They’re the newest Polynesian band on the block, bringing a fresh wave of sounds to the forefront of Pacific music.
Mayjun, a Samoan trio based in South Auckland, are diving into the world of pop-punk – a genre Pacific Islander’s don’t usually venture into.
Originally formed in 2023, the trio is made up of members Elijah McPherson, Tivoli Levi and Jeremiah Fale (HALES). Their debut single, “Jealous” was released earlier this year and it quickly captured the attention of the Pacific community within New Zealand and worldwide.
“You love to see islanders in new spaces and endeavouring into new kinds of frontiers and that,” Elijah says.
“So, I guess, just seeing us doing something that’s kind of different or outside of the norm for us is, I guess, exciting for people.”
But diving into unfamiliar waters can sometimes hit the wrong note. Although the consensus in social media comments has been positive, the trolls are quick to judge – criticising the band’s authenticity and mocking their taste in music. Yet, Mayjun remain undaunted.
“We kinda just troll things because there’s no real point in, like, really putting in any effort into those people but it’s funny,” Tivoli says.
“And it’s probably a good indicator that we’re doing something right,” Jeremiah adds.
For the boys, music has been a part of their lives since they were young.
Jeremiah and Tivoli’s introduction into music began at their churches, where their paths were set in motion.
As a pastor’s kid, Jeremiah was automatically included into his church band, whereas Tivoli’s dad was the leader of the praise and worship programmes and invited him to join. Elijah on the other hand grew up in a musical family. His sisters and his grandfather are his biggest inspirations.
Elijah and Tivoli officially met in their high school jazz band, and the pair crossed paths with their third member, Jeremiah, at an event held by award-winning R&B artist, Sam V.
“We had a gig in Invercargill, and we were all there together playing for Sam V,” Tivoli says.
“We just had this random idea to make different music to R&B and hip hop, and we wanted to do it together.”
Elijah describes their music taste as “predominantly white music,” a reflection of their early influences.
Some inspirations derive from iconic artists such as My Chemical Romance, Green Day and Linkin’ Park. Tivoli adds that, although the rock influences run deep, he grew up immersed more in R&B, which adds a different layer to their sound. It’s this blend of musical differences and similarities that separates Mayjun from other Polynesian artists/groups.
As this is their introductory year into the Aotearoa music scene, Mayjun are still finding their rhythm and learning the right notes around its diverse music landscape.
“It’s competitive if you look at it that way,” Jeremiah says.
“Comparison is the thief of joy, and I feel like every time we look at other bands or other artists who are doing well, we kind of just like, I can do this? Why, how come I’m not afforded the same opportunities?
“But I think the thing that I’m learning is, part of the band is like, we all move at our own pace, and like probably not the best thing to compare yourself to others.”
And looking ahead, their journey is all about growth. The trio are excited to see how far their music will take them, with the hopes of inspiring more Polynesian artists to challenge the status quo.
“Inspiring others to do what we do and be confident in themselves that they can go out there and be different and delve into something that isn’t the norm in their culture or in their community – I think that’s probably, that is one goal that I have,” Tivoli says.
