What had started as an ambitious school project in 2002 has blossomed into a music phenomena that has produced four albums and broken new grounds, set the highest standards in music in the Solomon Islands. I heard of Sapphire Singers back in 2002 and their first DVD production was already a best seller as it hit the music stands. Since that time, Sapphire Singers have continued to break new grounds culminating in a milestone when the group released, “Papa God”, an album that is a compilation of songs written by its group of talented members.
It does pay to give credit where it is due and to the Sapphire Singers I must acknowledge that they have ushered in a new era of music production – that of professionalism. Copyrights have always been a contentious issue, Sapphire Singers have since the album prior to this latest album have always acknowledged and copyrighted their music in its proper fashion.
Establishing an identity, a brand – Sapphire Music can only market the group far beyond the Pacific. This is an important step in the right direction. Again, this move is unprecedented in the Solomon Islands and we must pay homage to the vision that the management of this group of talented Solomon Islanders have taken. The creation of a website on sapphire-music.com has also broken new grounds. Utilizing social networks such as Bebo, Facebook and the ever growing Youtube sensation has done wonders to spread the Sapphire brand beyond the Solomon Islands.
Harnessing the Internet and its related services such as selling its CD online is a remarkable feat. Fans can now hear samples and even buy single tracks just as if they had walked into a shop selling the album.
Being musically challenged, I would be least qualified to make comments on the group’s musical ability. However, I must acknowledge that the musical arrangements by Eric Katovai also continues to set and raise the standards. The singers have also consistently outperformed themselves in each new album release. Although members have changed regularly over the years, newer members have integrated well with the core of the group and have always demonstrated the ability to sing at the very highest level.
This is no doubt a group that has quietly achieved far greater than we could have ever seen. This is a group of talented, young Solomon Islanders who not only enjoy singing but have benefited from great management, back up from some of Solomon Islands best talented musical geniuses and are themselves great singers who do it with great enthusiasm and passion. They can only progress up, always ever upward if they have their feet firmly on the ground and continue to chase their dreams.