An internationally renowned electronic music event is coming to town. Connecting club culture to the wider world, on screen and through parties, film and video, the London based music broadcaster and club promoter Boiler Room has set their sights on the Pacific, kicking off with a series of events this weekend in Rarotonga.

A lineup of international and local DJs with Cook Islands heritage will descend on the island this week.

On Friday at The Edgewater Resort, they will be put through their paces with a private workshop learning traditional drumming and ukelele. From 1pm the DJs will become the mentors with a free public workshop for budding DJs age 16 and over. 

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On Saturday afternoon local sponsor Vaiana’s Bistro and Bar will be transformed into Boiler Room Rarotonga for a one off club night. Tickets for the Saturday event went live at 12pm Tuesday and ran out by 3pm. Tickets for Friday afternoons workshop were still available at the time of publication. 

In an interview with Cook Islands News, Pulotu Underworld, the arts collective behind Boiler Room Rarotonga, explains how the event made it from the UK to the Cook Islands and what their hopes are after the Boiler Room.

Hailing from Rarotonga and Mangaia, Andytheheartthrob’s workshop will focus on incorporating key features in her sets such as acapella and dubbed vocals. BOILER ROOM/ 24011618

Event producer, dancer and DJ, Shakaiah Perez, known as Lady Shaka, planted the Boiler Room Pacific seed over lunch a year and a half ago in London, where she has lived for seven years. 

“I had a conversation with Armar Ediriwira, the creative director of Boiler Room, about a Boiler Room Pacific. Then I came to Raro where I met Gill.” 

Lady Shaka and local entrepreneur Gillian Evans threw ideas around over some laughs and drinks. 

Soon after Evans was signing a contract to be the “local run around” event organiser on the ground while the team was based overseas. They touched down in Rarotonga this week. 

“Everything has felt very aligned in this process,” says event producer and chairperson, Lucia Farron Diamantis.

Lady Shaka says the team is proud to bring talent from the Cook Islands diaspora back home to share knowledge, learn, and have an inter-country and cultural exchange. 

Midge Perez, event producer and Lady Shaka’s brother, says: “They’re able to do that and pay homage to their ipukarea, and their ancestors.”

The event is funded by Creative NZ, giving the collective the resources to host the DJs and crew the “island way”. 

“As Māori and islanders we make sure we look after people. We want the whole experience to give ‘islander’,” says Lady Shaka. 

Pacifica Arts Centre in Auckland funded the Friday workshops. 

“Jarcinda Stowers is an amazing woman. She’s connected with the arts scene but also the Cook Islands cultural scene. The stuff they’re doing at Pacifica Arts Centre is absolutely amazing.”

Vaiana’s Bistro and Bar is hosting Saturday’s event free of charge to the team, and to the public. 

“Shout out to Vaiana who owns the venue. She’s absolutely fabulous.” 

The collective has had immense local support to make the event a success.

“For them it’s something new and fresh. They could see the potential of us shining a spotlight on the Pacific in a way that hasn’t been seen or done before,” says Perez.

They acknowledged local businesses who have rallied support for the week of their stay: The Edgewater Resort, Polynesian Car Rentals, Crown Beach Resort and Koka Lagoon Cruises.

Working with a team across the world, time and cultural differences were the biggest challenge. Midnight meetings were the norm, with organisers spread out in London, Auckland and Rarotonga. Navigating the UK way of business as a collective of Pasifika made for a few laughs with the mics off on Zoom. 

“But nothing has ever felt too overwhelming. This is one of the first projects I’ve worked on where I’ve felt fully supported and we’re all on the same team. We all have the same goal. As a producer I want to continue on this kaupapa and continue caring for everyone,” gushed Farron Diamantis.

Evans says local interest has been “through the roof” with requests to book tables for Saturday’s event, but “it’s first in first serve,” as the venue is at full capacity.

She encourages ticket holders to show up on time before the 3pm start on Saturday to give each DJ a full crowd.  

Farron Diamantis notes that Boiler Room social media channels are being inundated with requests from other islands to host the next event. 

“Everyone’s feeling excited like they’re part of it,” she says.

The DJs and crew are looking forward to showcasing Cook Islands culture, and Pulotu Underground want to ensure this opens doors for events across the Pacific.

Lady Shaka says: “The whole idea is that it’s not just a Polynesian centred Boiler Room. A lot of the time Melanesia, Micronesia and countries like the Philippines get left out of the Pacific scope. We want to make it in the future that every year there’s a different Pacific island hosting whether it’s us or another Pacific collective.”

“We wanted to open the flood gates to be like ‘look at the Pacific’. It’s humongous. There’s so much talent and so much amazing sound that no one knows about. We’re hoping we can amplify those voices.

DJ K-Swizz from Aitutaki and Mauke is the 10 times World DJ Champion and 2023 DMC World Champion. BOILER ROOM/ 24011616

“It’s not just our DJs, there’s a live act as well. I’m excited for them to showcase the traditional side, and with the DJ’s they’ve got that electronic take on being an islander.”

Though Lady Shaka is a world-renowned DJ and artist in her own right, with NZ Māori, Samoan, Tahitian, Tokelauan and Cape Verdean ancestry, she won’t be on the decks this weekend, as she wanted the event to be authentically Kūki. 

Gearing up for the two-day event, Pulotu Underworld hope that the influence of Boiler Room Rarotonga rings out into the future, giving local talent a shining example of what they can achieve professionally in the music industry. 

Lady Shaka hopes that soon she won’t be the only Pasifika DJ on her sets internationally.

“I don’t want to be the only person on the line up at festivals that’s Pacific or Māori. I want that to change.” 

She says promoters need to do better because there’s so much untapped “Pacific excellence” (She adds a “pur” and a “periodt” full stop). 

“For me as an artist when I get the opportunity to give back to my people it feels amazing. That’s why we’re doing this.” 

Friday’s community workshop features DJs: Andytheheartthrob, Gat, Giddy, K-Swizz and Zeki. 

Saturday’s event lineup: DJ Ryn, Jarome Pare & Koka Boys, Styla, Ryn & Jnr, Ksya, Andytheheartthrob, Gat, Giddy, K-Swizz and Zeki.