BIO
Andrew Faleatua is an internationally recognized film composer whose work spans five feature films (appearing in mainstream cinemas worldwide), numerous short films, television series, commercial jingles, and other screen media. In 2026, he completed the score for Rebecca Tansley’s feature film TENOR: My Name is Pati, set for nationwide cinema release in March, as well as Netball Australia’s documentary For Court and Country directed by Taofia Pelesasa released earlier this year. He also recorded Tusalava with STROMA and Isitolo Alesana to accompany Len Lye’s 1929 film for upcoming exhibitions at the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery | Len Lye Centre later in 2026 (a follow-up from STROMA's live accompaniment of Len Lye’s 1929 film Tusalava in 2025). Alongside this, Andrew is currently finalising the mix of a jazz album featuring works composed during his tenure as a Jazz Composer-in-Residence at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington. This album explores a groundbreaking integration of indigenous Samoan musical practices within a jazz harmonic and improvisational framework.
Andrew is also an educator and interdisciplinary scholar. His teaching vision is to help students discover their unique musical voices. He is also dedicated to advancing Pasifika representation and participation in tertiary music education. His work is grounded in the Samoan proverb 'o le ala i le pule o le tautua' (The path to leadership is through service). His research focuses on the music of Pasifika peoples, with a particular interest in how notions of cultural authenticity and identity manifest in collaborative music-making, particularly those involving indigenous Samoan musical practices.
SELECTED COMPOSITIONS
• 2026: Currently composing music for director and animator Jacob Luamanuvae-Su’a's Song of Sina series (Jacob is known for his work as a lead animator for several Hollywood blockbusters such as Godzilla x Kong (2024) and Deadpool and Wolverine (2024)).
• 2026: Currently composing music for the feature documentary Ata Boys, produced by Tikilounge Productions, soon to be released on major local television networks.
• 2026: Composed music for Rebecca Tansley's feature-length documentary Tenor about Pene Pati and Amitai Pati (of Sol3 Mio). In mainstream cinemas from the 5th of March.
• 2025: Composed music for Netball Australia’s television documentary For Court and Country directed by Taofia Pelesasa.
• 2025: Composed music for STROMA’s live accompaniment of Len Lye’s short film Tusalava, as part of Anemic Cinema in the Lōemis Festival.
• 2025: Composed music for the short film I Am Not Your Dusky Maiden, directed by Vea Mafile'o.
• 2024: Composed music for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Ceremonial Opening Soundscape, Apia, Samoa.
• 2024: Composed music for the short film KUI by Kakaia Productions.
• 2024: Composed music for Moemoana Safa'ato'a Schwenke’s Miss Pacific Islands Beauty Pageant Siva Afi (fire dance).
• 2023: Composed music for Tikilounge's children's television production Hanseli and Gretala on Fresh Fairytales, released on the FreshTV and TheCoconetTV networks.
• 2022: Composed music for Behind Tomorrow (contemporary dance feature film) by Threading Frames (featured in the Cinedans FEST 2024, Eye Filmmuseum, Amsterdam).
• 2022: Directed and composed music for Fo'i Mai Pepe (a short film project funded by Creative New Zealand, featured in the Sydney Pasifika Film Fest in Nov 2022).
• 2022: Composed music for the Sydney-based short film Untitled by Satiu Studios.
• 2021: Composed soundtrack for Once a Panther, stuff.co.nz, funded by NZ On Air (featured in New York Times Square).
• 2021: Composed jingle for Soul Sessions on Tagata Pasifika, Rhema Media Network, Pasifika TV, Oriana TV (NZ On Air).
• 2020: Arranged music for Threading Moments by Threading Frames.
• 2020: Composed soundtrack for feature film Mama’s Music Box, M2S1 Films and Cadness Street Limited.
• 2020: Composed soundtrack for feature film Take Home Pay, M2S1 Films and Cadness Street Limited.
• 2018: Composed soundtrack for feature film Hibiscus and Ruthless, M2S1 Films and Cadness Street Limited.
• 2016: Composed soundtrack for feature film Three Wise Cousins, M2S1 Films.
• 2016: Composed a series of musical works for Tala Matavai (dance event), directed by Matavai Pacific Cultural Arts.
• 2015: Composed a series of musical works for Come Together Pasifika (dance event), directed by Matavai Pacific Cultural Arts.
