The Work
Artists, releases, recording sessions and production work.
BEHIND THE WORK
Browse selected music recording, artist development, production sound and post-production work. Each project keeps its story concise, with galleries and media available when you choose to open them.
MUSIC RECORDING & ARTIST DEVELOPMENT
Recording work is presented as a growing artist archive, with one focused profile per project and optional galleries and media.
Artist Release
Originally released in 2012 and reissued as a 2024 single, Play On is one of Phil Dakei’s signature original songs. The song has remained in regional radio rotation and forms part of his work as a recording artist alongside his production, engineering and live-performance career.
Music Production
Daniel Rae Costello was one of Fiji and the Pacific's most prolific recording artists, songwriters, musicians and producers, with a career spanning several decades. Phil Dakei's producer portfolio records their collaboration on the albums Island Calling and Let the World Sing. Costello's catalogue remains widely heard across Fiji and the wider Pacific.
Music Production & Artist Project
Makare was formed by William “Bigwilz” Waqanibaravi, Phil Dakei, Simi Rova and Felix Chaudhary around a shared idea: bring classic iTaukei songs to a new generation while preserving the writing and musical character that made the originals important. The project developed across multiple releases, with Phil Dakei contributing as producer, guitarist and vocalist. On Makare III, the group again reworked well-known Fijian songs while expanding the production palette with additional musicians and producers.
Recording & Music Production
Rako Pasefika is an Oceanic collective bringing together music, movement, visual art and cultural storytelling. Its work draws from Indigenous Pacific knowledge and performance traditions while engaging contemporary issues including cultural revival, identity and climate advocacy. Rako Pasefika credits Phil Dakei for recording and production work on Mama Hanua. At the 2016 Fiji Performing Rights Association Music Awards, Filimone Dakei received Best Recording Engineer for Rako Pasefika's Hanua Helava.
Music Recording
Sons of UK are a Rotuman band formed in 2019 by Eliesa Rigamoto and Pene Samuela, growing from family jam sessions into a live group with roots in Ut’utu Kalvaka, Noatau. Their music carries Rotuman identity and storytelling through island, folk, reggae and country influences. Dakei Entertainment produced and recorded their debut single Maf Hanua, written by Iane Samuela and released in 2025 as a tribute to Noatau’s land, sea, villages and community. Their public catalogue has continued to grow with releases including Ae Ma Gou and Farmers Dedication (Manea Ma Oaf’ofa).
WATCH
Public Facebook playback depends on Facebook’s embed permissions. Direct watch links are always provided.
Music Production & Collaboration
RRArt’s 2024 EP 4 Stories High brings together Pacific singers, songwriters and collaborators across a varied contemporary catalogue. Phil Dakei appears on Tik Tok and is credited in production and engineering work connected with the project, including production, mixing and mastering on Pueraki.
Selected collaborations
Selected artists and groups I’ve worked with across Fiji, the Pacific and internationally. Links open official music pages or published profiles.
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