EPISODE 4 | SHEPHERDS REIGN | December 22, 2023
Certain musicians possess a unique quality that transcends genres, inviting listeners to connect with their music on a profound level. Shepherds Reign not only embodies this quality but goes beyond. We felt the brotherhood, musicianship, and contented spirit of the band from the moment they entered BIG FAN.

In the tapestry of music history, metal plays a pivotal role, forging deep connections with listeners through empathetic writing, power and technically demanding skill. When combined with cultural significance and impeccable talent, Shepherds Reign emerges as a band offering more than just music.

Hailing from South Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand, Shepherds Reign is a Polynesian Metal band and, as we believe, a trailblazer on a global scale. Comprising of Maori, Pacific and Asian descent the band includes: Filivaa James (Vocals, keys), Joseph Oti-George (Bass), Oliver Leupolu (guitar, production), Shaymen Rameka (drums), and Gideon Voon (guitars).

The live experience with Shepherds Reign is unparalleled. Anticipating a full metal immersion, the band surprised us with a unique acoustic set that still left us in awe. Each member poured their hearts into the performance, showcasing a level of authenticity that resonated deeply and reflects their roots and life experiences.

Infusing ancient Pacific knowledge into their heavy metal grooves, the dynamic five-piece draws influences from classic rock and modern progressive metal, including bands like Avenged Sevenfold, Gojira, and Dream Theater.

Hosting Shepherds Reign was an honour, making this episode special for numerous reasons. We’ll leave you with a Samoan proverb that imparts the wisdom that things happen for a reason. Some reasons are easy to see. But some reasons are only felt - Shepherds Reign sets their TONE with a purpose you can see, hear and most importantly, feel.
“E le falala fua le niu, ae falala ona o le matagi” 

* SET LIST
00:00 - song #1 - AIGA
05:32 - song #1 - FINALLY
09:35 - song #1 - LE MANU

* MUSICIANS
Lead Vocals / Pate: Filivaa James Guitarists: Oliver Leupolu & Gideon Voon Cajon / Percussion: Shaman Rameka
Bass: Joseph Oti-George

* CHECK IT OUT
🔗 @shepherdsreign on Insta and Spotify

* TONES TEAM
Creators in collaboration with BIG FAN: Marlan Prabahar & Laila Ben-Brahim
Producers: Laila Ben-Brahim, Marlan Prabahar, Martin Bahmani
Editor: Marlan Prabahar
Audio Engineers: Finn Mcclellan, Noema Te Hau
Videographers: Martin Bahmani, Marlan Prabahar
TONES TEAM: Laila Ben-Brahim, Marlan Prabahar, Savina Fountain, Jacinda Walker, Sasha Te Whare, Noema Te Hau, Martin Bahmani.

SPECIAL THANKS to the BIG FAN Whanau and the vibrant music community.


* ABOUT TONES
This fortnightly series flows right from the heart of BIG FAN to provide music content for kiwis by kiwis. Every episode highlights a unique, emerging or established kiwi artist or band to perform live and be authentic in reimagined versions of their original songs.

TONES is all about Aotearoa’s music community and a place for musicians to represent themselves, showcase their remarkable talent, pay tribute to their roots, and share their stories with you. We believe that every artist has a unique narrative to tell, and we're here to amplify their voices so they can continue to set their tone.

Subscribe to our YouTube page and follow us on social media to follow the journey and find artist interviews, behind the scenes footage, and more! Take it one step further and support your favourite artists live in BIG FAN.


#TONESNZ #BIGFAN #Kiwimusic #shepherdsreign #rock #polynesianrock #metal #samoa #Liveperformance #NewZealand #liveband #musicstudio #musicseries #nzmusic

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