"My Father’s Granddaughter"
Amy Hanaiali‘i
(UA)

In the 17 years since the release of her debut album, "Native Child," Amy Hanaiali‘i Gilliom has proved herself one of the most versatile island singers of her generation.

Recording at various times as Amy Gilliom, Amy, Amy Hanaiali‘i Gilliom, and in recent years primarily as Amy Hanaiali‘i, she has displayed her command of traditional Hawaiian falsetto, big-band jazz, mainstream pop and even the blues.

The breadth of her repertoire may surprise those who think of her as a Hawaiian falsetto singer and imagine her paying her dues back when singing in the rain at neighbor island carnivals. The truth is that she earned a master of fine arts degree in musical theater years before the release of her first Hawaiian falsetto album, "Hawaiian Tradition," in 1997. It’s the training and artistic vision she acquired in building that larger resume that results in this album being such a beautiful calling card.

Hanaiali‘i can work the hai (break) between her lower and upper vocal registers when singing Hawaiian falsetto, but this album shows how compelling she can be when singing softly and delicately with only one or two acoustic instruments behind her.

Hanaiali‘i reveals in the liner notes that the album is about family. It marks the death of her father, Lloyd Gilliom, and celebrates her love for her daughter, Madeline Austin, who is seen on the cover and elsewhere in the album art. Mother and daughter share writing and performing credits for "Hihimanu," a gentle lullaby that is a soothing memento of the love shared between parent and child. A second song, "Sleep Little Baby," which Hanaiali‘i sings a cappella, was written as a lullaby for the singer’s father by his stepfather, Hawaiian musician Sam Koki.

Two Hawaiian songs — performed with a piano as primary accompaniment — come from her productive musical partnership with Willie K. "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" and "When You Wish Upon a Star," both classics of American popular music, are two more examples of how vocal talent can be showcased perfectly with simple yet elegant arrangements.

In responding to the emotions she’s experiencing at this point in her life, Hanaiali‘i has created an album that will bring comfort to countless others. She invites you to share these songs with your children as she has shared them with Madeline.

Sample of Track 1: "Angel’s Lullaby"