaboration combining musical traditions, dance, personal testimony and live cinema engaging audiences from huge festival stages to intimate theatres.
Within the concert, we have two slots for local collaborations; a youth voice, and a local singer-songwriter. Moving beyond the concert, Small Island Big Song offers a rich community engagement program to creatively engage and unpack the environmental, social and cultural contexts on our oceans’ islands.
Small Island Big Song is a music, film & performing arts project uniting islands of the Pacific and Indian Oceans; a contemporary artistic statement confronting our concerns for a changing sea.
Founded by Taiwanese theatre producer BaoBao Chen and Australian music producer and filmmaker Tim Cole in 2015, the two have been recording and filming with over a hundred musicians in nature across 16 island nations of the Pacific and Indian Oceans. The outcomes include two award-winning albums, a feature film, impact programs, and a live concert that has toured around the world across 20 countries reaching over 200K+ live audiences since 2018, creating "One coherent jaw dropping piece" as described by Rob Schwartz - Billboard.
Music critic Tom Orr has noted in the RootsWorld review “….sound like one very big, very happy family doing what they do best while helping get the word out on a most serious issue.”
2015 BaoBao & Tim quit theirs jobs after hearing the 5th IPCC report, with a dream to unite the voices of the ocean through musical collaboration
2016 to 2018 with a couple of cameras & mic's, they collaborated with musicians across 16 island nations.
2018 we premiered our concert at SXSW International Day Stage, and have been touring the world since.
The artists & islands BaoBao & Tim have visited,
connected by the ocean & an ancient seafaring heritage.
Small Island Big Song project trailer
'Our Island' PERFORMANCES
- Full concert 90 min' with intermission -
- Youth show 60 min' no intermission -
- Artists' solo concerts -
IMPACT PROGRAM
- Film screening + Q&A -
Small Island Big Song - An Oceanic Songline
- Community Engagement -
Dance workshop
Songwriting & Storytelling
Up-cycle instrument making
Traditional cuisine with a local twist
- Panel, Multi-media Lecture & Demonstration -
History from an Indigenous Perspective
Climate Crisis - Our Response As Artists
The genesis of Small Island Big Song
"Honestly [Small Island Big Song] was one of the best, most wonderful projects I have worked on in a presenting career that is going on 30 years!"
- Amy Vashaw - Center for the Performing Arts at Penn State Univ'
“Small Island Big Song was definitely worth the wait! Such a pleasure to get to know each of you and see what can be created from deep, extended collaboration such as what you have engaged in.”
- Laura Evans - Bing Concert Hall / Standford Live!
"We had a wonderful experience with Small Island Big Song. The entire team was warm and great to work with and the enthusiasm and thoughtfulness of Tim and BaoBao and the entire artistic collective was felt by all who participated in the residency activities. The class visits, discussions, and workshops were superb and engaged our students and community in meaningful ways. The performance was enthralling for everyone who attended - we received so many wonderful comments from audiences as they were leaving the theater."
- Shannon Hooker - Modlin Center at Univ' of Richmond
“I think I speak for everyone at MDC Live Arts when I say that we loved working with SIBS - they have been great every step of the way!”
- Kathryn Garcia - Miami-Dade College / Live Arts Miami
Performing Artists
Due to the nature of the project, the individuals in the 'Our Island' performance are subject to change. A current and accurate list of artists involved in the performance will be available closer to the performance date.
Sammy
Madagascar
Sammy has led an extraordinary life as a Madagascan musician, at a time when most picked up guitars over the traditional Valiha, Sammy followed his passion for Madagascar’s musical heritage, by mastering and learning how to make most of Madagascar’s instruments.
His efforts coming to the notice of the UK’s world music scene as his group ‘Tarika Sammy’, gained international recognition, becoming a regular on major festival stages and being acknowledged as one of the world’s best 10 bands, by TIME Magazine. Sammy has been much in demand since, and we are proud to have him at every Small Island Big Song concert.
Photo: Sammy with SIBS at TIFA 2023 by Tony Tsai
From Amazon Bay on the south coast of Papua New Guinea, singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Richard Mogu has been a feature musician in PNG for many years as a solo artist and session musician. Excelling in both traditional and contemporary style.
