Tarvin Toune has been turning out iconic hit after iconic hit in the bars and clubs of Papua New Guinea and across the airwaves throughout Melanesia for more than a decade.

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Dropping out of school at the age of 14 to chase his dreams in the music industry, he quickly found the taste of making hits, as a vocalist in the band CBA (Critical Black Attitude) and the popular song “Haluma” in 2010.

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Tarvin then turned his focus to writing his own songs leading to his breakthrough in 2015. The release of three singles, Aiyo, Laikm Yu and Rowena, earned him the Rookie of the Year title at the nation’s premiere industry awards night, YumiFM PNG Music Awards.

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Since then, Tarvin has been a regular at these national awards nights, taking out YumiFM PNG Music Awards in 2016,2017,2018,2021,2023 and 2024. Including titles like Artist of the Year, Listeners Choice, and Song of the Year.

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Tarvin is of mixed New Ireland, Bougainville and Gulf Province parentage, but he was born and raised in the urban struggle of the PNG capital, Port Moresby and his music and lyrics reflect this environment.

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Known as the originator, the trendsetter, and “King TT” by his legion of long-time diehard fans, Tarvin’s signature PNG Ragga is unmistakeable - often copied but still un-matched.

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In January 2025, he released his first EP – The Comeback EP, a collec_on of six tracks, which pushed beyond his staples of the island reggae, PNG local and ragamuffin genres, to include afro-beats and RnB grooves.

 

Tarvin’s songs are based in the Tok Pisin language, but often include lyrics in all threedialects of his ethnic roots, but the 2024 EP also includes a sweet gem, with his first song in English.