Solomon Islands artist wins Pacific Break competition for 2024

Solomon Islands-based solo artist Chris Kamu’ana Rohoimae has emerged as the winner of Pacific Break 2024, with his moving song Naratana manu taking out first place.

The 28-year-old from the Malaita Province won the competition, beating more than 300 entries from 18 Pacific nations, and will now join the lineup for Australia’s largest international festival of music, arts and dance, WOMADelaide, in March 2025.

Chris started producing music two years ago after withdrawing from college, but his passion for music started in childhood when listening to his father, who was a traditional panpipes musician.

His musical style features a blend of contemporary and traditional music, combining traditional flute, guitar and modern production techniques.

In his winning song Naratana manu (meaning “the birds crying”), the au po’o panpipe takes centre stage alongside Chris’ stunning vocals as he tells a powerful story of resilience.

Sung in Are-Are language, Chris explained Naratana manu is about navigating the challenges that can come from “having [the] wrong people as your friend or walking with someone that sees you in a different opposite way. But still at the end, you got something that exists and you [are] not gonna just give up on it.”

When speaking about his late father and his decision to enter Pacific Break, Chris shared:

“I was with my father at the hospital when I did [the] submission; I wasn’t expecting much from the track, but I did [feel] something about my music, and that’s what I believe in. [I] wish he’s here with me, he’s my mentor and a fan as well (sic).”

The judging panel for Pacific Break 2024 included WOMADelaide Associate Director Annette Tripodi; Papua New Guinean-born, Australian artist Ngaiire; Australian award-winning hip hop musician and radio host of In The Fale, Hau Lātūkefu; ABC Radio Australia Music Director and host of Island Music, Rick Howe; and Samoan-Australian music journalist and host of ABC Radio Australia’s Sista Sounds and On The Record, Sosefina Fuamoli.

Annette Tripodi said: “It’s a genuine honour to be part of the Pacific Break judging panel and for WOMADelaide to be able to provide further exposure to talented Pacific artists. Choosing the winner from such a strong, diverse field of artists was more difficult than ever this year!”

Hau Latukefu said: “From the very first note of hearing Naratana manu, I knew we were in for something special. As the song moves along, Chris’ vocals really draw you in with its strong but rough texture only to then spin you into the sounds of the au po’o panpipe. There are obvious elements of traditional music in here, but it also feels like this song has a very contemporary sound and could be placed in the next James Bond film as well. Epic.”

Sosefina Fuamoli added: “The Pacific Break finalist pool was very competitive this year, with so many talented artists from across the region producing exciting, diverse and engaging music. It never gets easier to judge this competition, but I am very excited to see what Chris Kamu’ana Rohimae will bring to the WOMADelaide stage in March 2025.”

ABC Head International Claire M. Gorman said: “It has been an incredible year for Pacific Break featuring tremendous musical talent from across the Pacific region, and we sincerely thank all the Pacific artists who shared their music with ABC Radio Australia and our audiences. A massive congratulations to Chris; we are incredibly excited to watch his performance at WOMADelaide.”

This year’s finalists for Pacific Break 2024 were (in alphabetical order):