Charles Maimarosia is a unique and extraordinary Solomon Islands singer and musician, raised in the remote Pipisu village of Malaita. He is renowned for being a singer of important custom knowledge, drawing equally on traditional and contemporary musical styles.
Charles developed a profound interest in ‘Are’Are music at a young age after inheriting his first hand made coconut shell ukulele from his father.
He later began performing amongst the community, communicating ancient songs of his ancestors with hand-made pan pipes. In a recent interview on ABC’s Pacific Beat, Charles further explains this aspect of his artistic practice:
“The stories and poems and things that I mentioned passed through oral, not written words but oral, one generation could pass that knowledge to another generation and these elderly people are the libraries.”
In 2000, along with like-minded musicians of his village, Charles formed the globally-recognised energetic panpipe orchestra known as Narasirato, acting as their former front man, choreographer and songwriter, incorporating traditional ‘Are’are music and spirited dances.
Performing for the first time in Australia, Cook Town, lead Narasirato to national and international festivals in Japan and the Middle East. “My culture, My life” hit #1 on Asia/Pacific charts from debut album Naratana Hiona. In 2010 Charles relocated to Melbourne to focus on his solo career and has since toured with the legendary George Telek, released his debut solo EP ‘Are’Are in 2016.
In 2020 Charles released the single A’mamiuru to raise funds for the community in Solomon Islands after a ferry disaster caused by Tropical Cyclone Harold.
He has performed in Taiwan, through Europe and North America in 2022 Charles received the MAV Diaspora Award at the Music Victoria Ceremony and in January 2023 performed in Honiara as part of the Australian High Commission/Wantok Musik Concerts.
REVIEWS / TESTIMONIALS
“Are’are’ rightly places Maimarosia at the centre of contemporary Melanesian music. My only complaint is that at eight tracks, this recording is far too short.” – Seth Jordan, Songlines UK