Aloha everyone,
Getting some work done on my computer at a Starbucks here in Kailua-Kona Hawaii. Went on a catamaran yesterday with Kimie and a couple of my other friends here on the big island. It was a whale watching, snorkeling adventure. We were FLYING on that thing, bouncing along on the water as I held on to the ropes for dear life. But now.... my whole body feels like I just worked out for the first time ever. So sore!! So I'm slumped in this chair and haven't been able to walk too much today. What a way to go.
Perfect day for exercising my fingers and updating all my stuffs a bit.
Lots of shows coming up in the next couple months and I'm really looking forward to them. Most of which include opening for one of my favorite bands, SOJA (Soliders of Jah Army) of DC.
http://www.sojamusic.com
Jacob Hemphill, lead singer and writer, wrote a song on my upcoming album "For Love". Its called "It's Not The Same". When he played me that song, he said exactly what I wished I would have been able to say at that time, and I knew I could sing it like it was my own, and I am stoked to have it on my album. Its one of my favorite songs on "For Love". I then went to SOJA's hometown of Washington DC and got to write and record another song with Jacob, as well as an alternate version of SOJA's song "Losing My Mind". Also did a show in DC and got to jam with their percussionist Kenny Bongos:)
Looking forward to these shows and seeing SOJA live again. They're BAAAAD.
So here's my upcoming dates:
01/14/2012
Boardriders (secret rehearsal show)
Kailua, Oahu HI.
*full band*
01/21/2012
Kaka’ako Waterfront Park Amphitheater
Honolulu, HI
SOJA
The Green
Anuhea *full band*
01/22/2012
Kilohana Pavilion
Kauai, HI
Anuhea *solo acoustic*
01/27/2012
King Kamehameha Hotel
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
SOJA
The Green
Anuhea *full band*
01/28/2012
Maui Arts & Cultural Center
Kahului, HI
SOJA
The Green
Anuhea *full band*
02/25/2012
Ogden Theatre
Denver, CO
SOJA
Dubskin
The Movement
Anuhea
02/26/2012
Belly Up, Aspen
Aspen, CO
SOJA
Dubskin
Anuhea
02/28/2012
The Depot
Salt Lake City, UT
SOJA
The Movement
Anuhea
02/29/2012
Knitting Factory - Boise
Boise, Idaho
SOJA
The Movement
Anuhea
03/01/2012
Showbox at The Market
Seattle, WA
SOJA
Trevor Hall
Anuhea
03/02/2012
Roseland Theatre
Portland, OR
SOJA
Trevor Hall
Anuhea
03/03/2012 McDonald Theatre
Eugene, OR
SOJA
Trevor Hall
Anuhea
03/07/2012
The Fillmore
San Francisco, CA
SOJA
Gentleman & The Evolution
Anuhea
03/08/2012
The Catalyst
Santa Cruz, CA
SOJA
Gentleman & The Evolution
Anuhea
03/09/2012
House of Blues - Hollywood
W. Hollywood, CA
SOJA
Trevor Hall
Anuhea
03/10/2012
House of Blues - Hollywood
W. Hollywood, CA
SOJA
Gentleman & The Evolution
Anuhea
03/11/2012
House of Blues - San Diego
San Diego, CA
SOJA
Gentleman & The Evolution
Anuhea
Click the links under my "SHOWS" tab to get your tickets now!! Of course my album "For Love" will be out on Feb 14th, so come pick up your copy!!! See you at the show!
California LOVE!
Hi u guys..
Just wanted to update you guys on the craziness lately.
Had a great time playing in the Golden State the past few weekends! Thanks to Polynesian Underground for helping me out with the Give Thanks Free show in San Diego and then in Capo Beach San Clemente... Big ups Ikaika Beamer for the opening vibes, and members of HiRoots and Stranger for making the night really special.
After a few days off we headed north for 2 shows in the Bay with the Common Kings. The Avalon in San Jose and the Rock It Room in San Francisco were going OFF mahalo for one of the best shows I ever got to play! Big ups Hi Rise Entertainment, Davis, Jesse, Tautua, Warren, my brother Jordan, Kalani of Splitbreed, and of course the Common Kings for making me sound good!
Spent some time exploring San Francisco afterwards.. LOVE that city. I remember living there and how every day was such an adventure. So much fun. Of course had to get some clam chowder and a crab at the Pier.
