Pacific Island culture shines as artists perform alongside Coldplay in France

A group of Pacific musicians and climate activists have described their shock on finding out they would be performing with global megastars Coldplay onstage in France.

Joe Moeono-Kolio, campaign director for the Pacific band This Is Our Home, said the journey to performing in Lyon began around two weeks ago when they were invited to spend time with iconic music producer Brian Eno.

Having visited Hawai’i for the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture to tell their story of the impact of climate change at home, the band headed to London to meet Mr Eno, who wanted to talk about bringing “music, musicians and artists into the climate space”.

This Is Our Home performed at an event hosted by Mr Eno, who recorded it and sent it to Coldplay’s lead singer Chris Martin.

“It wasn’t just music, it was music and story. So, the boys kind of weaved together the messaging and that with their music, and just like did a really powerful presentation that evening,” Moeono-Kolio said.

“And then just randomly he told us, ‘We’ve just sent the video of your performances to Chris Martin, the singer of Coldplay’.”

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A few days later, the band was having lunch when one of the members, Tongan artist Saia Williams-Folau missed a call from Mr Eno.

He called him back, and what he heard sent him into shock — Coldplay wanted them to do a performance during their set.

His fellow band members didn’t believe him, but luckily Mr Eno had also left a voice message, so Williams-Folau played the receipts.

“We were completely grateful for it, [we] packed up our bags. We were at the airport first thing in the morning to fly here to Lyon,” he said.

Once there, the team did a sound check with Coldplay and prepared to show the world what these Pacific brothers could do.

With that came an “enormous amount of pressure”.

Williams-Folau said performing with Coldplay and doing so as a Pacific Islander was an emotional experience.

“You’re not only representing yourself, but you represent a whole lineage of people you know,” he said.

“For us to be able to wear our like our measina, our taongas on such a stage to such a people, you can only help but feel proud.”