George Mamua Telek: Serious Tam

George Mamua Telek hails from Raluana, on New Britain, Papua New Guinea, and has managed a merger between his roots and the machinery of global pop. Specifically, producer David Bridie, from the Australian band Not Drowning Waving, brings Telek into popish relief, layering on guitars, backbeats and synth sounds on the album Serious Tam. A singer of no small talents, Telek shows his interest in exploring indigenous roots, but there are genuine Beatlesque roots, as well, and enough echoes of Peter Gabriel to make one wonder about a trickle-down “company sound” over at Realworld. Most of the lyrics are in the Tolai tongue, Kuanuan and Tok Pisin (Pidgin English) and recount the life of the Tolai people, then and now.

Originally Published July 1, 2001