Tongan artist Folau has released his new single ‘Mamahi Moe Kona’, a song shaped by the loss of his grandparents and the loneliness that can follow when someone so important is no longer there.
The song came together in a single night. After producer Wesley Makoni (MKNI) sent Folau some beats, one immediately stood out. He went home, started writing and by the end of the night had recorded and finished the track.
“Writing Mamahi Moe Kona reminded me of who I am and let me finally tell my story from my own perspective, not anyone else’s,” says Folau.
Blending island reggae, R&B and Pacific soul, Mamahi Moe Kona arrives just ahead of Tongan Language Week, August 17–23. The timing feels particularly fitting for an artist who continues to use Lea Faka Tonga throughout his music and whose Tongan heritage runs through everything he makes.
It’s already been a big year for Folau, with three appearances on the Official Aotearoa Music Charts. That builds on the success of his reimagining of Queen Sālote’s ‘Upē ‘O Siu’ilikutapu’, which reached the Top 10 and has attracted millions of views online. He’s also a Pacific Music Awards finalist and has performed at festivals including One Love and Promiseland.
Supported by NZ On Air’s Pasifika Single Fund, Mamahi Moe Kona is out now on all streaming platforms.