Whilst bass is his feature instrument, he is also adept at mambu (bamboo flutes), garamut drumming, guitars and percussion. He was taught by legendary Sanguma founder Tony Subam.
As a mentor for Creative Arts & Music at University of Garoka, Mogu has a passion of sharing with the next generation.
Photo: Richard with SIBS at TIFA 2023 by Tony Tsai
Richard Mogu
Papua New Guinea
Putad
Taiwan
Powerful, entrancing, unapologetic all words used to describe Putad’s engaging stage presence. In the proud spirit of her Indigenous Amis heritage Putad unites ancient vocal traditions with raw energy of grunge, rock and punk as her and her brother Wusang’s band Outlet Drift express. Their bold, uplifting and uncompromising shows place their Amis heritage on centre stage at 100db & 100mph as they confront prejudices taking the audience on an unforgettable sonic ride.
In the Small Island Big Song ensemble, she brings this energy, her soaring voice, rock bass along with her coastal Amis ancestry and love for the ocean. A regular surfer, Putad’s connection to the ocean will be brought onto stage and into the outreach program.
Photo: Putad with SIBS at TIFA 2023 by Tony Tsai
Emlyn
Mauritius
Featured on CNN, songwriter, musician and dancer, Emlyn is leading a wave of performers across the Indian Ocean proudly reclaiming their unique rhythms and cultural mix.
Written with a reactive pen and sung in Creole, her songs rebelliously express her concerns for her island’s environment. A cause she has taken up as co-founder of ‘Enn Losean Vivab’, a Mauritius based organisation educating school students about plastic pollution. Emlyn brings the infectious grooves of Sega with its soul from the African slave trade to the stage played on the Ravann, Triangle and Kayamb
Photo: Emlyn with SIBS at TIFA 2023 by Tony Tsai
Olivia Foa’i is a singer-songwriter, musician, director and dancer. Being the daughter of Opetaia Foa’i, the founder of internationally acclaimed Polynesian band - Te Vaka. She’s performed across 40 countries with the band and is featured on Disney's "Moana” soundtrack. In 2019 she released her debut solo album Candid and won "Best Pacific Album" in the Aotearoa Music Awards and "Best Female Artist" in the Pacific Music Awards 2020.
Photo: Olivia with SIBS at TIFA 2023 by Tony Tsai
Olivia Foa'i
Tokelau & New Zealand
Aremiti
Tahiti
Like the lively uplifting Tahitian rhythm he was named after, Aremiti’s music could have only come from one island, Tahiti. A natural fusion of the island's cultural mix grounded in his Tahitian heritage, Aremistic’s songs and performances integrate traditional Polynesian instruments and rhythms with reggae, hip-hop, rock, folk and pop sensibilities, often sung in Tahitian, French & English in one song. His recent performances at Aotearoa/New Zealand’s ‘Pasifika festival’ and in Europe and the USA expanded his reputation as a voice for the Pacific Ocean.
Photo: Aremiti with SIBS at Tempe performing arts center 2024 by Neil Schwartz Photography
Yoyo Tuki
Rapa Nui
The world sees Easter Islanders as the people who foolishly depleted their natural resources deforesting their island, Yoyo Tuki confronts that image as he stands strong in his Rapa Nui ancestry steadied through a deep respect for his land and traditions as nurtured by his grandfather ‘Mana Roa’ (Great Wisdom).
A mana (Substance of presence) ringing out through his singing, music, art and performance, lifting us above our prejudices. Pioneering fusions of reggae, folk and funk with his mastery of Polynesian ukulele styles, Yoyo Tuki sings out for one of the most remote islands on Earth.
