Page 38 - IB October 2021

People People

NIUEAN

MUSICIAN,

ACTOR

AND

ENTREPRENEUR

GLEN JACKSON

By Rowena Singh ed to sing lead and it was a good introduction even though it
was a scary one.”
Niuean musician Glen Jackson did not know that he came In 2004, Jackson moved back to Auckland to chase his
from a musical family until he returned to the Rock in 1985. music, acting and producing career. He returned to Niue five
“Growing up in Otara [New Zealand], my mum introduced years ago.
me to the guitar, I was already fascinated with Michael Jack- “I got the opportunity to taste both worlds – to know what
son on MTV, I was listening to a lot of music and was being it’s like to have everything and know what it’s like to live off
influenced at an early age. local resources. Being resourceful of what you have, because
“When I came back to Niue to live with my grandmother in Bunnings is not down the road for us here in Niue. So Niue
1992, I found out that my grandfather had a family band and gave me that aspect of life and Auckland gave me that inter-
that my mum and her siblings were in a family band.” national feel outside of the Pacific and having the opportunity
When his older brothers bought some second-hand band to eventually tour around the world and do music.”
equipment in 1994, “That was the beginning of our family
band, Island Pride,” says Jackson. “I was introduced to the Pacific Hip Hop and R&B
bass guitar and backup vocals…Eventually my brothers said “Growing up in Auckland, hip hop, rap and R&B was what
Hey, you can start singing some songs as well and then I start- everyone was listening to,” says Jackson. “Then coming back

38 Islands Business, October 2021