Then it was up north to SEATTLE for a few days to spend with my manger, to gather and finish ALL the kickstarter stuff. We printed the t-shirts, perfected the ink color, confirmed the posters, signed ALL 650 physical CD's and got all the addresses and everything ready. Your packages will officially be shipped out by next week. Its WAY harder than it seems to actually execute a huge kickstarter campaign, and we are trying to give you THE BEST quality items and not rush or cut any corners. PS if you haven't been able to download the album with your code (cause you probably tried on your PHONE first and now the code is inactive...) just email kickstarter@anuheajams.com and they'll shoot you another. Mahalo again for all the support!
On another note... congratulations to my little brother JORDAN for reaching his Kickstarter goal of $6,000 to get his company 50th State of Mind off the ground! Mahalo to all my kickstarter backers who pulled through for him too! He is so stoked, and he definitely deserves it! Can't wait to see the physical manifestation of his design ideas!!
This weekend is another big one... The morning of my Bday (Saturday) I'm doing a breakfast fundraiser for a local volleyball team on Oahu, then flying over to the Big Island for 2 shows.. an all ages acoustic one at 5pm then a big 21+ one with the full band at around 10pm. Special guests Sudden Rush and my bff Kimie. All this goes down at Akebono Theater in Pahoa.
Also doing some Baby Luau's that weekend as well... not much time to REALLY let loose, but I do enough of that on a day-to-day, so I don't feel bad that I'm "working" all over my bday. Ha. Plus I'm too old to celebrate birthdays anymore anyway, right?
My Christmas song "Come Back To Me (This Christmastime)" was released on iTunes earlier this week! Thank you to Noah Cronin (ukulele player for the band formerly known as Kolohe Kai ;) who produced the song. He started it off as a project for the Mele Program at HCC, and he and his partner Milani did a great job! You are the next generation of producers! Go big guys!!! You can download it on iTunes here:
Hope everyone is having a nice holiday season! Some big changes for me personally are coming up soon.. going to change locations pretty soon here, and make some big adjustments like I always do at the year's end. Doing shows with SOJA here in Hawaii in January, then going on the ROAD with them for 12 dates all over Western America. Can't wait for that. Then the album drop on Valentines Day and we shall see what the future holds.
Mahalo for all the support and for reading this blog, and keep checking back for more! Oh yeah, and if you hear people talking shit about me, or anyone you love for that matter, SPEAK UP! Haters are jealous people and I can't stand shit talkers who think they can get away with it, especially in Hawaii! Way too small people. Do YOU and don't EVERY apologize! Life is BEAUTIFUL and live it to the fullest! Love the people you love, and as long as you're not hurting anyone, do WHATEVER you want!!! That's my motto. Work hard party hard. Don't hate the playa hate the game bitch! haha
Aloha always,
Anuhea
Kickstarter update and MORE!
Hi you guys!!!!
I'm taking a sec to communicate with my Kickstarter backers as to what's been going on behind the scenes as we prepare your pledge packages. Also for those who missed the Kickstarter campaign to pre-order my album "For Love", here's a few updates on what's going on.
Once the project was successful, it took like 2 weeks for the funds to get collected by Amazon, and has yet to be received by the Jams Team. But we got all the tracks mastered by Sterling, one of the top mastering companies in the country.
I'm designing allll the art for the Kickstarter CD cover and the final "For Love" CD itself, and I really wanted to do a good job. After countless hours on my irritatingly packed-with-stuff laptop, I finished every panel for the cd cover fold, and sent it off to get printed up with the freshly mastered tracks. You guys are getting THREE additional tracks that are not going to be on the actual album... For a total of 15 songs including an acoustic version of one of my fave Bob Marley songs.
I had a photo shoot with Angelina Hills, the Maui photographer that took the cover for my first album. She did such an amazing job, capturing the essence of me in my home island. We didn't want shots in a studio, we wanted to continue with pictures set in the natural beauty of Maui. Going through the shots, we picked our fave's and put together the art for the updated webpage and email pages that you'll all be getting to download the music.
I worked with my brother Jordan to perfect the new "For Love" logo which will be the cohesive art throughout the KS and actual album. Once we got the designs perfect for the exclusive 50th State of Mind t-shirt, we found the best printing company to print the shirts, hats, posters, etc on the best quality garment, paper, etc. The designs are in to them now and the shirts and other stuff will be printed throughout the next two weeks.
Thanksgiving weekend is here, so its kinda junk that the week is so short. Although we're working through the weekend, not everyone in the world is, so for some things, this will be a short week.
