BRIAN MAESULIA (JAG)

Brian Maesulia is a local household name, better known as JAG to his fans in Honiara, the capital of Solomon Islands. Music is Brian's gift, according to relatives, a legacy left behind by his paternal grandfather, an indigenous turned Christian in the highlands of Malaita Province who had skills in music that can only be acquired through formal education.

Exposure to music started in church for Brian as a 3 year old toddler from children's ministries to church choirs then into church groups, becoming a congregation hit and favorite with his unique voice. As a young boy, Brian's first icon was Michael Jackson, spending hours in front of a mirror singing to his beats, never realizing the gift bursting in him to be recognized.

Brian's shift out of the church scene came at the age of 16 when he joined in a high school competition and won the "Best Vocals" award. His voice not only knocked the crowd and judges, but it grabbed the attention of local home studios who offered to do recordings for free in recognition of his potential. His uniqueness continued to shine as he started working with other local artists, featuring in albums, most of it "doing it free for the love of music". His down-to-earth personality makes him a favorite among studios, easy to work with when doing records.

Punching voices isn't his style, always does perfect takes and waves. His first single to hit the airwaves was "Looking for love" in 2004 - a blend of rock and reggae. It became an instant hit on the local charts and Brian became a music sensation and icon to young artists, dubbed Solomon Islands' Bryan Adams. To this day, Brian's singing talent and unique voice continues to be the talk of the town among locals and expatriates alike, a "…blasting voice that can keep music lovers on their toes; but he now needs a big platform to become the voice of the people … beyond Solomon Islands." (Shiv Raj Bhatt, Advisor, Ministry of Foreign Affairs & External Trade, Solomon Islands).

Brian's big break locally as a young artist is hooking up with popular and high in demand local band, Too Good Boys (TGB) as lead vocalist in 2006. Always booked for a gig to date, TGB schedule range from fundraising drives, go-finish, birthday parties, weddings, private and official functions in town and the occasional provincial tours. However, there is high audience preference of "JAG on the microphone" when TGB takes stage, best summed by Diana Ghiba, Events Manager of Epic Events, Romania: "…amazed by his sweet voice and personally, with that voice and presence, he should be an international star."

On the name "JAG", some may confuse it with the popular clothing label, others with the American television drama. But for the young Solomon Islander, JAG is the acronym for "Just Another Guy". Brian states, "The name started with a collective group, with three main musicians - George Kuper, Sammy Aitorea and myself. It was JUG in reference to our time out after hours and going for the jugs of beer. But along the way, somehow it became my nickname so naturally when I decided to go solo, I used the name "JAG", same pronunciation but different spelling."

Skilled in playing the guitar, bass and keyboard, Brian developed his music through time and enjoys exploring different genres, any style thrown his way. In the studio or live on stage, Brian connects with his songs and music is "…my best escapism to fill in the gap".

His skills are not limited to music, Brian is a self-learner to being a proficient graphic designer and works for Solomon Islands' only television organization, One Television, as Director in the commercial department. He also does video editing of adverts and video clips of local artists.