A talent worth your special event

Twenty-five-year-old saxophonist Evan Wemin is making a name on social media with his original local flavoured saxophone musical tunes.
Wemin had been attracting recognition from his musical compositions posted on YouTube channel and Instagram page.
These had led to him being engaged to perform in social gatherings and events around the country.
The latest had been his performance at the 40th wedding anniversary of Pastors Peter and Carol Solomon at a hotel in Port Moresby recently.
Wemin – of Chimbu, Central and Milne Bay parentage – had learnt about the saxophone at the arts school at University of Papua New Guinea.
He did not complete his studies at the arts school so he was unable to learn about the saxophone as a musical instrument and how to play it.
Wemin decided to teach himself how to use notes and keys on the instrument to put melody to a tune and create music tracks.
“I taught myself how to play the saxophone because I was interested in that instrument,” he said.
“I have a channel on YouTube called Mogia Evan where I usually post key PNG gospel music.
“If there is a hit song, I create my own version using my saxophone and I post it.
“It’s just a hobby, an initiative that I created and I get feedback from all over the world, from people as far as the US and it’s really encouraging.”
Wemin got into playing the saxophone about seven years ago and he started his YouTube channel and Instagram page three years ago.
It was through his YouTube channel that his talent was identified and he was invited by the organisers of a 40th wedding anniversary of Pastors Peter and Carol Solomon to perform on May 29.
He stole the show with his tunes of gospel songs that touched the hearts of those who attended the event.
Wemin said he loved his saxophone because it was expensive and it created the best music that was suiting to the heart.
He bought his saxophone for about K3,000 five years ago and he had kept it well.
“It’s mainly PNG music and I’m a proud Papua New Guinean and I love to promote the music through my YouTube and Instagram page,” he said.
“They saw my YouTube and Instagram and that was how they invited me to attend this event.
“I was told to create 10 tracks so I stayed up whole night and prepared myself.
“I created a track for one of the worship songs and I played it on the evening of the wedding anniversary.
“I felt so honoured and motivated when I performed at the 40th wedding anniversary of Pastors Peter and Carol Solomon.

“It was beautiful.
“I actually loved playing with other musicians because we’re all church musicians and that’s where I started.”
Wemin had two brothers and a sister and he lived in Sogeri, outside Port Moresby.
He attended his primary school at Gordon International School and then went onto Port Moresby International School.
“I studied music at UPNG’s art school but I taught myself how to play the saxophone.
“I just enjoy PNG music and it’s much easier to play the music with other versions like samba.
“By looking at the saxophone, it may seem difficult but it’s very easy to learn.
“I’m self-taught so if I teach, they have to be able to keep up with me.
“I usually teach the way I learnt the instrument.
“I love learning new instruments, especially those that are not very popular like the saxophone.”
Weming said one exciting thing about music was that he got to travel for free all over PNG.
“I have been travelling for free, accommodation and airfares all paid for and I get there to perform,” he said.
“It’s all about exposure and getting out, this is the field that I want to make money with, start a studio and teach.”
Wemin said PNG did not have laws to support musicians so the industry was not up to standard.
“The challenging thing for me is that I’ve created a lot of songs but I’m afraid to expose them because someone will pick them up,” he said.
“I’m also a songwriter, I’ve written a lot of praise and worship songs.
“My advice to young people
is to stay focused and find a purpose.
“Once you find your purpose, then you are going in the right road.
“It took me practice, time and pain to get to where I am and I urge the young people to be in the right spot morally.
“The best performance I did was two years ago in Lae at the Christmas Concert at the Assemblies of God Church in Eriku.”
Wemin was considering venturing into establishing a studio for his music so he could make money out of it.
“Right now, I’m performing for free but I hope to start properly soon so I can make a bit of money,” he said.
“You can find me on my YouTube channel on Mogia Evan or my Instagram page.”