The CD's and T-shirts are going to be taking a little longer to produce than hoped, and we don't want to keep you waiting for the music. So we decided that for every backer over $35, we're going to give you the link to download a copy of the album digitally, too. Hoping to get everyone that in their email inbox by this FRIDAY. Then if you DID get the physical CD in your pledge package, then you'll receive it by the 2nd week in December, signed and delivered directly to you, along with anything else you pledged for.
I have a few YouTube videos I still have to make, and I have started with the handwritten lyrics for those of you out there who wanted that. I am also even going to be making an exclusive decoupage (collage) for a backer's ipad! Can't wait to finish:) xo
All in all, by the end, every backer will have received their physical things a little more than a month after the last day of this project, which was October 30th. Thank you again you guys! I want everyone to see that this Kickstarter project was a way for me connect more closely with my fans and SKIP the big label formula in creating my album. I do not have a million workers doing everything for me. My small team and I bust our butts every day on every single aspect, but I prefer it this way. Its more rewarding in the end and I have more creative control.
Here's a little preview of the front of the Kickstarter album you'll be receiving... I went with the decoupage-theme throughout the Kickstarter designs for that real hand-made feel.
Be looking out for more cool stuff coming soon!
I'm heading to California this weekend for a few shows!
Friday November 25th - Arterra at the Del Mar Marriott *FREE SHOW!
Saturday November 26th - Sunsets in San Juan Capistrano *FREE SHOW!
Sunday November 27th - Saint Rocke in Hermosa Beach
Tuesday November 29th - Don The Beachcombers in Long Beach
Friday December 2nd - Avalon Night Club in Santa Clara, CA with the Common Kings and Tribal Theory
Saturday December 3rd - RockIt Room in San Francisco, CA with the Common Kings and Tribal Theory
Also, the "Higher Than the Clouds" music video is coming soon! We'll make a big splash on YouTube and Facebook with it, so be on the look out. Check here for a preview and some outtakes of the shoot: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-SHwJz8bPY
I have written and recorded a Christmas song... its called "Come Back To Me (This Christmastime)"... (ive always wanted a song with parenthesis in it)... look for it on iTunes hopefully by next week! In the meantime, hang tight and do look forward to ALL my new tunes coming to you super super soon!
Aloha always,
Anuhea
Kickstarter albums being delivered soon!!
Hey guys! Just an update to all of you who pledged for my kickstarter campaign... I'm going to be preparing the orders throughout the next 2 weeks. So I'll be contacting you for info regarding your pledge... where to ship, who to dedicate the cd's to if you got a personalized note, what size T-shirt, which song for the YouTube dedication, etc etc.
I have a lot of work to do, but I'm SO excited to give you guys my album and hear your feedback! Especially since you're getting 3 additional BONUS tracks that won't be on the real cd that comes out in FEB. So you're stoked!
I'm stoked!
Thank you again for making this possible, and its looking like some BIG US touring is coming up in Feb... I'll keep you posted as soon as its solidified!!!!!! YAAAAYY!!!!
Aloha always,
Anuhea
This weekend was AWESOME! I had my official CD release party at the MayJah Halloween RayJah at Aloha Tower here in Honolulu.
Was such a rad show! Thousands came out, and me and the Common Kings were all in costume... so was the crowd. One of the best shows I ever had.
Here's a little fan vid we found on YouTube of "Simple Love Song"
WE MADE THE GOAL!!!!! LAST day to pre-order the album on Kickstarter!
YAAAAAYYYY!!!!! I'm so stoked that we all came together to spread the word, and we acheived the goal needed to fund the Kickstarter project!!! This means EVERYONE is guaranteed their copy of my brand new album "For Love" along with 3 additional bonus tracks...
But its not too late if you still need to pledge! The last day is 1:54AM Saturday October 30th PST.
So if you haven't yet, GET ON IT!!! All you need is an amazon.com payment account. Follow the easy steps to pledge by clicking the link below.
And if you HAVE pledged, be sure you got money in that account so you don't get left behind!!
Mahalo nui and ALOHA always!!!!
Anuhea
Only DAYS left to order my new album!!!
This is NOT a fundraiser, there is NO hidden agenda. I had told you that my album was going to come out in October. In fact, I have 2 huge CD release parties on Oahu and the Big Island coming up... But my label and distributors don't want to release my album till Valentines Day 2012 now.... and I feel bad. So, I'm hooking you up with my brand new album "For Love" EARLY through this program called Kickstarter.com. All you need is an amazon.com payment account and I'll be sending you my brand new album complete with 3 FREE BONUS TRACKS that you can ONLY get from being a kickstarter backer. I'm going to send this to you as SOON as my album is funded. If we don't reach our goal of 25,000, then no one gets the album! So tell your friends and lets get ON it!! I want you to hear this album more than anything, so help me help you and click above to hear the scoops!
