Papua New Guinean artist Danielle has taken out Pacific Break 2022’s top prize with her powerful song Fight, making history as the first female winner of the Pacific’s biggest music competition.
The Port Moresby-based artist emerged triumphant from a field of nearly 200 entries from 15 Pacific nations and will perform at WOMADelaide, Australia’s largest international music festival, in March 2023.
Upon learning of the victory, Danielle said she was honoured and glad she persevered with her passion, “There were so many times when I thought, ‘What’s the point of doing this?’ because I kept hitting road blocks and getting a lot of criticism because I’m a mum and I’m a big girl.”
This year’s judging panel, composed of leading Pacific and international music producers and experts, unanimously awarded this year’s prize to Danielle’s song Fight which tells the story of the West Papuans’ ongoing fight for freedom. The track combines English and Tok Pisin lyrics and showcases the singer’s trademark stirring vocals.
Danielle’s second submission to the competition, Let Me Love You, was also highly commended by the panel of judges which included Pacific Island ethnomusicologist and founder of Pacific Island Creative Arts Australia, Rita Seumanutafa-Palala, artist manager and producer Kera Whewell, WOMADelaide Associate Director Annette Tripodi and musician and producer Brendan Marolla.
According to Whewell, “Danielle’s vocal tone, experience and presence on stage, depth of repertoire, warmth and charisma as well as her proud links to her cultural heritage and her courage representing Pacific women in music make her a standout winner for this year’s competition.”
Tripodi added, “While the judges were unanimous in our decision, it was no easy task given the excellent calibre and diversity of this year’s entries. Danielle’s authenticity and heartfelt truth-telling is so powerful and I know she is going to be very well received by the fans at WOMADelaide.”
ABC International Head Claire M Gorman said, “We are thrilled to have Pacific Break running again in 2022 after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic. We are very proud to be able to showcase amazing Pacific musical talent through this competition to audiences across the region on ABC Radio Australia, ABC Pacific homepage and ABC Pacific Facebook. It is an honour for ABC International to be bringing Danielle’s unique voice to WOMADelaide’s audience.
The finalists for Pacific Break 2022 are;
- Inside Out (Fiji), Yadra Mai
- Bibao (Solomon Islands), Blow My Mind
- I NU (New Caledonia), Pi Tronia (My Coconut Tree)
- Jugu Mahn (PNG), Ugamagi Walona
- KY MO, (Federated States of Micronesia), Upwe Uwe Tori Mwuchun Manawei
- Edy Ramos (Timor-Leste), Fuan Timor (Timor Is My Heart)
- Smogg and Lizzie (PNG), Smile
- Rockye (PNG), This Is My Time
- Sacha Terrat (New Caledonia), Silver Chains
- Rhee Gial (PNG), Unnamed track
- O-Four (PNG), Fire
For interview opportunities or general media enquiries, please contact:
David Seale
Marketing and Communications Manager, ABC International
