The next generation of Marianas musicmakers

An island of music. Songs everywhere. Melodies, familiar as the smell of sea salt in the air. Poetic phrases, right?

Writing what one feels is a talent on its own, but transforming the words of a poet into an experience, something that people can not only relate to but feel and even cry to, that’s magical.

As a proud island girl, I am pleased to say my Marianas has a rich musical culture. From the beloved oldies to the ever-developing and changing music of our day and age, with it rises another generation of artists. And with the help of some trusted names in local music, I got to contact some young talents who are stepping out of their comfort zone and sharing their passion in music.

One of these talents is 10-year-old Francis Peter Nogis from Oleai Elementary School. From a tender age of 6, Peter has already gained notable stage experience, singing at gigs and community events. Even then, that was not the first time he began singing. Peter’s older brother, Phillip “Pio” Nogis, told TAGA Plus that Peter actually begun singing when he was just a toddler.

“He was just a little baby, and we would play All About the Bass by Meghan Trainor, and he would dance to it, and then all of a sudden, he would say words from it…” said Nogis “From there we let him sing few of our grandpa’s songs. He caught on easily and enjoyed it. When my grandpa passed away, that’s when he started singing for my grandpa. During my grandpa’s wake, he stood next to the body and he started singing for everyone, and everyone was freaking out because he was singing the song for my grandpa.”

Nogis shared that his and Peter’s grandfather, David Peter, had been one of the earliest singers in the Marianas to have a music record published, and was one of those who translated the CNMI national anthem to both Chamorro and Carolinian. And now young Peter not only carries his grandfather’s musical talent, but also his language skills—he can sing both in Chamorro and Carolinian, and recently learned a song in the Kosraean language.

As the youngest of eight children who all love to do music during get-togethers, Peter is, as Nogis said, “the only one serious about everything and he’s really eager to learn.”

Peter told TAGA Plus that he loves the CNMI oldies, and looks up to artists like Candy Taman and Alfred Saures. He said he wants to pursue music in the future, and create music like Saures and Taman, but with newer twists.

Despite his already extensive stage experience, Peter still gets nervous when he performs, but he has learned not to let it get to him and focus on continuing to “just vibe.”

Along with pursuing music in the future, Peter said he wants to learn to play musical instruments, and one day perform in Palau, Guam, and Japan.

Peter wants his music to make people feel happy and that you’re never too young to get involved in music. His message to other young people aspiring to be musicians? “You got it.”

That message is one similar to what 17-year-old singer-songwriter Sebastian Tajibmai believes in.

Tajibmai first gained attention online with his original song, Saipan Girl, which has about 15,000 views on YouTube alone, and even more recently gained a following after his 2023 audition on the Music Performing Arts Competition Corp.’s Marianas Got Talent: Battle of the Voices.

This Kagman High School senior told TAGA Plus that he knows there’s so many talents in the CNMI, but many may be too shy or afraid to show it. Tajibmai’s hope is that, by stepping out on these platforms and sharing his music, others will be encouraged to get out there as well and not be afraid to share their music.

“I want to kind of pave a way to let our people know, ‘Let’s represent our home and make our music,’” he said.

One artist Tajibmai looks up to is Josh Tatofi, whom he credits for teaching him how to use his voice.

“I had lost my passion for music a while ago because I didn’t think I could really measure up until I found his music. That’s when I started measuring my voice and practicing it. Because of his music, that’s how I got better. I really learned how to use my voice from him,” Tajibmai said.

Tatofi’s music also influenced Tajibmai’s style, which is island reggae and love songs. Tajibmai said he has several original songs, and that he is just waiting for the opportunity to record them in a studio.

His message to young artists? “We’ve got to represent. You know, we’re a small island with amazing musicians and music artists. … I have friends at school, but because no one has ever done it before that they don’t want to try and do it. …If no one has done it before…what’s stopping you? That’s all the more reason why you should do it.”

This tale of young musical talents would be incomplete if we don’t mention 17-year-old Bernice Shane Sabino. With an already impressive YouTube following reaching close to 150,000, this Mt. Carmel School student has been doing song covers since she was just 7, one of which went viral after catching the attention of pop singer Jessie J.

Recently, Sabino began veering toward more original music and she released her original song, Delusional, in April last year. With her new venture into songwriting, Sabino feels this medium helps her express more of how she feels inside “through things that I like to do, like singing, which is my passion.”

It was that feeling that propelled her into writing Delusional. “I had some feelings from a while ago and I thought maybe I should put it into a song and maybe it could inspire others to take their feelings and put it into their passion,” she said.

Sabino is now working on more original songs. Two sources of inspiration are Taylor Swift, for her songwriting abilities and her humility, and her dad, who continues to inspire her since she was younger. “He taught me how to sing, how to move, how to be confident… so yeah it’s always been my dad.”

Takirahis early, Sabino is looking into something that deals with the performing arts, in terms of a music career in the future.

“I feel like that’s something I really want to do. Anything music makes me go crazy. The dream would be to be able to be on a big stage, to inspire people to keep moving forward,” she said.

Her aim is to be celebrated for both her Filipino and Saipan roots. “I’m a Filipino, yes, but I grew up here for most of my life, so I would represent the Filipino community as well as the CNMI because I grew up here. Everything I’ve done was from here. All my singing acting and dancing were all from here. …

People who helped me become who I am today are from this island so I would represent this island and say I am from the CNMI, and there’s so many other talents here… just because it’s a small island doesn’t mean that the people in it are limited to small things. They can do great and big things.”