Aloha always,
Anuhea
Go to Kickstarter.com and search Anuhea for the full page!
"Higher Than the Clouds" out now!!
Its official! My new song "Higher Than The Clouds" is now available on iTunes!
A little info about the song...I originally wrote this song for a riddim that was presented to me during the Summer of Love Tour.. But after recording my vocals to the riddim in Lion Fox Studios in DC (where SOJA and many other amazing reggae bands record on the East coast)... I decided that I wanted a little more of an organic feel to the song. Real instruments, live drums, bass and guitar. So we laid this down in Austin at Matchbox Studios.
The lyrics are about falling in love and getting it on for the first time:) And yes, like 99% of my songs, its written about real life.
Click here to go to iTunes and Download "Higher Than the Clouds" for just 99 pennies.
"Higher Than The Clouds" is going to be on my new album "For Love" which comes out OFFICIALLY on Valentines Day 2012. But like I've been saying, you can PRE-ORDER my full album through KICKSTARTER and have it in November! (as long as we reach the goal!)
Just click here for ALL the info on my new album "For Love" and how you can get it through Kickstarter.com
You can pre-order my new album NOW on Kickstarter.com!!!!
Aloha you guys!!!
I'm SO excited to say that I finally launched my official KICKSTARTER campaign which will be going on for the next 45 days... this will be the ONLY way you'll be able to get my album, along with TONS of other cool stuff from me, until my album officially releases NEXT year. So THIS is the way!!!!
Check out my Kickstarter page for all the info!
I've always been a do-it-myself kind of person. When I was 19 I recorded my own demo's at my public access radio station on Maui (Mana'o Radio) and would put the songs up on my Myspace.... would burn and design little CD's I called "Rough Cuts" and sell them at my shows. All those DIY actions have led me to the place I am right now.... One album done, amazing tours and experiences under my belt, and on my way to release my SECOND album, "For Love".
To stay in line with the actions of utilizing social media to enhance my career, I've decided to take a plunge in a little thing called "Kickstarter.com". Kickstarter has been around for a bit, and I heard about it through my producer, Dwight, while I was recording my album in Austin.
Kickstarter is a way for people to get their believers to legitimately invest money in their project (art, fashion, music, theater, movies, etc) to help make it happen. Kickstarter calls these investors "backers", and you give "pledges" of various amounts all working toward the goal. But unlike other similar sites, Kickstarter gives artists the option to have a little more fun with their supporters.. You can offer them things they otherwise wouldn't be able to get at a store, or on iTunes. For example, a private houseparty for say, $5,000, dedicating a song to you on YouTube for $500, a signed CD poster, t-shirt and hat for $100, etc etc.
That is what drew me to Kickstarter.
I want you to check out what I'm offering on my Kickstarter campaign. I am offering the basic package of my album "For Love" complete with 3 brand new BONUS tracks available ONLY to Kickstarter backers.. And this is the ONLY way you can get my album till my management and distribution officially releases it NEXT YEAR!!! I know its a commitment, to offer my album to my fans STRICTLY through Kickstarter... but I have faith that the fans that have supported me all along will continue to do so, and that hopefully I can grow some new fans in the process.
I am really hooking up my fans... big time. And they hook me up! Its the ultimate fan/artist interaction. You'll get my album MONTHS in advance and get 3 BRAND NEW songs that will NOT be on the official album which is due out in January/Feb. But there is a catch... we have to reach my goal of $25,000 in order for the project to be launched. If I don't reach the goal in 45 days, I don't get any money, and I won't get to pre-release my project. So we kind of have to work as team to make sure this project gets backed successfully.
Fun fun fun
Here's some more info:
Let me explain to you what's going on....
I want to give my fans a kickstart on getting their hands on my brand new album "For Love" before I send it to my distributors and iTunes for official release and I also want I want to stoke my true fans out with other cool things from me so they can feel the artist/fan connection that is so important to me in this day and age. I'm also going to give my fans three exclusive brand new bonus tracks that are only going to be available to my kickstarter backers.
