When I sing, I feel so free

By Nefertiti Matatia 17 July 2018, 12:00AM

Music liberates the soul.

Young singer Maryann Victoria To’uika Savaiinaea knows this well. 

The nine-year-old is the eldest child of Tupa’i Latu Avala Savaiinaea and Fuatino Savaiinaea. 

Maryann is no stranger to the music industry since she had competed in the Young Stars singing competition. 

Though she did not win, she knows that winning is not what music is all about. She told the Samoa Observer that music is a big part of her life.

“Every time I sing, I feel happy and so free,” she said. 

“My aunt always encourages me to sing. I guess for me, music is something that allows me to be myself, and I don’t get nervous. It is only when I start to learn how to play the song when I will be a bit scared.

“I love to sing and play the piano at the same time. Music gives me confidence and my aunt Mara Magele, who is my father’s sister, tells me to never be scared in front of people when I am singing,” she said.

She started singing in church.

Last weekend during the celebration of the 242nd Independence Anniversary of the United States of America, she was invited to sing at the event.

“I want to be a lawyer when I grow up, but then music will always be something that I would still want to do. I really love singing because when I was five, my cousin who had always looked after me when I was a kid, sang to me most of the time.

“I always followed her and I would go learn my own songs. Even when I am at home doing chores or when I am in the shower I sing. It is something that I just cannot explain.

“I sing all the time because I need to open my voice, so when my aunt makes me sing at her church then my voice is good.”

Maryann attends Apia Primary School and she is in Year 5. 

She said there are times when taking a step further in music would be hard, but nothing changes because she still loves music.

“There are times when I would get tired from learning the piano because it gives you sore fingers. I always watched princess movies where they would sing a lot and High School Musical those are movies where I mostly hear nice music.

“School is more important and music is just the same to me. I was six years old when I started playing the piano and my father sings, which is the reason I really enjoy music.”

By Nefertiti Matatia 17 July 2018, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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