‘Wahi Mahalo’
Kamakakehau Fernandez
Kamakakehau
Kamakakehau Fernandez was first noticed outside his home island of Maui when he represented King Kekaulike High School in Ty Okumura’s statewide Star Quest talent contest in 2002. He won the Richard Ho’opi’i Leo Ki’eki’e Contest on Maui a year later and was included on two of Flip McDiarmid’s falsetto contest winner compilations for Hula Records. This long-awaited, first full-length album is a welcome step forward.
Fernandez sings with a beautiful, effortless falsetto that is soft and sweet and never harsh. The instrumental arrangements are clean and traditional, with Kale Hannahs on bass plus one of several studio guitarists, Aaron J. Sala on piano on one track, and Kamakoa Lindsey-Asing picking rather than strumming ukulele on another.
"Haleakala" stands out as the only hapa-haole song on the album. The title song is an effectiveshowcase for Fernandez’s lower-register (nonfalsetto) voice.
The album also showcases Fernandez’s work as a Hawaiian songwriter. It’s unfortunate the liner notes don’t include information about the lyrics or the events that inspired him to write them.
www.kamakakehau.com
"Mele No Kahului"
‘Gold’
Gnarwhal
Dead Sparrow
A thundering bass guitar played by an unidentified musician provides a solid foundation for Gnarwhal’s five-song, vinyl, extended-play project. Drummer Adam Funari and guitarist Nick Ayakawa complete the stripped-down instrumentation — think basic punk with hints of classic surf-guitar rock and Social Distortion. Erica Wesley, vocalist on four of the five songs, shrieks and squeals from deep within in the audio mix.
Anguish, aggression, frustration, the desire for revenge and the search for companionship are inevitable life experiences for every generation. Wesley speaks for current teens and 20-somethings with the title song when she rages, "I want it all, I want it now, I want it all, I want it now, I want it all, I want it now!"
Her voice and the raw power of the musicians demand — and deserve — attentive listening and larger audiences.
"Gold" may be available at the band’s gigs, or go to www.deadsparrow.bigcartel.com.
www.deadsparrow.bigcartel.com
