Many athletes listen to music to get themselves hyped up for games, to calm down after games and to get through training. But for some, it holds more than that. It connects them to culture and holds significant memories that last with them for a lifetime.
Enter Simi Sasagi, an athlete who has played football for most of his life. Simi started as a junior in New Zealand for the Ellerslie Eagles, but it wasn’t long before the NRL came calling in the form of the Newcastle Knights, picking up Simi as a novice 16-year-old and moving him an ocean away from his family to fulfil his dream of playing professionally.
On the 20th of May 2021 Simi Sasagi made his NRL debut against the Cowboys playing in the centre roll. Simi played a total of 16 NRL games for the Knights before the Raiders picked him up in 2024. Since his debut, Simi has played a total of 29 games spread across the two teams, scoring his first two tries in 2024.
As a lover of both football and music, I wanted to sit down with one of our local players and chat about how music can influence not only their game, but their lives.
What follows is my discussion with Simi about how music impacts his life and how it helps him to stay connected with family and culture. Prior to meeting up with Simi, I asked him to think about five songs that have impacted him in one way or another throughout either his life or his time since he has come to Australia.
Q: You’ve appeared in 29* NRL games for both the Canberra Raiders and the Newcastle Knights, played for the Junior Kiwis and flew to Australia when you were at a very young age, how has this shaped you as a person?
A: Footy has moulded my life, as you said I moved over (to Australia) young. Footy is kind of all I know and the relationship I have with all the boys goes a long way. Being a part of a professional environment has shaped me as a person and as a footy player.
Q: I asked you to consider a list of five songs, what was the first song that came to your mind?
A: My number one song it’s actually a Samoan song called ‘Rise’ by Lole Usoalii. It’s a song that I listen to every game day, it just helps me cool my nerves, I’m always a nervous kind of dude come game day and it talks about empowerment for our Samoan people, and obviously for me to come from a Samoan background, that’s probably why it’s one of my top songs.
Q: How important is that song to you, you speak about your Samoan background, was it a song that you listened to as you grew up?
A: It was a song that I grew up with, as coming from a Samoan background my music is a big part of my culture so being around my family and the culture, music is always playing and this song (Rise) is a song that relates to me it talks about empowerment of our people and helps me stay cool come game-day, I know some people like to listen to G-up music to pump them up but I’m one to stay cool and this song helps me stay cool in those moments
Q: Moving along, what was your second song that resonates with you?
A: I like listening to a bit of country or island jams, artists like Josh Tatofi and Maoli. I can’t really pin-point a song but probably that genre. Them two artists are ones that I always listen to; probably more island jams than anything.
Q: When thinking about both Country and Island Jams music, does that go back to childhood or have you been listening to it more recently?
A: I think music comes from childhood and I grew up with a big family where music is always pumping around when you’re young, and country and reggae is the most common genre. When I was growing up in a household with a big family, just being around that kind of scene, I have been drawn to that kind of music.
Q: You talked about R&B, where did that come from?
A: Yeah, same thing I’ve grown up around an island community where R&B is always around. People with Polynesian culture its popular so that’s where I get my taste of music from.
Q: Why are those different genres so significant to the role of music within your life?
A: Its the songs I have been drawn to, there are songs with lyrics that relate to my life. I guess when they talk about struggles or love, is something that is important to me and the connection I have with my family, some songs have lyrics that I can relate to, especially in both R&B and country songs.
Music is important to me and it carries a bit of emotion and some lyrics that I can take on board and relate to it. I think that’s what music means to me.
Q: Do you play a musical instrument at all?
A: Yeah I do, I play some piano. It’s not like I’m good at it but it runs through my family!
Q: Is there any certain song that you can play on the piano that you can go back to?
A: A couple of melodies, a song that I have been playing the most is ‘Back at One’ by Brian McKnight, I like playing the piano to that, there is a little intro to the start of that song that I learnt.
Q: Did you learn that particular song yourself or did someone teach you?
A: I taught that to myself, although I did have piano lessons when I was younger, because my dad is a really good piano player and in my family, everyone plays a musical instrument. So its something I grew up with, playing the piano.
Q: Was there a song that was significant to you when you moved to Australia to play for the Knights SG ball team?
A: Not when I first moved, I can’t remember a specific song. I moved over with a lot of the boys from New Zealand and it was…I don’t know I don’t think there was one particular song to help me get through it all, but I think it was that same song, ‘Rise’ by Lole. Obviously being a young kid moving over to Australia you can feel a bit lonely, but I think that song represents empowerment, that was the song I mostly listened to. But I couldn’t pin-point one song that helped me get through stuff when I first moved over.
Q: When you made your Debut for the Knights you talked about that Rise song, was that on your pre-game playlist before you ran out onto the field?
A: Yeah, that was one of the songs, there were a couple of songs on the playlist. That’s actually funny, because when I debuted I sang ‘Party in the USA’ by Miley Cyrus. It was a song I had to sing, where if you make your debut, it was a tradition back in Newcastle…you have to sing a song, in front of the boys. I will always remember that track; it was a song when I was a young kid, and it just popped up, and I was like sweet – that’s probably a song I can remember from when I made my debut.
Q: How important is it to connect with your heritage and culture through music?
A: It’s massive to me, culture is so important in my family and myself too. Music is a way to reconnect to my culture and helps me to stay grounded. It has helped me realise to be grateful for where I am and where I have been. Music is a way to help me reconnect with my culture.