Photo: Yoyo with SIBS at 2023 WOMADelaide festival, Australia by Samra Teague
Mathieu
Mauritius
Mathieu has been a professional dancer and choreographer since the age of 14 when he was discovered breakdancing on the suburban streets of Port Louis, Mauritius by renowned choreographer Stephen Bongarçon. Quickly embedding himself in Bongarçon’s SRDance, his dedication earned him the gold medal for dance at "Les Jeux de la Francophonie'' in 2009. Leading to a succession of shows and companies, including choreographing "Di Sel”, a tribute to the salt workers of Mauritius which won the "Les Jeux de la Francophonie" in France in 2017.
Photo: Mathieu with SIBS at Tempe performing arts center 2024 by Neil Schwartz Photography
Co-Founders & Producers
Tim Cole
Australia
Cole is an Australian music producer and filmmaker who’s passionate about cross-cultural arts projects. He has produced numerous albums, films and concerts for Australian aboriginal, Torres Strait islander and Pacifica artists including Archie Roach, Telek, and Shellie Morris. He has also toured internationally with Circus Oz for 8 years as theater and sound designer with seasons on Broadway NYC & West End London.
He was a senior music producer at CAAMA - Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association before beginning Small Island Big Song.
Cole has received a Churchill fellowship and invitations to speak at the United Nations HQ, APAP NYC, and WOMEX.
Photo by Tony Tsai
BaoBao Chen
Taiwan
Having produced and managed Small Island Big Song's two multimedia concert productions, two award-winning albums, documentary, as well as curating world tours across 18 countries in Europe, the USA, Asia and Oceania, BaoBao is one of Taiwan’s most prominent producers of cross-cultural arts projects and an ISPA (International Society for the Performing Arts) fellow 2023-25.
A vivid storyteller and fluent in English and Mandarin, she has a social media following of 130K+, and has been invited to speak at TEDx, WOMEX, APAP NYC, Stanford Live, and numerous arts festivals.
Photo by Tony Tsai
"A towering musical achievement but also a heartfelt plea for environmental awareness and preservation, Small Island Big Song delivers a powerful and relevant musical statement of a region on the frontline of global, cultural and environmental challenges."
- Rob Schwartz - Billboard
"One of our favourite ‘album of the week’, it’s not the usual thing."
- Lauren Laverne - BBC 6 Music UK
“Small Island Big Song is a little, jewel-like idea that grew into a huge project.” ★★★★★
- Seth Jordan - Songline Magazine UK
"For too long the term "world music" has applied overwhelmingly to music from Africa, the Indian subcontinent and South America. Asia and the Pacific have been the Cinderellas at the party. Not any more!" ★★★★★
- Bruce Elder - Sydney Morning Herald AU
“…all 74 minutes of the album sound like one very big, very happy family doing what they do best while helping get the word out on a most serious issue."
- Tom Orr - RootsWorld US
"…a playful and potent soundtrack to the region and its seafaring peoples. Utterly wonderful."
- Stuart Derdeyn - The Vancouver Sun CA
'Our Island'
Concert & Impact Tour
#1 Trans Global Music Chart 2022 Feb
Nominated - 2022 Golden Melody Awards TAIWAN
Best Indigenous Album & Album of the Year
2024 Christopher Cohan Center/CalPoly, San Luis Obispo CA
2024 Center for Faith and Life/Luther College, Decorah, IA
2024 Moss Center/Virginia Tech Univ, Blacksburg VA
2024 Stewart Theater/NC State Univ, Raleigh NC
2024 Wright Auditorium/East Carolina Univ, Greenville NC
2024 Center for the Arts/George Mason Univ, Fairfax VA
2024 Pittsburgh Playhouse/Point Park Univ , Pittsburg PA
