With the release of her new single ‘For Real’, Alice Lolohea caught up with Tree Vaifale Manu to talk about her newest track, her career, fitness journey and managing the many artists of BLK Entertainment.
Congratulations! You’ve just recently released the single and music video For Real, and it’s different from anything we’ve seen from you yet. Tell us about the song.
Thank you so much! Yes. For Real featuring See Naylors. It’s a song about love, being in love with someone and just wanting it to be for real. See jumps in on the bridge from a male’s point of view and smashes it. The hook lyrics are, ‘I just need somebody who’s gon’ love me. Weekends ain’t enough, I want the whole thing. If you ain’t 100 baby boy just let me know, but if you ready then let’s do this thing For Real.’
Compared to all your past singles, does For Real feel like you’re taking a step in a different direction?
It could be different to the viewers, fans/listeners, but for me personally I would say not really? It’s exactly where I want to be. I’ve come to love ‘doing’ – if I feel it, I’ll do it, kinda like living in the moment. I’ve always loved and wanted to try this sort of RnB. I got this beat while I was on tour and I loved it, wrote it and was like, ‘Yep, okay, it’s the next one,’ lol.
You had quite an impressive crew working behind the scenes of this project, especially the music video. In creating the visuals for your song, what was the process like?
Hahaha for anything the process is always my favourite part. My team, my village are amazing. They are some of the best and talented in their industries. I’m also reallllly blessed to call them my family. It’s so much fun. My sisters are around, behind the scenes and on hair and make-up, my brothers and my older siblings are the crew, my sons and friends dancing and my husband and babies on support and dinner. It’s loud, it’s crazy, but it’s an honour for me to see everyone in their boss mode working in their craft! We all grow as we go, and the best part is doing it together.
You’ve been extending your musical talents beyond the realm of the music industry. You were the Music Director for the film Brown Boys and you recently worked together with Parris Goebel for the theatre show GIRL. What an amazing time to be a female Pasifika creative! How have these experiences shaped your artistry?
Oh man, these experiences really grew my ability to just dream… Honestly, I learnt so much working in two different environments on two different projects, film and live production with GIRL, serving under two totally different leaders with both amazing visions. Both blessings and lessons which helped me shape my music team a little bit more and find new strengths and gifts we had as a team that we never knew we had – a lot of growth, lessons, humble pie, opportunity, vision and most of all two whole new families. ?
You’re signed under the independent label BLK Entertainment, which you also manage. I can imagine your hands would be pretty full managing the label, working on your craft, being a mother and a wife – how do you manage it all? What impact has it had on your career?
I’ll be honest, I’m still learning haha. Nothing stays the same for too long, so I’d like to say I take each day as it comes. I try my best. Sometimes it flops, sometimes it works… My husband is real supportive, and we work together, dream, agree or disagree, but we make it happen. With the many career choices I have, each thing kinda complements the other. Learning and staying in the motion of everything in my life and soaking in every moment means I’m always inspired with something – to write lyrics or have random melodies pop up in my head, a show idea, a bass line – it’s buzzy. My children love it, and I’ve learnt to just let them be and not be so concerned with being so paranoid with them growing up dealing with our careers and lifestyle. I have a lot to be grateful for. ?
And if you weren’t busy enough, you’ve also undertaken quite an intense fitness journey! You’ve shared the highs and lows of all your workouts on social media, and the results speak for themselves because you look amazing! What has this part of your journey been like for you?
Omg THANK YOUUUU! It’s hard. Honestly, my singing career means I sing and do entertainment at functions or shows etc [and] there’s always a celebration with food, drinks… Being a creative with weird hours, I’m active and working at the weirdest of times and have to find space to train. It’s actually hard but [I have] my GOALS & my PEACE OF MIND. The most rewarding part is learning firsthand through your own body changes what it does for you, your body, your mental health, your physical wellbeing, your energy. Trust me – life changing.
A lot of fans are eagerly waiting for the release of an EP or an album from you. What great things can fans expect to see in the near future?
Ooooo yes, my EP is coming soon with a couple more projects right behind it… We’ll definitely talk more about that soon hehe.
Check out the music video for Tree’s latest single For Real:
