Phil Fuemana

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2021}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Phil Fuemana | image = | image_size = | landscape =  | alt = | caption = | birth_name = Philip Fuemana | native_name = | native_name_lang = | alias = | birth_date = {{birth date|1964|01|06|df=yes}} | birth_place = Auckland, New Zealand | origin = | death_date = {{death date and age|2005|02|28|1964|01|06|df=yes}} | death_place = Auckland, New Zealand | genre = | occupation = Musician, producer, songwriter, singer, mentor | instrument = | years_active = 1990–2005 | label = Urban Pasifika Records | past_member_of = OMC, Pauly Fuemana, Matty J Ruys, Fuemana, Houseparty | website =  }}

'''Philip Fuemana''' (6 January 1964 – 28 February 2005) was a New Zealand musician. Affectionately known as "the Godfather of South Auckland", he was highly regarded for his work in South Auckland in establishing the Urban Pasifika sound, founding Urban Pacifika Records in 1996 with Moizna, AKA Brown, Lost Tribe, and Dei Hamo.<ref>{{cite web|title=Obit. Phil Fuemana|url=http://www.amplifier.co.nz/news/14081/obit-phil-fuemana.html|publisher=Amplifier|accessdate=22 November 2012}}</ref><ref name=herald-obit>{{cite news|title=Hip-hop stars farewell mentor|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10113666|publisher=The New Zealand Herald |accessdate=22 November 2012|date=5 March 2005}}</ref>

Fuemana died of a heart attack at his Auckland home in 2005.<ref name=herald-obit />

== Fuemana ==

Fuemana was a soul group consisting of Phil and siblings Tony, Christina and Pauly Fuemana as well as Matty J Ruys. The group initially recorded a single for Southside Records under the name Houseparty, then switched to Deepgrooves to record under the name Fuemana.<ref name=dubdotdash>{{cite web|title=Deepgrooves - Fuemana|url=http://dubdotdash.blogspot.co.nz/2011/01/deepgrooves-fuemana.html|publisher=Dub Dot Dash}}</ref>

Styled as "the purveyors of Polynesian swing", the band released its first album ''New Urban Polynesian'' in 1994.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Feature - Fuemana: Family First |url=https://nzmusician.co.nz/features/fuemana-family-first/ |access-date=2025-11-06 |website=NZ Musician |language=en}}</ref> The album was produced and arranged by Phil Fuemana,<ref>{{Citation |title=Fuemana - New Urban Polynesian |date=1994 |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/2259267-Fuemana-New-Urban-Polynesian |access-date=2025-11-06 |language=en}}</ref> and has been described as “a uniquely Pasifika take on soul” that reflected his wider aim of putting “young Polynesian artists on the frontline”.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-05-04 |title=RECOMMENDED RECORD: Fuemana: New Urban Polynesian (Urban Pacifica/digital outlets) |url=https://www.elsewhere.co.nz/music/11120/recommended-record-fuemana-new-urban-polynesian-urban-pacifica-digital-outlets/ |access-date=2025-11-06 |website=Elsewhere by Graham Reid |language=en}}</ref> Fuemana’s work during this period is also cited by ''AudioCulture'' as part of Phil Fuemana’s role as a “trailblazer for Polynesian music” in South Auckland.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Phil Fuemana - AudioCulture |url=https://www.audioculture.co.nz/profile/phil-fuemana |access-date=2025-11-06 |website=www.audioculture.co.nz |language=en}}</ref>

The album ''New Urban Polynesian'' was reissued in 2024, on vinyl for the first time, by Australian label Gazebo Records. Fuemana also took part in the 1994 ''Proud'' project—an album and national tour showcasing emerging South Auckland Pacific artists—which helped bring Urban Pasifika music to wider attention.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Seasons Change: Fuemana & New Urban Polynesian — Test Pressing |url=https://www.testpressing.org/magazine/seasons-change-fuemana-new-urban-polynesian |access-date=2025-11-06 |website=www.testpressing.org |language=en-GB}}</ref>

== OMC == The Otara Millionaire's Club was originally formed in 1993 by Phil Fuemana.<ref name=dp>{{cite news|first=Michael|last=Field|title=Pauly Fuemana: Otara's star flared but briefly |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/national/obituaries/3299537/Pauly-Fuemana-Otaras-star-flared-but-briefly|work=Dominion Post|publisher=Scoop.co.nz|date=8 February 2010 |accessdate=26 February 2010}}</ref> Fuemana and his younger brother Pauly Fuemana recorded two tracks as the new band for producer Alan Jansson's Urban Pacifica collection, ''Proud''.<ref name=dp/>

Pauly suggested that they shorten the band's name to just the initials, and thereafter, he and Jansson were OMC. Pauly became the public face of the band and its primary performer, serving as the frontman and playing several instruments during performances and tours. However, the music was created by both of them, with Jansson co-writing all of the tracks and handling most of the arrangement and production duties in the studio. The OMC reached worldwide fame in 1995 with the single "How Bizarre", from the debut album of the same name.<ref name=stuff>{{cite news|title=Musician Pauly Fuemana dies|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/music/3279406/Pauly-Fuemana-dies|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130223053212/http://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/music/3279406/Pauly-Fuemana-dies|url-status=dead|archive-date=2013-02-23|work=Stuff.co.nz|date=2010-01-31|accessdate=2010-01-31}}</ref>

== Discography ==

===Albums with Fuemana===

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |- ! rowspan="2" | Year ! rowspan="2" | Title ! rowspan="2" | Details ! Peak chart positions |- ! NZ<ref name="charts">{{cite web|title=DISCOGRAPHY FUEMANA|url=https://charts.nz/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Fuemana|publisher=charts.nz|accessdate=6 September 2013}}</ref> |- | 1994 | ''New Urban Polynesian'' | * Label: Deepgrooves Entertainment * Catalogue: DG018 | align="center" | — |- |colspan="4" style="font-size:90%" align="center" | "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. |- |}

===Singles with Fuemana===

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |- ! rowspan="2" width="1em" | Year ! rowspan="2" | Title ! width="3em" | Peak chart positions ! rowspan="2" | Album |- ! NZ<ref name="charts"/> |- |1991 |"Dangerous Love" (as Houseparty) | align="center" | | align="center" | |- | rowspan="3" | 1994 | "Rocket Love" | align="center" | — | rowspan="3" | ''New Urban Polynesian'' |- | "Closer" | align="center" | 35 |- | "Seasons" | align="center" | — |- |colspan="4" style="font-size:90%" align="center" | "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. |- |}

=== Discography with OMC ===

=== In compilations === {| class="wikitable" |+ !Year !Title !Album |- |2006 |"I Lov U" |''Urban Gospel Volume one''<ref>{{Citation |title=Various - Urban Gospel Volume one |date=2006 |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/27802113-Various-Urban-Gospel-Volume-one |access-date=2025-11-06 |language=en}}</ref> |}

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *[http://www.audioculture.co.nz/people/phil-fuemana AudioCulture] Phillip Fuemana at AudioCulture

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fuemana, Phil}} Category:1964 births Category:2005 deaths Category:New Zealand people of Niuean descent Category:New Zealand Māori musicians Category:20th-century New Zealand male singers Category:New Zealand singer-songwriters Category:Musicians from Auckland Category:Taranaki (iwi)