One Ocean
Small Island Big Song
Great music from small islands.
Small Island Big Song is a music, film, and performing arts project that brings together acclaimed Indigenous artists from across the Pacific and Indian Oceans on a shared stage. These musicians are connected by an oceanic ancestry and a deep commitment to climate justice. One Ocean is the latest live performance to emerge from this evolving body of work, coming to Bergen in a concert version.
The music weaves together diverse traditional soundscapes, shaped by contemporary perspectives. Film footage, shot locally within the natural environments of each island, evolves organically through the artists’ individual contributions. Together, sound and image create vivid impressions of the artists’ home islands, forming a powerful scenic presence on stage.
The company includes artists from Madagascar, Taiwan, Rapa Nui, Mauritius, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Australia, and beyond. Across these island nations, communities and ecosystems are already experiencing the tangible impacts of the climate crisis. Through Small Island Big Song, the artists give voice to these environments – through their languages, instruments, and their embodied living heritage.
The project has resulted in two albums, a feature-length documentary film, an education programme, and multiple concert productions.
Photo: Bon Wu
“One Ocean is a perfectly choreographed performance with music, dance, and video that relies on pace and vibrancy.” – Place de l’Opera
Sammy. Singer-songwriter og musiker, fra merina-folkegruppen på Madagaskar. Eve Nikolao. Singer-songwriter og musiker fra Samoa. Emlyn Marimutu. Singer-songwriter og musiker, og mauritisk kreol. Abus Tanapima. Singer-songwriter og musiker fra Taiwan. Mathieu Joseph. Danser og musiker, og mauritisk kreol. Airileke. Musiker, og motu fra Papua Ny-Guinea. Small Island Big Song-grunnleggere BaoBao Chen og Tim Cole. Foto: Carlos Cruz
Contributors
Small Island Big Song performance
Abus Tanapima, Sammy, Emlyn Marimutu, Eve Nikolao, Mathieu Joseph music performance, composition
Les Freres Joseph choreography
Emlyn Marimutu, Airileke music directors
Tim Cole sound & visual design, sound engineer, AV operator, executive producer, co-founder
BaoBao Chen stage manager, executive producer, co-founder
Nini Liu tour manager
Hsin I Chang production advisor
BaoBao Chen, Tim Cole executive producers & co-founders
