Breaking Barriers and Chasing Dreams: The Walton Brothers
By Loveni Enari
The Waltons was a 1970s TV series that became world famous while the Jacksons were simply world famous. Now there are some new Waltons on the scene but unlike the country folk from the series, this family are definitely more Jacksons in style!
Meet brothers Bowie and Kaia Walton.
From Byron Bay in Australia they are of Polynesian, Melanesian and white Australian stock, and they are about to Rock you. Well Bowie already is, playing the role of Roman Reigns in the series, The Young Rock.
'It was funny because I had to yell it out at first,' says 11 year old Bowie, referring to his shouting at the screen, 'Acknowledge me!'
'The best thing about it is the experience, because each time you do something you have more experience and you can go on and do more.'
Bowie talks the talk on the screen, but he also walks the sports walk. He's a killer on the rugby league pitch and in the shot put he'll be competing in the regional championships having won school, district and zone competitions but it's in Jiu Jitsu that he's really making a mark.
This weekend in Melbourne, he'll be representing the Solomon Islands and fighting to become the Australian national Jiu Jitsu champion in the -42.3kg category. It won't be easy and there are six opponents in his way but Bowie is quietly confident. 'I reckon I have a good chance because I've been practising a lot,' says Bowie.
UPDATE: HE WON! Bowie is now the Australian National BJJ Champion, having won from a bracket of 8 fighters!
You can follow his progress here.
Next up is older brother, music producer, 19 year old Kaia, an impressive young man with all the talent but more importantly, a wise head on his young shoulders.
His mother was adopted out of her Solomon Islander family so growing up without a Pacific connection has affected Kaia. 'I want to get in touch more with that side of the family,' he says. 'I think when you're a kid and you don't know about one side of the family you get enticed by that side.'
'So as I've got older I've been searching and gotten more into that and I'm trying to bring that into my music.'
Kaia describes his music as cinematic. 'It can be very moody and I blend it into different genres like hip-hop.'
Judge for yourself on his website.
His first EP, 'Human', will be released soon - watch this space!
As for advice for youngsters wanting to get into the creative world Kaia's words are wise.
'Find your people, your tribe. You have to find people who are very driven, with ambition, who want to drive things ahead. It doesn't just have to be someone in music - it can be a rugby player or an actor or a painter.'
'Find a community of people who want to get ahead and pursue their passion, who can really juice each other up.'
Kaia also cites the need for guidance in the form of a mentor.
His photographer dad, Baron Walton, was that guy in the early days.
'As a kid my Dad would take me along to photo shoots. He wanted to show me that school wasn't everything, that people can have really interesting jobs that aren't the norm, outside of the normal school stuff... That really influenced and changed my way of thinking.'
Other important mentors have been Stu Fergie, indigenous Australian from group OKA, who died from Covid related issues, Akil, the MC and Michael Franti.
It hasn't been all plain sailing however and both Bowie and Kaia have been victims of racism.
Dad, Baron: 'The kids have all experienced racism at different levels. We live in a very liberal and open minded part of Australia (Byron Bay) - but it’s also not very diverse.'
'There is only a tiny Pasifika community.'
And the last word to Kaia: 'Racism is an issue but I've learnt just to laugh at it.'
'It is ignorant so I've learnt not to be offended by it.'
Watch out for the Waltons, Bowie and Kaia, coming to a screen or stage near you!
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Public Interest Journalism funded by NZ on Air.