Ever wondered what the 684 music scene is like? Need suggestions on artists from the 684 to add to your playlist? Curious about some up-and-coming talents from American Samoa? Well, you’re in the right place! Keep reading to learn more!
I had the opportunity to sit down with two rising stars from American Samoa, Manny Veavea and Nancy on the Track, who shared their stories, inspirations, and journey as artists from the “Football Islands” or the “Islands of Paradise.”
Nancy on the Track, 25, is from Vatia, American Samoa. He first got into music during his high school years in 2016-2017, after dominating a rap battle event. That was when he discovered his talent for rhyming words and realized that music was his thing. Manny, 24, is from Leone, American Samoa. He started his music journey similarly, taking on social media rap challenges like the “Ten Toes Down Challenge” and “Sad Rap Challenge” with his siblings. IYKYK! From those early freestyle sessions, Manny developed his love for music and honed his skills.
“There’s a stigma about music from American Samoa and Apia—that we’re not real musicians because we often sample and tweak others’ work. But that’s just part of our artistry and what makes our music, our music; that’s our vibe.”
– Manny and Nancy
When asked about their inspiration, Nancy shared that Zipso is his musical idol, having grown up listening to his songs, and considers him the OG of Samoan music. Manny, on the other hand, said music itself was his outlet. It was his escape and his way of expressing what he couldn’t say out loud. He doesn’t credit a specific artist for his passion but acknowledges the universal language of music as a driving force behind his pursuit.
Both artists agreed that their goal is for people to simply vibe to their music. They shared that their song “Dass Ryte,” which samples Ciara’s classic track “Goodies,” is a perfect introduction to their work. The accompanying music video, which features friends and family from American Samoa, is all about showcasing good vibes and has already amassed over 155k views on YouTube.
As with any artistic journey, there are challenges. Manny mentioned that one of the biggest hurdles they face is being taken seriously as musicians. He shared that there’s a common misconception about music coming out of American Samoa and Samoa— people often dismiss it as not being “real” music because much of it is sampled from other artists. “But that’s what makes our music, our music,” he explained. “It’s our own vibe. Just because we sample, doesn’t mean there’s no artistry behind it.” He shared that sometimes people label them as “fobs,” but Manny is determined to shatter that stereotype and prove that their music, while deeply rooted in their cultural heritage, can connect with audiences everywhere— because at the end of the day, we’re all human.
Despite these challenges, Manny and Nancy have experienced some amazing triumphs. They shared that they wrote the entire song “Dass Ryte” in just one hour during their first meeting. Although it didn’t gain much traction initially, their persistence paid off. They promoted the track tirelessly on social media and eventually shot a music video with I-Films, also known as @dude_noz on social media. Overnight, the song started gaining popularity, and now it’s one of their proudest achievements.