GRANTS AND AWARDS
2023 - 2026: Visiting Research Fellow, University of Huddersfield
2024: Jazz Composer-in-Residence CNZ Grant
2023: Creative New Zealand Global Digital Artwork Research Fund
2022: Creative New Zealand Pacific Arts Grant
QUALIFICATIONS
2019: PhD, The Sydney Conservatorium of Music, University of Sydney
2014: MMus (First Class), University of Auckland
2013: BMus Hons (First Class), University of Auckland
2012: BMus, University of Auckland
SCHOLARSHIPS
2015 - 2019: Australian Postgraduate Award
2015 - 2019: Anne Reid Memorial Trust Scholarship
2014: University of Auckland Graduate Scholar Award
2013: University of Auckland Graduate Scholar Award
Andrew Faleatua is an internationally recognized film composer whose work spans five feature films (appearing in mainstream cinemas worldwide), numerous short films, television series, commercial jingles, and other screen media. In 2026, he completed the score for Rebecca Tansley’s feature film TENOR: My Name is Pati, set for nationwide cinema release in March, as well as Netball Australia’s documentary For Court and Country directed by Taofia Pelesasa released earlier this year. He also recorded Tusalava with STROMA and Isitolo Alesana to accompany Len Lye’s 1929 film for upcoming exhibitions at the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery | Len Lye Centre later in 2026 (a follow-up from STROMA's live accompaniment of Len Lye’s 1929 film Tusalava in 2025). Alongside this, Andrew is currently finalising the mix of a jazz album featuring works composed during his tenure as a Jazz Composer-in-Residence at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington. This album explores a groundbreaking integration of indigenous Samoan musical practices within a jazz harmonic and improvisational framework.
Andrew is also an educator and interdisciplinary scholar. His teaching vision is to help students discover their unique musical voices. He is also dedicated to advancing Pasifika representation and participation in tertiary music education. His work is grounded in the Samoan proverb 'o le ala i le pule o le tautua' (The path to leadership is through service). His research focuses on the music of Pasifika peoples, with a particular interest in how notions of cultural authenticity and identity manifest in collaborative music-making, particularly those involving indigenous Samoan musical practices.
SELECTED COMPOSITIONS
• 2026: Currently composing music for director and animator Jacob Luamanuvae-Su’a's Song of Sina series (Jacob is known for his work as a lead animator for several Hollywood blockbusters such as Godzilla x Kong (2024) and Deadpool and Wolverine (2024)).
• 2026: Currently composing music for the feature documentary Ata Boys, produced by Tikilounge Productions, soon to be released on major local television networks.
• 2026: Composed music for Rebecca Tansley's feature-length documentary Tenor about Pene Pati and Amitai Pati (of Sol3 Mio). In mainstream cinemas from the 5th of March.
• 2025: Composed music for Netball Australia’s television documentary For Court and Country directed by Taofia Pelesasa.
• 2025: Composed music for STROMA’s live accompaniment of Len Lye’s short film Tusalava, as part of Anemic Cinema in the Lōemis Festival.
• 2025: Composed music for the short film I Am Not Your Dusky Maiden, directed by Vea Mafile'o.
• 2024: Composed music for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Ceremonial Opening Soundscape, Apia, Samoa.
• 2024: Composed music for the short film KUI by Kakaia Productions.
• 2024: Composed music for Moemoana Safa'ato'a Schwenke’s Miss Pacific Islands Beauty Pageant Siva Afi (fire dance).
• 2023: Composed music for Tikilounge's children's television production Hanseli and Gretala on Fresh Fairytales, released on the FreshTV and TheCoconetTV networks.
• 2022: Composed music for Behind Tomorrow (contemporary dance feature film) by Threading Frames (featured in the Cinedans FEST 2024, Eye Filmmuseum, Amsterdam).
• 2022: Directed and composed music for Fo'i Mai Pepe (a short film project funded by Creative New Zealand, featured in the Sydney Pasifika Film Fest in Nov 2022).
• 2022: Composed music for the Sydney-based short film Untitled by Satiu Studios.
• 2021: Composed soundtrack for Once a Panther, stuff.co.nz, funded by NZ On Air (featured in New York Times Square).
• 2021: Composed jingle for Soul Sessions on Tagata Pasifika, Rhema Media Network, Pasifika TV, Oriana TV (NZ On Air).
• 2020: Arranged music for Threading Moments by Threading Frames.
• 2020: Composed soundtrack for feature film Mama’s Music Box, M2S1 Films and Cadness Street Limited.
• 2020: Composed soundtrack for feature film Take Home Pay, M2S1 Films and Cadness Street Limited.
• 2018: Composed soundtrack for feature film Hibiscus and Ruthless, M2S1 Films and Cadness Street Limited.
• 2016: Composed soundtrack for feature film Three Wise Cousins, M2S1 Films.
• 2016: Composed a series of musical works for Tala Matavai (dance event), directed by Matavai Pacific Cultural Arts.
• 2015: Composed a series of musical works for Come Together Pasifika (dance event), directed by Matavai Pacific Cultural Arts.
GRANTS AND AWARDS
2023 - 2026: Visiting Research Fellow, University of Huddersfield
2024: Jazz Composer-in-Residence CNZ Grant
2023: Creative New Zealand Global Digital Artwork Research Fund
2022: Creative New Zealand Pacific Arts Grant
QUALIFICATIONS
2019: PhD, The Sydney Conservatorium of Music, University of Sydney
2014: MMus (First Class), University of Auckland
2013: BMus Hons (First Class), University of Auckland
2012: BMus, University of Auckland
SCHOLARSHIPS
2015 - 2019: Australian Postgraduate Award
2015 - 2019: Anne Reid Memorial Trust Scholarship
2014: University of Auckland Graduate Scholar Award
2013: University of Auckland Graduate Scholar Award
