They are young, beautiful, energetic, talented and very proud of their Tongan heritage. In the music realm they are known as 676 (the country code for the Kingdom of Tonga), the dynamic female duo whose debut album “Movin’ On” sets them apart from all other Pacific Islander music artists. They have a unique sound, one that can’t be boxed into one specific music genre. They thrive on taking risks with their music and hope that it will ignite a desire in all Pacific Islander music artists to create music that fully represents their experiences, background and heritage. Their album “Movin’ On” is a coming-of-age story about their musical journey, past relationships, amazing friendships, endurance, survival and so much more.

On a more personal note, they are known by their close family and friends as Neti Taumoepeau and Finau Afeaki and they have been singing together since they were in high school. The Pacific Eye Magazine was fortunate enough to sit down with these two remarkable young women to talk-story about their new album, their love of music, and their deep gratitude for those who continue to support them!

PEM: When did you discover your love for music?
NT: At home my family was very musically talented and when I was young my older brothers and sisters had a band, but I think it was the influence of my older sister Nia, because she was always singing and so I was always surrounded with music and because of that I have always loved to listen to music and to create music.

FA: We both come from very musically talented families. I grew up in Tonga with my mom teaching hula and every single Polynesian dance there is. We had a dance studio in Tonga and I remember this band would always practice at our house and I would sneak in and try to harmonize with them as they were singing. I think I came into this world loving music.

PEM: How would you describe the kind of music that 676 create?
NT: I don’t think we really fit into one specific genre. We do R&B and reggae, but we also have some dance hall and hip-hop tracks and so we are basically all over the board. You know, Tongans are just so musically talented and I think that sometimes they limit themselves to one genre of music when they really have the talent to make music that can encompass all genres.

FA: We are very eclectic, when you pop in our CD you can listen from track #1 through the whole album and you can hear a little bit of all genres of music, we try to hit everything.

PEM: What made you two decide to go with a more versatile style?
FA: We wanted people to know that as Tongans we can do everything. Yeah R&B and hip-hop is mostly an African American dominated industry, but we could do it too, we really can. On our album we don’t have any Island reggae its really more dance hall and lovers-rock and more of a mainstream reggae and the album as a whole is a mainstream album, we basically wanted to move outside of the box.

NT: When I was growing up I was surrounded by R&B and hip-hop and so I have always loved that genre of music. We wanted others to know that you can always step out of the box. I mean music is music and if it’s something that you love all you have to do is put it out there and people will appreciate it.

PEM: Who in the music realm would you say inspires the music you create?
FA: Honestly we love the same types of music. I am more the reggae type

NT: We love Toni Braxton, I have always loved her deep voice. I love Mariah Carey, her song writing is awesome and so is her singing.

FA: We love En Vogue, especially their harmonies because we do a lot of harmony in our album.

NT: yeah and Destiny’s Child, SWV, and many others.

PEM: Where did the name 676 come from?
NT: We wanted something that would distinguish where we were from but that wouldn’t limit us to one genre of music.

FA: When you say 676? People automatically ask how did you come up with that name and we so we get the opportunity to be ambassadors for Tonga. You know basically we get to tell people about Tonga “yeah, for the kingdom”

NT: It’s totally for the love of our heritage, our culture and where we come from. It’s also a name that other people who are Tongan can relate to.

PEM: If there was a message that you wanted to get across in this album, what would that message be?
FA: Neti has done most of the writing for the album so I will let her talk about that.

NT: It’s a lot of things. This album is called “Moving On” and it’s named after a track on the album. “Moving On” is about a relationship break up but it could also mean many things such as moving on in a relationship and for us, it’s about moving on in life and moving on in our careers.

FA: When Neti started writing the songs, after five months of recording I turned to Neti and said “geez Neti do you need someone to talk to, what’s going on sis, you sound like an angry woman?” There are a lot of female empowering songs and the message is basically “you can do it” and that no matter what just keep on moving on!

PEM: What inspired you to write the song “whenever you need me”?
NT: When I had written that song, the very first line of that song is “when you are on your own and your needing love child” my muse was my two nieces and nephew. I took a mother’s stance, wherever you go, wherever you are, whatever you are going through, whenever you need me, I will always be there. However, in the lyrics, I never really mention who this song was for because I wanted to keep it open so that those listening to it can come up with their own interpretations of the song.

FA: At the time when we were recording this song, one of our best friends was living in Tonga at the time. Neti would be in the studio recording the song and she would be sobbing and then I would go in there and I would be sobbing.

NT: Our friend and cousin Muimui has always been someone who believed in us and pushed us to do this album. We dedicated that song to her because she wasn’t here with us.

FA: We received so many emails about that song. We had a girl email us about her brother who passed away and she would play that song all night and cry because it reminded her of her brother.

NT: We also received an email from a girl who lost her father and a wedding couple who used it as their wedding song. And that’s exactly what we wanted was for people to come up with their own meaning of the song.

PEM: How has your Tongan culture and identity influenced your music?
NT: Whenever I am writing the lyrics to our songs, I try to keep in mind (of course because I am Tongan) that my guy cousins are going to hear this that my brothers are going to hear this music and I want to create music that you can listen to with your fathers and your brothers.

FA: The Tongan culture to me is centered around family. Neti is my twin and she is an extension of me and that comes from the Tongan culture because we are family, we are so close.

NT: There is a song in the album that is called “place to be” and of course it’s a clubbin’ dance track, but in the chorus it says “676 stand up we’re in the place to be” and basically we are calling all Tongans to stand up because this is their place to be.

PEM: Who would you say has been the most influential in your life?
FA: My whole family, but in particular, it would have to be my father. He has always been there for me, I am the prodigal daughter, but my father has been a constant in my life and has been a great example to me of perseverance. He has instilled in me that I can achieve anything, anything that I want to do in my life. Last year, I was in the hospital in the ICU, I was totally drugged and had an IV running through me and my father flew in to Chicago to come and see me. I have always known that my father loved me but when be bent down and hugged my face for a long time and I felt the tear drops I knew that he would always love me no matter what and that he would always be there.

NT: I would also have to say my family. My dad is our #1 fan, he can sit in front of our myspace all day and read everyone’s comments, my sister Nia, who is always pushing us to do better, my brother Duke who produces our music and he is a huge motivator also but if at the end of the day there is one person that I have in my mind to think about to keep me going throughout the day, it would have to be my mom! She pushes me every single day. She is the most selfless person I have ever known. I mean I am frickin’ 24 years old and she will still clean my room so that I can have more time to practice my singing and write my music. I remember our first show that we had in October 2006, she stayed up all night sewing our outfits and before we go on stage she will look us up from head to toe and tell us “don’t dance too much on stage,” “you need more eyeliner,” “you need more make up,” “make sure you drink your tea,”. I would never be able to do what I do if it weren’t for her!

PEM: What advice would you give to aspiring music artists?
NT: Don’t give up! Drive will get you anywhere! I would take drive over talent any day. Have the determination and you will accomplish anything. If you have a goal and you have that drive behind it you will accomplish it.

FA: Yes, that is our message, “you can do it”! “Don’t give up!”

676 will be performing live on Thursday, March 29, 2007 The Independent in San Francisco, CA. For more information about their concert and how to order their debut album, please go to http://www.myspace.com/six7six