2024 Luhrs Center/Shippensburg Univ, Shippensburg PA
2024 Wharton Center/Michigan State Univ, Lansing MI
2024 The Strand/FirstWorks, Providence RI
2024 Mahaney Center/Middlebury College, Middlebury VT
2024 Tsai Center/Boston Univ, Boston MA
2024 Vashon Center for the Arts, Vashon WA
2024 Meany Center/Washington Univ, Seattle WA
2024 Fields Arts and Events Hall, Port Angeles WA
2024 Newman Center/Univ of Denver, Denver CO
2024 Tempe Center for the Arts, Tempe AZ
2024 Noorda Center/Utah Valley Univ, Orem UT
2024 Musco Center/Chapman Univ, Orange CA
2023 COP28, Dubai UAE
2023 The Arts Center NYU Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi UAE
2023 COP28, Dubai UAE
2023 The Arts Center NYU Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi UAE
2023 ACC World Music Festival, Gwangju South Korea
2023 Moon Sea Concert, Taitung Taiwan
2023 TIFA Taiwan International Festival of Arts National Concert Hall, Taipei Taiwan
2023 WOMADelaide Festival, Adelaide, Australia
2022 Cloud Gate Theatre, Taipei Taiwan
2022 Taitung Art Museum, Taitung Taiwan
2022 2022 Italian Capital of Culture, Procida Italy
2022 Warner Grand Theatre, San Pedro CA
2022 Univ. of California in Santa Barbara, Santa Babara CA
2022 James Madison Univ. & Forbes P.A.C., Harrisonburg VA
2022 Zeiterion Perf. Art Center, New Bedford MA
2022 Dartmouth College & Spaulding Auditorium, Hanover NH
2022 Lehigh Univ. & Zoellner Arts Center, Bethlehem PA
2022 Penn State Univ. & Penn State P.A.C., State College PA
2022 Moraine Valley community college & Dorothy Menker Theater, Palos Hills IL
2022 Univ. of Massachusetts & Randolph W. Bromery Center, Amherst MA
2022 Symphony Space & World Music Institute, New York City NY
2022 Univ. of Richmond & Camp Concert Hall, Richmond VA
2022 Univ. of Illinois in Urbana & Foellinger Great Hall, Urbana IL
2022 Fox Cities P.A.C., Appleton WI
2022 Miami-Dade College & North Beach Band Shell, Miami FL
2022 Scottsdale Center for the Arts, Scottsdale AZ
2022 Univ. of Arizona & Centennial hall, Tucson AZ
2022 Stanford Univ. & Bing Concert Hall, Stanford CA
2022 Pantages Theatre, Tacoma WA
2022 Mount Baker Theatre, Bellingham WA
2022 Vashon arts center, Vashon WA
2022 Town Hall Seattle, Seattle WA
Album 'Small Island Big Song'
Concert Tour
Winner - 2019 Songlines Music Award UK - Best Asia/Pacific album
Winner - 2019 The Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik (German Record Critics' Awards) - Album of the Year
Nominated - 2019 Independent Music Awards US - Best Concept Album & Best Music Website
★★★★★ Sydney Morning Herald, AU
★★★★★ Songlines Magazine, UK
Lauren Laverne's Album of the week on BBC Radio 6
2019 Colors of Ostrava Festival, Ostrava Czech Republic
2019 Rudolstadt Festival, Rudolstadt Germany
2019 MTC Southbank Theatre, Melbourne Australia
2019 Verona Palace, Sydney Australia
2019 Kaohsiung Container Arts Festival, Kaohsiung Taiwan
2019 Torba Arts Festival, Mota Lava Vanuatu
2018 Legacy, Taipei Taiwan
2018 Taoyuan Music Festival, Taoyuan Taiwan
2018 Førde World Music Festival, Førde Norway
2018 EtnoSur Festival, Alcalá la Real Spain
2018 Pllek, Amsterdam Holland Prachtwerk
2018 Prachtwerk, Berlin Germany
2018 Peace Boat, Copenhagen Denmark to Reykjavik Iceland
2018 Indigenous Celebration, Bali Indonesia
2018 South by South West, International Day Stage, Austin USA
2017 World Stage Design (Work in progress), Taipei Taiwan
Music Videos
LISTWAR ZANSET - Small Island Big Song ft. Emlyn & Putad
TA'U TAMA - Small Island Big Song ft' Vaiteani & Luc
PINAGSANGA - Small Island Big Song ft. Putad
MADJADJUMAK - Small Island Big Song 小島大歌 ft' Sauljaljui 戴曉君
Contact
Producer & Co-Founder
Small Island Big Song
BaoBao Chen
baobao@smallislandbigsong.com
© Copyright - 2024 Small Island Big Song