Wi3W – Ep23 – Bobby Alu, Singer, Drummer and Ukulele strummer, speaks with Greg about growing up a Samoan lad in Australia.

Summary: <br> Greg had the pleasure to interview Byron Bay singer, ukulele strummer and drummer Bobby Alu as the kick off for 2022.<br> <br> <br> <br> Bobby’s not his actual name though. That’s Charles. Charles Robert Fa’agalu Wall to be precise.<br> <br> <br> <br> “It’s a family name (Fa’agalu) and that’s where Bobby Alu comes from,” Charles shares with <a href="https://blankstreetpress.com.au/samoan-roots-run-deep-for-bobby-alu/" target="_blank" data-type="URL" data-id="https://blankstreetpress.com.au/samoan-roots-run-deep-for-bobby-alu/" rel="noreferrer noopener">Samantha Morris</a>. “When I did my first recording at Uni, I put my name on the CD and a friend, Sarah Howells played it on Triple J and said ‘this is Bobby Alu’, so I thought, well there you go, I guess I’m Bobby Alu.”<br> <br> <br> <br> Bobby is inspired by a strong family lineage of Polynesian performance, and unassuming grooves that work a gradual, smile- inducing high through even a casual listener, Bobby Alu tunes have a way of sneaking into the subconscious and taking up residence. Every now and then, one will pop up as a toe-tapping reminder to take it slow, enjoy the ride. It’s the curator of calm’s way – deliver island-time vibes with gentle optimism rather than forceful instruction, and encourage the type of reflection best achieved in a hammock. Though it’s not all palm trees and daydreams – there’s a robust energy in Alu’s mastery of traditional Samoan log drums, and a vitality to his songwriting that nods to world, roots and pop intelligence.<br> <br> <br> <br> Sharing a well-nurtured and lengthy musical connection with producer and multi-instrumentalist tour buddy <a href="http://www.yama-nui.com/studio/artists/" target="_blank" data-type="URL" data-id="http://www.yama-nui.com/studio/artists/" rel="noreferrer noopener">Paulie Bromley</a> (<a href="https://www.thebeautifulgirls.com/" target="_blank" data-type="URL" data-id="https://www.thebeautifulgirls.com/" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Beautiful Girls</a>, <a href="https://www.katienoonan.com.au/george" target="_blank" data-type="URL" data-id="https://www.katienoonan.com.au/george" rel="noreferrer noopener">george</a>), Alu’s recorded and live presence has been boosted from a range of creative alliances<br> <br> <br> <br> Having dedicated his world-class percussion skills to touring internationally with <a href="https://xavierrudd.com/" data-type="URL" data-id="https://xavierrudd.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Xavier Rudd </a>for five years, it was time for the equatorial folk of Bobby Alu to chart its own dedicated course again in 2018. He played 132 shows across 14 countries, and stopped in at every state and territory of Australia, supporting <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Butler_Trio" data-type="URL" data-id="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Butler_Trio" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">John Butler Trio</a> (EU), <a href="https://www.trevorhallmusic.com/" data-type="URL" data-id="https://www.trevorhallmusic.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Trevor Hall </a>(EU/AU), <a href="https://www.nahko.com/" data-type="URL" data-id="https://www.nahko.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nahko</a> (EU), UB40 (AU) and The Beautiful Girls (EU/AU) along the way. For the Gold Coast raised artist, performing and co-writing a song for the Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony was a surreal homecoming. 2019 saw <a href="https://www.bigsound.org.au/" data-type="URL" data-id="https://www.bigsound.org.au/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">BIGSOUND </a>showcases, a support tour across North America with his friend Xavier Rudd and a national run opening for <a href="https://www.busbymarou.com/" data-type="URL" data-id="https://www.busbymarou.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Busby Marou</a>. Things stepped up on a songwriting and recording level too. Following the exploratory Self-titled debut (t...