Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air
For Elisha Oloapu, a gig with New Zealand’s most electrifying hip hop collective, SWIDT and R&B group Village 90 was at the top of his 2022 bucket list.
The proud Samoan creative took to Instagram to share his accomplishment. “Always grateful for these blessings”.
His project involved a live band streaming of SWIDT and Lomez Brown’s single, ‘Kelz Garage’, supported by homegrown artist Sam V and Village 90. The short clip Elisha uploaded on Instagram includes a cameo appearance by media personality John Campbell having a laugh with the boys.
One supporter praised Elisha’s work. “John Campbell? Oh you reached the top now young’n ?♂️! Swidt X Village90 X Lomez Brown X Sam V ?? Definite fire in the booth tings.”
Elisha’s portfolio includes, but not limited to filming and editing Hillside BLVD – FUEGO music video; Director of Photography for KiddJay – Defiant; Animator for Hillside BLVD ft Havok – For You music visual; and filmed a BTS documentary with Sammy J and The Backline band for One Love Festival 2021.
“That’s the one I still pinch myself about. I kinda have to go back to the photos just to double check if it was all true.”
“It was actually [Backline’s] first time performing on a big stage like that, and they pretty much killed it and made quite a statement.”
While continuing to build his portfolio as an emerging creative, Elisha also wants to build a pathway for all Pasifika and Māori youth to explore.
“We are more than just rugby players and factory workers. I want to let them know that you can make a living off your passion and have fun while doing it.”
“It ain’t gonna be easy at first but I promise you’ll feel a million times better after building your own career then building someone else’s,” says Elisha.
Growing up in a Samoan household, Elisha started getting into photography and videography while at church.
“I remember as a kid we had multiple cameras in church and I can recall just being amazed by it,”
He recalls, “back in Samoa around 2004, my dad completed his studies in Tokyo, Japan as a technician and came back home with a Chinon GL-S 35mm. It was definitely one of the coolest things to have at the time.”
Nowadays, the creative field is filled with creators and their new “toys” competing to be the best. But for Elisha, it’s all love on his end despite witnessing his own mentors turn away from him.
“The competitiveness is 100% there but for me personally, it’s all love. When I first started taking this seriously, I had a few mentors who I looked up to and who supported me from the get-go. But once I started finding my feet, I remember asking them for some feedback on a certain project I did, and they just gave me the seen and unfollowed. I don’t know why, but there is a big enough pot for all of us creatives to eat from.”
Elisha is in his second year studying a Bachelor of Visual Arts at AUT and is in the process of editing a One-shot music film he directed for Village 90. You can reach him via Instagram as 19elisha99
Quotes have been edited for clarity
