May 17th, 2024 marked an awakening of Dinah Jane's rebirth into the music industry. Although she has been continuing to drop music and collaborate with other Polynesian artists such as Australia's JKING and Samoan indie brother group Roses on the Moon, Dinah Jane has tapped into her ancestry for guidance into making her new single Ocean Song. What we believe will be this summer's go-to song and added on to everyone's playlist, we got the opportunity to go behind the scenes and get an inside look on how Ocean Song was created.
A Call to Her Ancestors
“As much as we all love, love songs, I turned this into an ancestor call.”
In a writing camp in Bali, Dinah Jane initially wrote Ocean Song to be a love song, but after a divine appointment with Grammy award winning producer Jason “JG” Gilbert, on the last day of her writing camp, they combined their gifts to produce Dinah's ancestral prayer. With Dinah's ear to layer harmonies and JG's extensive expertise in songwriting and producing, and everyone behind the scenes being an all Polynesian cast, we get taken on a personal, emotional journey through Dinah Jane's life.
Ocean Song is beautifully curated to take you on two journeys of reminiscing on those who have come before you, and also celebrating what your ancestors have already established before and building on their foundation. From start to finish, Ocean Song incorporates elements of Dinah's personal life and Tongan upbringing, as well as inviting her circle of friends from different Polynesian islands and backgrounds in the music video.
Jane opens up about the line “I wanna be, wanna be where you are” being for those who she has lost in the past, and when she's alone, she wishes to be with them again. As one of the biggest Polynesian mainstream stars in this generation, Dinah Jane reveals how hard it can be sometimes in the music industry, but her call to her ancestors propels her to keep going and make more waves not only in the industry but in the community as well.
“And sometimes when you feel like giving up, they're usually the whispers that help me get back on my feet.”
“I wanna be, wanna be in your arms — let me ride out the storm in your calm”
Taking us into a glimpse of her personal life, Dinah Jane opens up about the meaning of the line “I wanna be, wanna be in your arms — let me ride out the storm in your calm.” The line pays homage to her grandfather, who is pictured in the music video in a portrait. Her grandfather played a huge role in raising Dinah Jane into the person she is today, and whenever she feels lost or scared, he is the person she is calling and crying out for.
In the second verse of Ocean Song, Jane's creativity and vulnerability mesh as she incorporates a voice recording of her mother representing the loss of a loved one. It's a unique moment of artistry as she layers her mother's voice recording with her own voice, depicting what you might usually hear at Tongan funerals.
Another element Dinah Jane uses in her song to make it special is the uniqueness of breath and exhales. She shares with us how she incorporates exhales into the track to represent the letting go of the past, the hardships, the trials and tribulations of the last few years.
“She's there — out!”
From the Pasifika representation, collaboration, and commemoration in Dinah Jane's Ocean Song, we are excited to witness her rebirth and new era of musicality as she continues to spearhead and create waves in the mainstream music space.
The Pasifika Creatives Behind the Video
- Chad Vaifanua — Executive Producer
- Tiana N. Liufau — Director of Choreography
- Nancy Thompson — Wardrobe Designer
- Nina Sosefina — Legacy Cast
We were honored to feature the behind-the-scenes perspectives and insights from these remarkable creatives on our Instagram page. Head over to our Instagram to listen to the creatives share their experiences working behind the scenes, collaborating with an all-Polynesian cast, and more. Congratulations to the entire cast, crew, and all involved in making this project a reality!
Images provided by the featured individuals or sourced from their public social media profiles and online platforms. All rights remain with the original creators. Originally published in PMN+ Magazine, June 2024 (Vol. 1 No. 2).
June 2024 · Digital Magazine
