He Mana'o - Musings from a Hawaiian Musician

Hello, is anyone there?

2010-09-05T09:24:00.001-07:00

Well, it's been a few months since my last entry and lot of things have happened in that time! It's official...the wheels are in motion for album number dos. In July, I returned home to Honolulu to start production on my second project working once again with wunderkind producer Dave Tucciarone. We crammed ourselves into his high-rise studio for 8 hour sessions to get the creative process rolling. I'm very excited about this next effort! Can't unveil too much as we are still very early in the process, but I can say that it will definitely be worth the wait. There will be a few more original compositions plus couple of songs where I collaborated with some very talented songwriter friends of mine in Hawai'i. Big mahalo to Lynn for all of your generous kokua during my stay! More details and updates coming soon! Stay tuned!!!

Hana Hou

2010-04-19T10:27:00.000-07:00

Well the pieces are finally falling in place for the follow up to my debut cd "Ho'omaka". It's been a long time coming, but I guarantee it'll be worth the wait! If all goes well, I should be sitting in the recording studio in a couple of months near my old stomping grounds in Honolulu, HI. I am really excited about this collection of mele and I also plan to feature a few surprise guest musician friends of mine this time around. Will be a blast and be sure stay tuned for more updates coming soon...

Creative Zone

2010-03-30T10:21:00.001-07:00

In the months before my debut cd release Ho'omaka (2006), there was no doubt that I was in somewhat of a creative zone. I had a clear vision, direction and complete dedication to finish this project and I was very focused. My producer Dave Tucciarone was also instrumental (no pun intended) in helping me stay on track. As I've prepared to record my follow-up, I've been missing a little of that same focus. That is up until now. Not sure what sparked the change, but lately I've been feeling that same drive that I felt in mid 2005. My rehearsal time has been more productive. My ideas more concise. My playing and singing more purposeful. All good signs that will hopefully put me back on the path I traveled a few years back. Here's to creative bliss and see you in the studio!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Aloha Friday Fun

2010-03-08T10:26:00.000-08:00

Had a great time performing at the inaugural Aloha Friday event at Gordon Biersch Bewery in San Jose last Friday night. Performed with my full trio including Brian Hill and Kawika Loo. Mahalo nui loa to Desiree AnJalique of Hula Halau 'O Makalapua for lending her wonderful hula performance to our set!

Photo: Bill Bush

Missing mele @ Mele?

2010-02-28T20:48:00.000-08:00

For those of you who have recently tried to order my cd "Ho'omaka" from mele.com, you may have noticed that it was "unavailable". Not to worry, as I've been communicating with them to advise of my recent distributor switch from AMI to Pacific Hawaiian. They assured that it would once again be fully in stock! Now if I can only get back into the studio to record my second CD!

Return to the East Bay!

2010-02-23T10:41:00.000-08:00

Join us at Tiki Tom's in Walnut Creek, CA this Saturday 2/27 from 6-9pm. It's been a while since we've visited the East Bay so should be a lot of fun! I'll have my usual stellar band with me featuring Kawika Loo on bass and Brian Hill on guitar! See you there!

Photo: Lori Ikeda-Lowe

http://schmap.it/tfmyvd
Tiki Tom's
1535 Olympic Boulevard
Walnut Creek, CA 94596
(925) 932-9202

Pau hana(busa) event @ Roy's

2010-02-19T22:53:00.000-08:00

Just finished a great gig with old friend Faith Ako. The event was held at the Roy's Restaurant Atrium in San Francisco for Colleen Hanabusa (Hawai'i State Senator making a run for Congress). There were many luminaries in attendance including US Senator Dan Inouye, Irene Hirano, and Roy Yamaguchi himself. Although, it's been a few years since Faith and I have played regularly together, we blended perfectly not missing a beat!

"Aloha Fridays" @ Gordon Biersch schedule

2010-02-18T10:36:00.000-08:00

The lineups have been rumored & blogged about and now it's official. The schedule of events for the highly successful "Aloha Fridays" series at Bay Area Gordon Biersch locations reads like a Nā Hōkū Hanohano guest-list. The schedule can be found at the Hawai'i Official Tourism site. I hear that the kickoff date on Friday 3/5 in San Jose is going to be extra special! ;) Hope to see you there!

Distribution musical chairs

2010-02-17T20:05:00.000-08:00

In the tumultuous terrain of Hawaiian music distribution, change is as common as a foggy day in San Francisco. Not sure if I've made it common knowledge yet, but I've recently switched distribution (along with my awesome label CommonGround Records) to Hawai'i based Pacific Hawaiian Distribution. Although their site is screaming for some Webmaster attention (a tad out of date with the info) they are really attentive where it counts and truly support their artist roster. They are where music retailers can currently order my existing CD Ho'omaka along with my soon to be released project (the word "soon" is used lightly here).

To blog or not to blog...

2010-02-17T13:07:00.000-08:00

I've been going back and forth on how I want to effectively utilize this blog. Initially, it was just a way for me to get news out about my "goingsons" published in a real time format (I realized that the last news entry on my website was more than a year old). Ideally, I would like it to someday replace my Facebook/Twitter pages and become my sole social media presence although that may not be a realistic goal as it is a separate portal that interested parties have to visit. What I can see happening and what has already started happening is using this blog as my virtual soapbox and using my FB/Twitter pages as a forum to broadcast my updates here...compromise! ;)

Just like old times...

2010-02-17T09:52:00.000-08:00

Looking forward to performing at a fundraiser function this Friday with good friend and fellow Hawaiian artist Faith Ako. Should be a blast as Faith and I used to perform together quite frequently in the SF Bay Area, and haven't really had the opportunity in recent years. The event will be a fundraiser sponsored by US Senator Dan Inouye for Hawai'i State Senator Colleen Hanabusa as she makes a run to serve in the 112th Congress for the 1st Congressional District.

If you wish to attend, see info below:

575 Mission Street-Atrium (next to Roy's Restaurant) San Francisco
Suggested Donation for Hanabusa Campaign: $150
RSVP REQUESTED
R.S.V.P. to rsvp-sanfran2@hanabusa2010.com
or for more information please contact:
Cameron Nekota at cameron@hanabusa2010.com
or 808-678-1626

Field Test

2010-02-16T10:45:00.001-08:00

Hello, just a quick blurb to test the functionality of this mobile blogging app...more to come...

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Aloha mai kakou!

2010-02-15T22:54:00.000-08:00

Aloha kakou!

Welcome to my new blog...this format will replace the "news" section of my website with a more personalized view of my day to day stuff. Who better to give you the scoop with what's happening in my life than yours truly? Stay tuned for up to the minute news on my live performances, studio stuff, trips to the cafe, yada yada...see you soon!

Steven