Vanessa Quai

Vanessa Diandra Sally Ann Kiristiana Quai, better known as Vanessa Quai, born July 13, 1988 in Port Vila [ [http://www.pacificislandsradio.com/profiles/vanessa_quai/index.htm "Biography: Vanessa Quai"] , Pacific Islands Radio, 2004] , is a ni-Vanuatu singer.

She recorded her first album, "To Aitape With Love" (recorded at Vanuata Production, produced at Pacific Gold Studio), as a child singer, aged 9, in 1998. In 1999, she was one of 3000 competitors at the South Pacific International Song contest held in Gold Coast, Queensland, and was the only child competitor. She won third prize in the Gospel/Inspirational Category. Later that same year, she took first prize at the Nile International Children Song Contest, in Cairo. [ [http://www.pacificislandsradio.com/profiles/vanessa_quai/index.htm "Biography: Vanessa Quai"] , Pacific Islands Radio, 2004] 1999 was the year she "hit the international music scene", according to the "Vanuatu Weekly Hebdomadaire". [ [http://www.vanuatu.usp.ac.fj/library/online/texts/vanuatu%20weekly/Year/1999/August.htm Archives index of the "Vanuatu Weekly Hebdomadaire"] ]

Quai's second, third and fourth albums -"Beautiful Pacific Islands", "The Untouched Paradise" and "Pacifika"- were released between 2000 and 2003. In 2004, her album "Promise" was a cooperation with Papua New Guinean group Soul Harmony, and was described as bearing a strong "R&B flavour". [ [http://www.pacificislandsradio.com/profiles/vanessa_quai/index.htm "Biography: Vanessa Quai"] , Pacific Islands Radio, 2004]

In 2004, she won first prize at the International Teenagers Singing Competition, in Bucharest, with a jury presided over by Lane Davies. [ [http://www.pacificislandsradio.com/profiles/vanessa_quai/index.htm "Biography: Vanessa Quai"] , Pacific Islands Radio, 2004]

Pacific Islands Radio describes her music as being primarily gospel songs, but also "rang [ing] from traditional to modern music". [ [http://www.pacificislandsradio.com/profiles/vanessa_quai/index.htm "Biography: Vanessa Quai"] , Pacific Islands Radio, 2004] The "Papua New Guinea Post-Courier" describes her music as gospel music, "mixed with slow ballads, R‘n’B, hip hop and South Pacific flavour", and notes that she sings in "many languages", including Tok Pisin and Motu. [ [http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20040128/whatson03 "Quai signs recording contract with CHM"] , "Post-Courier", January 23, 2004] In 2002, her song "Freedom" topped the radio charts in Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands, and ranked second on the charts in Papua New Guinea. [ [http://www.pacificislandsradio.com/profiles/vanessa_quai/index.htm "Biography: Vanessa Quai"] , Pacific Islands Radio, 2004] Quai's mother is Fijian, and she also sings in Fijian. [ [http://solomontimes.com/news.aspx?nwID=2585 "Vanuatu's Vanessa Quai Enters Tahitian Market"] , "Solomon Times", September 16, 2008]

Quai has been described by Pacific Islands Radio as "a very popular artist in the whole Pacific region". [ [http://www.pacificislandsradio.com/profiles/vanessa_quai/index.htm "Biography: Vanessa Quai"] , Pacific Islands Radio, 2004] In 2004, the "Papua New Guinea Post-Courier" described her as "Vanuatu’s No.1 music artist, and one of the South Pacific’s best female singing sensations". [ [http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20040128/whatson03 "Quai signs recording contract with CHM"] , "Post-Courier", January 23, 2004] The "Solomon Times" in 2007 described her as "very popular" in the Solomon Islands. [ [http://www.solomontimes.com/news.aspx?nwID=132 "Vanessa Quai to assist in tsunami drive"] , "Solomon Times", May 10, 2007] Her music is reportedly popular in French Polynesia, and in 2008 she became the first Melanesian singer to tour Tahiti. [ [http://solomontimes.com/news.aspx?nwID=2585 "Vanuatu's Vanessa Quai Enters Tahitian Market"] , "Solomon Times", September 16, 2008]

External link

* [http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20040123/weekend01.htm "Spreading the Gospel"] , Esther Haro, "Post-Courier", January 23, 2004 (article about Quai in a Papua New Guinean newspaper)

References