GO BACK - LAPI MARINER ft FIJI & BEN VAI

Renowned Samoan singer Lapi Mariner has just released the visuals for his latest single 'Go Back' which features vocals from the Island Kings of Soul & Reggae George 'Fiji' Veikoso and Ben Vai.

Sadly Ben passed away just a couple of weeks ago.

Lapi, Fiji and others involved with the music video pay tribute to their musical brother.

Lapi says of his collaboration with Fiji & Ben "It was an honour to collaborate with these 2 legends.  I've loved and admired them for such a long time and am blessed & grateful.  Me and Fiji dedicate this to our USO Ben Vai" 

Director Sani Sagala said they'd originally planned to have Ben in the video on the day they shot it but he was admitted back into hospital that morning.

When editing the video Lapi had asked him what he was going to do for Bens part in the video.  Sani said "I suggested we have Lapi pointing up towards the sky to acknowledge his passing and thats what we put in the video" 

South Auckland Hip Hop Pioneer Danny Leaoasavai'i aka Brother D remembers meeting Ben back in the early 2000s in Samoa "We first met Ben Vai carving a name for himself in the Samoa music scene ... every year and show after that he was the first to greet us and the last to say good bye when in Samoa.  

His musical knowledge and talent was beyond most of those on the island after serving his apprenticeship under the great Fiji Veikoso in both Fiji and Hawaii.  

Ben brought the new wave of Samoan artists to the modern era, the likes of Zipso, Mr Tee, Shy Guy and Keila Records ... there wasn’t a (Samoan) artist in this era that Ben didn’t sing a hook and help in their musical journey.

Thank you Ben Vai for your contribution to Samoan music!"