Ep. 30 - Worship Rises From the Islands - The Power of Authentic Worship from Sam and Iva Koliloa of Sounds of the Nations Fiji
Release the Sound — A Podcast on Prophetic WorshipShow Notes
In this episode, my amazing guests from Sounds of the Nations Fiji, Sam and Iva Koliloa, emphasize the importance of authenticity and the impact of embracing their cultural roots in worship and beyond.
Hear how they navigate the balance between excellence in their worship and being led by the Holy Spirit. Learn how they raise up other leaders in their church and some of their stories as they have traveled the world releasing the sound of Fiji across nations. They talk about their roles as leaders, fostering and nurturing the generations of worshipers to come.
Sam and Iva also share an incredible testimony of when they lost their firstborn son, and how God spoke to them during this time of grief and gave them the grace and strength to trust and worship Him.
Sam and Iva are the Directors of Sounds of the Nations Fiji. They’ve been running this amazing ministry since 2016 after being commissioned by the Sounds of the Nations Global. They’ve been married for almost 11 years. Sam, a musician, and Iva, a worship leader, are passionate about seeing worship leaders rise up and take their place in places of influence; through songs of deliverance, healing, and revival. They equip and empower worshippers to appreciate their authentic God-given sound by releasing it to the nations. Sam and Iva enjoy traveling and connecting with people and are always excited about the greater things God has for them.
More from Release the Sound — A Podcast on Prophetic Worship
👉 Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/xE-umOmC4G0Host: Roma WatermanGuest: Judd Field — Singer/Songwriter, Session Vocalist, Melbourne Gospel Choir, Creative Director for When God Sings Episode Theme: The prophetic creation of the song Like a Child from Roma’s new project When God Sings—shows how a “single-section” song became a powerful, Spirit-led experience through surrender, collaboration, and spirit-led backing vocals. Plus: the short film-style music video born from a vision of a pilgrim running to the secret place all came from step by step leading by the Holy Spirit, to create a beautiful worship song that is the introduction to the album. If you’ve ever wondered what it looks like to co-write with the Holy Spirit, or how a worship song becomes a prophetic encounter, this episode will deeply encourage you — whether you're a songwriter, worship leader, or someone hungry for more of God's presence in creativity. 📖 Here's What We Discussed 00:00 – “No idolatry here”: Worship that redirects adoration to God00:56 – Roma welcomes you to Release the Sound: the When God Sings series01:40 – Why this project is a prophetic experiment, not just another album02:58 – Meet Judd Field and his background (Melbourne Gospel Choir, TV credits, major artists)04:56 – Song focus: Like a Child — first listen and that “build, build, build” structure06:50 – Why repeating two sections worked (and why it didn’t feel repetitive)08:46 – The “finished” paradox: when the song tells you it’s done10:20 – Holy Spirit vs hype: you can’t replicate anointing12:30 – How the album ministered to Judd in a tough season14:03 – Prophetic backing vocals: God “joining” the song and then “singing back”16:45 – Vocal layers as invitation: from “Your secret place” to “I run to You”18:48 – The video vision: a pilgrim running to the mountain21:05 – Hildegard of Bingen: commissioning artists to “draw the vision”22:40 – Why Roma resisted being on camera—and why it mattered24:45 – Covering the project in prayer & intercession26:35 – The prophetic challenge: don’t hold your gifts too tightly27:40 – “Maybe it becomes complete when the yes comes out of our mouth.”29:11 – Closing thoughts & invitation to listen to Like a Child
What were the first Christmas songs?
As worship leaders and servers in the church, we’re entering what can be both the most beautiful and most demanding time of the year.
Today worship teams face all kinds of different challenges; Technical constraints, managing volunteer logistics, avoiding burnout, and the list goes on. Tim Koh and I dive into the joys and challenges of cultivating a thriving worship ministry. We discuss how to foster authentic relationships, empower each team member, and encounter God’s presence in the midst of imperfect circumstances.
How is God moving in India’s churches through local worship? Allen Ganta shares his testimony of witnessing and being a part of his country’s song of worship being revealed. His initiatives to mentor young worship leaders and organize songwriting camps are nurturing a new generation committed to worship; A creative renaissance within Indian churches is happening!