New Zealand-born Samoan artist, Metitilani Lani Alo says returning home and participating in the Motherland Samoa concert is an honour and a milestone in his music journey.

In an interview with the Samoa Observer, Lani said he will be singing one of his debut singles "Alo i ou faiva". The track was a hit when it was released on social media in 2019.

"Nothing really to achieve from this culture. I'm just really glad to be home. A lot of the artists that were on the line-up, we all get together in a way and in the circle that know me," he said. "We want to put on a good show and have fun, every other gig we were doing, we were out touring New Zealand and Australia and now this is the trip for us, a bit of work and pleasure.

"What I'm working on at the moment is I've been working on my last music video since last year."

Lani's single "Alo i ou faiva" which hit the big time in 2019 capped a stellar year for the young singer. He was the E.F.K.S. Te Atatu Junior Youth Choir Director and won the Auckland Council's Best Pacific Gospel Artist at the 2018 Pacific Music Awards, after being a finalist for the Best Worship Artist at the 2018 Vodafone NZ Music Awards.

Since 2019, the 29-year-old has been taking a break from his choir work to focus on his music career. His 'Alo i ou Faiva' single features Livingstone Efu, a newcomer to the Pacific Aotearoa music scene with Lani saying the song began with his habit of "just jamming in the kitchen" that stretches as far back as 2014. It has since progressed into the emotional song it is today.

"The song came during a time of reflection because I’m from Auckland but I’m currently in school in Dunedin," he said in previous interviews with the Samoa Observer.

"I was missing home and it was a cold winter evening in 2014, and I was just thinking about my parents and jamming."

The song began with just a chorus; it was then left to sit until 2018.

"When I had an opportunity to open for a Tevaka concert that was held here in Dunedin, but because of some admin issues we didn’t go ahead with the gig, but we had already prepped a verse of the song," said Lani Alo.

"The song developed over time and then we used it for our university get-together last year and from there, the song progressed. We finished the song, we added a verse, me and my uso Livingstone, and we added the rap. 

The son of Lea'ana Taeao and Avei Alo from Sa'anapu, Malie, Maagiagi and Lalomalava is the youngest of three children. 

Born and bred in Auckland New Zealand, the music major is currently studying indigenous music and preparing for his Master's Degree at the Otago University in Dunedin.

He made the song to reach every Samoan across the globe that is going through what he went through and says that he wants to "fofo"  (heal).