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By JIMMY KALEBE
PRIMARY school teacher Max Ravu loved music so much that he has set up his own recording studio at a village in Lae.
His parents are from Central and Morobe. He has been a primary school teacher since 2006. His love for music drove him to get his music produced and sold.
It began in 2006 when Max and three others recorded 10 songs in a studio in Port Moresby.
After recording, he returned to Lae to wait for its release. It never came.
“I paid all the fees required to get that album recorded and released. But things turned out (contrary to what I thought.”
He decided then to produce his music and others who wanted to be assisted in that area too.
“I figured out the next cause of action. I started looking for digital recording software in 2014.”
Max did not know how to use the software. So he sought training on using it and slowly grasped the technique. He searched the internet for the relevant information until he felt confident he could master the skills.
But in the two years which followed, his music was criticised by people with some calling it “plastic music” and other disparaging comments. Those negative comments spurred him to further improve his musical production skills.
“ One thing that has to be done is for our music to be protected.”
In 2016, Max was teaching at the Tararang Primary School along the Highlands Highway in the Wampar local level government of Huon Gulf when he felt he had made a breakthrough with sound quality and production.
“I recorded several groups and the quality of the music I produced caught the attention of many who gave me positive feedbacks.”
He set up the PL Production Studio which up to today has recorded the music of 53 artists and bands from different parts of the country. 230 songs were recorded.
PL Production Studio sound engineer and producer Max Ravu in his studio at Munum Village outside Lae. – Nationalpic by JIMMY KALEBE
Some of the songs coming out of his little studio at Munum village outside Lae have instantly become a hit on the airwaves in the country.
They include Meri Busamang and Kareng Lewa by Kona Boys from Munum village, Hope by David Raings, Menyamya Tracey by Murumbu Off String, Ndungandma by Adjira Biems of Lae and Kumul blo PNG by the Crystal City gospel group.
Max is doing his best to lift the standard of music overall in PNG to make it more marketable here and abroad.
The biggest hurdle is those involved in music piracy – using other musicians’ work to benefit themselves.
“One thing that has to be done is for our music to be protected.”
He firmly believes there has to be a law to protect copyright to one’s own work and music so that no one else can benefit from it.
“Many musicians are not making money out of their work. The only time they make a little money is when they are invited to events.
“This industry has the potential to contribute to the economy and expose culture through music. The Government needs to understand this and amend laws to protect us in the industry.”
