Voice of Siora

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Voice of Siora International Music Competition

1574 - Luah'u

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Siora Has Spoken: Florinthus Has Taken Gold

After months of anticipation, the first ever Voice of Siora Song competition Live Phase has been held in Luah’u!

Day one of the contest revved spirits for spectators and contestants alike.  Momi Visual Arena, packed to the brim with 8,500 bodies, became the most densely populated few square kilometers in all several hundred islands of Luah’u.

Luah idol Leialoha Mei Palakiko first took the stage to set the mood for the next two days with a soulful acapella rendition of Mele inoa, a name chant honoring the current Luah Matriarch Huali La Pukealani.  Under a single spotlight, with the Momi Visual Arena bathed in silence, Leialoha Mei enchanted her audience with her first doleful note, her song slowly enrapturing the listeners and lulling them into a sense of palakaiko - paradise.  As the young star continued into the first verses of her song, the screens behind her came to life with videos of idyllic Luah scenery: waves gently lapping the shore of a secluded island, glimpses of a colorful sunset through a palm tree grove, spearfishermen hard at work in a pristinely turquoise lagoon, and vignettes of the bustling Luah capital of Kakuahine.  


Leialoha Mei welcomes the audience and contestants to Luah’u.

With the hauntingly beautiful notes of her welcoming song still echoing in the eager hush of the venue, Leialoha Mei put the excitement into overdrive as her band joined in for a rousing rock ‘n roll party anthem.  Those unaccustomed to Luah culture were introduced to an important aspect of modern life: poppy, upbeat drumlines and heavy guitar riffs.

Complemented by traditional performances, the arena was a deafening chorus of elated cheers and driving music, and that was just the beginning of the night!


A kalamena, or salamander, dazzles with a traditional fire dance.




A symbol of royalty and glamour, pink hibiscus petals rain from the sky over the audience.

Day two of the competition saw each nation, some still riding the high of having taken with them the two points from the preliminary vote and others anxiously hoping to come out as the dark horse of the competition, performed onstage with Momi Visual Arena's effects at their disposal: huge crystal screen displays, hundreds of lights, trapdoors and moving floor pieces, projectors and pyrotechnics.  And of course, they brought with them their own visionary talent.

Show ContentClick Here to see highlights from the Voice of Siora 1574 Live Phase in Luah'u:

Kent sets the peaceful tone of their songVar är vi nu using simple lighting.




The Tiger Lillies show that bringing serious competition doesn't always have to be serious.




One of the few hip hop artists in the competition, MC Solaar earns a thunderous applause.




Metsaklaani's equipment incorporates Karjelinn's national and most sacred animal, the reindeer.




Arcayna is feeling a win with their song Feel The Wind!




Krokodil's Lukas Strobel looks concerned as the fog machines separate him from the lawyers who were serving as his backup dancers.




Marina Devyatova blends cultures in her performances, so for her song Kalinka, a number of traditional costumes are worn.

Although every performance was spectacular, there could be only one winner at the end of the night, and that honor has been awarded for the very first time to Florinthus for their entry DNA by the band Empire of the Sun.  With a unique sound that combines synthpop and glam rock, Empire of the Sun thrilled the audience and wowed the judges.   Their flamboyant costume designs added to their alienesque aura and gave us all the impression that these artists were otherworldly.  The race to the gold medal was close with Nyland's Kent nipping at Florinthus' heels and the two flip-flopping first and second places during the entire final voting phase, but Florinthus managed to secure their spot on the winner's pedestal by a four point margin.




And so we give another hearty congratulations to our first place winner Florinthus!  We look forward to seeing you host the next Voice of Siora International Music Competition!

The Voice of Siora committee also extends a big congratulations to second-place winner Kent from Nyland, and third-place winner Metsaklaani of Karjelinn.  

Click here to see how each nation distributed its points!

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Lift up your voices, Siora!™