Joy, hard times, old times and changing times – Pacific Island musicians capture it all in song.

And it's not restricted to what you might call "traditional" music – we fold in the musical influences of wherever we end up in the world.

The result is Pasifika rock n roll, hip hop, RnB, any genre – you name it!

So, are there common threads that tie Pacific artists together, and how do we make sure those stories continue to be heard?

You'll hear from Aunty Kamoia about the songs of Kiribati, how Charles Maimarosia is sharing the stories of his Solomon Islands' village on stages all around the world, and why Lefaoali'i Dr Dion Enari thinks there is a renaissance of young Pacific Islanders listening to the music of their elders.

Culture Compass was produced by Deadset Studios for ABC Radio Australia.