TiO - Sorousian (2020)

Sorousian is the highly anticipated debut album by Ni-Vanuatu artist Tio.

The title, Sorousian, loosely translates to “story” and combines the many facets of Tio’s musical identity and history. Across the album, Tio effortlessly blends his traditional music customs and sounds with modern instrumentation and production to paint a story of his experiences; from living in his home island of Ambrym, Vanuatu’s capital Port Vila, and in Melbourne, Australia.

Sorousian is a multi-faceted album exploring the dichotomies in Tio’s life; tradition and modernity, urban and island life; Ni-Vanuatu cultures and Australian life. The variation can be seen in the two singles that have already been released; ‘Mumbwe’ is a modern interpretation of a song used in the Rom custom dance sung in a language so old that the direct translation has been lost. ‘Black Butterfly’ however is a contemporary original which he wrote about city life and Tio’s belief that people need to live and work more truthfully; asking the audience to rethink their lifestyle’s relationship with nature.

The album was produced by Wantok Musik’s Creative Director David Bridie with Andrew Robinson and shares the way Tios’s musical traditions shift and combine with new styles to create rich sonic narratives.

Tio Bang vocals, guitar, bass, ukulele, percussion
Hendrik Baransano bass
David Bridie piano, keyboards, vocals
Hope Csutoros violin
Emmanuel Hakalitz drums
David Leha vocals
Helen Mountfort cello
Luke Richardson bass
Yosua Roem vocals
Noemie Severin violin
Kireni Sparks-Ngenge vocals
Phil Wales guitar

Tracklisting:
01. TiO - Tanrah (3:35)
02. TiO - Mumbwe (3:13)
03. TiO - Black Butterfly (3:08)
04. TiO - Bungbung Myaek (3:21)
05. TiO - Live Easy (3:23)
06. TiO - Save My Soul (4:18)
07. TiO - Myage (4:16)
08. TiO - Morning Star Bae Kam (3:58)
09. TiO - Teteyar (3:54)
10. TiO - Pun Milye (4:43)
11. TiO - Teme Nyoo Vetu (3:03)