Today we’d like to introduce you to Suau’u Auelua.
Hi Suau’u, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
Blessings
I started playing music at a young age with my dad’s family band all his brothers played instruments and sang. My grandpa played tenor sax. My father played guitar and sang. I was more of a drummer.in Jr. high and high school, I joined jazz band. After graduating, I didn’t really pursue anything in sports and slowed down in music. It wasn’t until longtimefriend of mine Jr Fa’asou AKA June Bugg, recommended me to play for Ray Leger, joined his band BIG SHIP where I met Esi Lautaimi, Fisi, Sione and RayRay Tuatonga. They introduced me to JanVanDerBeek of The Natural Roots Reggae band here in Salt Lake and then the word spread. I only played Rhythm guitar at the time then Esi showed me the ropes with BASS. Going on the road with Ray Leger, and Teki Fakalata at the time there weren’t any keyboardist at the time, so I jumped to the keys and went back to the drums. Reggae drums are different from what I’m used to. Funk jazz-rock… REGGAE DRUMS I FELT, NEEDED MORE DISCIPLINE. 2011 I started promoting concerts here and there. I toured with some artists from California 2-3 months at a time which were some of best experiences of my life. I ended up meeting the love of my life Jacinta Fitisemanu who also happened to come from a musical family as well. Almost 10 yearsand 3 kids later, she’s still putting up with me. Linked up with john converse as well who I stayed with and man I practiced in his basement for years playing drums keyboards bass listening to countless records/ Vinyl’s man so much music… pre Covid I was going on tour and doing shows every weekend. Post-Covid kept the same energy. Then with SHACKENT I just combined all the knowledge and the connections I made throughout the years andjust knowing the business side, I started doing bigger shows. MUSIC IS LIFE
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
July 7, 2007, my Mother Passed. That! I can say was my biggest challenge in life, till this day and still grieving her passing. She was my saving grace, my inspiration, my biggest supporter and my best friend. Now there were other challenges I went through throughout the years of course, from Touring, Promoting, working with all kinds of different artists/ musicians from here in the states, New Zealand to Australia, Jamaica, London man the list goes on. Being a musician, you are going to deal with people from all walks of life with personalities you may or may not clash with, but at the end of the day, our love for music is what brings us all together, and our focus and goal is to spread that love through our music with the world. I’ve learned somuch on this journey and still learning. Patience, always staying humble, and being grateful for every opportunity that has come my way are what I live by.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Musician- Drums, Keyboards, rhythm guitar, bass, vocals
Promoter with Shack Entertainment
I’ve played with most reggae bands in Salt Lake City and had the honor and privilege of playing for these amazing artists just to name a few
*Big ship
Ray leger
Natural roots
Afro omega
Lady omega
Daverse
TEKI
Makisi
Vocal reasoning
Smiling souls
Newborn slaves
Richie. V
Analea brown
Servants
Sugarhouse empire
Tafisi flaming souls
Swells
Eddy dyno
David rhythm
Na drua
Junior maile
Kaipo Kapua
Issac manutai
Sifa
Local culture
Oston Saralu
Pati
Sayloo
Pam hall
Donna Marie
Jc lodge
Warrior king
Fiji
Marcia Griffith
Yaardcore
Johnny luv
One world
Finn
Tenelle
Ryn
Reno anoai
Samu
Sii vakalahi
Josh Heinrich’s
Skillanjah
Dread Kennedy
Latasha lee
NRG Rising
Israel Star
This is just some of the artist missing a hand full…
What matters most to you?
Spreading positive vibes with good music with the world
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Shack_Ent
- Facebook: Shack entertainment