I want to give my new album the absolute best opportunities to be heard and appreciated. I want to not hold back in the processes of recording, mixing, mastering, album art, photography, graphics, radio, videos, etc. I want the ability to tour this album before the end of this year by jumping on, or creating a nation-wide tour. I want to tour other continents like Europe, South America, Asia and Australia, as well as New Zealand and Canada by the end of 2012. I want to continue to make my music and represent Hawaii the way I have been, but with a broader ability.
How do I plan to do it?
Through Kickstarter, I'm going to nurture the artist/fan relationship that I already have, and also grow new fans in the process. I'm tapping into the fans that already support me, such as my Facebook or Twitter fans, by giving them the ABSOLUTE jump start on my music before everyone else... my album will be available to my fans MONTHS before it shows up on the shelves in stores across the country. If you order my album on Kickstarter, I will be personally sending EACH one out, autographed and everything in addition to the 3 exclusive bonus tracks. Also, I'm putting together fun little pledge packages for those fans who want a bit MORE than what you could buy at the store. Things such as a personal YouTube dedication, your name in my album credits, a signed T-shirt or even a private house party! As a music fan myself, I would be stoked on the ability to get certain things from the bands or artists that I love, so I wanted to have that kind of fun with you. I am sooo blessed to do music, but I believe this is an interactive day and age. Music is an amazing way to bring people together, and to build a relationship with the artist that makes the music is what I'm willing to do. I just want to give them the opportunity to get in touch with me on a closer artist/fan level. Kickstarter is an awesome, legitimate way for my fans to support me, and for me to give my fans things and experiences they will cherish.
What the money is for?
The money will basically go to pay bills accumulated throughout the expensive recording process, and will go directly back into the music. We like to think of this as a fine tuned machine that my team and I have been pushing along on a shoe string budget. We still managed to accomplish plenty, even though the bagga was buss, but we want to give this machine a tune up and a brand new engine. The money generated on my Kickstarter campaign will be used to mass produce the album "For Love". We have recorded this album throughout the year in Honolulu, Hawaii and Austin, TX. The money will cover the costs generated for recording, mixing and mastering the songs, everything from studio time to musicians. We plan to print tens of thousands of the 'Kickstarter Exclusive' physical Cd's which cost a few dollars per piece. We will then print the regular "For Love" albums for the official album release in January 2012 and send them to Universal for national and international distribution. We will use the money to print Anuhea merchandise. The special edition t-shirts exclusively for my Kickstarter backers will be first, then additional merch for touring and online purchases. The money will also be used for killer photography and album art design. Also a revamping of my website www.anuheajams.com so I can be up to date with the newest imagery, photos, and videos that I'm constantly sharing with my fans. The money will be used to get my band rehearsed and ready to go for TOURING which is a huge passion of mine. I want to bring this album LIVE and into your city, and I want this to happen before the end of 2011. I want to be in other countries touring by June 2012, and I want to have a presence in New Zealand, Australia, Brazil and Europe by December. And I'm not going to lie, I will probably buy some spam musubi with this money as well.
Please check out the Kickstarter page. Its very easy to sign up to become a backer, and pledge what you'd like to get cool stuff from me.
I am SO excited about this album and regardless of Kickstarter or not, I am THRILLED to release this project for you. "For Love".
Get the album "For Love" here!!
Aloha always,
Anuhea
The 411 on "For Love" the new album
Hi you guys,
Its been almost a full two weeks here in Austin, and things are going so amazing. We have completed 5 songs so far, and a few more to go. I have never been more excited about the music made. These songs are so true to my heart right now, and the style in which they are executed is on point-- so true to my style and do the songs themselves perfect justice.
Here's a little preview of one of my new songs. I DO NOT play piano, but I really want to learn! Here me messing around with my new song "Higher Than The Clouds" the other day.
I went back to Oahu last weekend for my grandfathers funeral. Love my kuku so much and it was so nice to be among my family in our time of grief. I feel like with a loss of a family member, there is a positive that can come out of the sadness. We just focused on his life and celebrated the man he was. I also reassessed my relationships with my 'ohana, making sure that I tell them I love them. Show them I love them. And do what I can do be there for them when they're in need. Make each others lives awesome. Most times, there's no one else in the end but your family. Keep um safe and loved.
While on the North Shore, I did a little photo sesh on my family's hometown beach in Waialua. Here's a few lil previews of some of my fave's. It was REALLY early in the morning, and I had been crying all day the day before because of my kuku's service, hence the puffy eyes! But now that you know that, do the puffy eyes really matter that much? I don't really care.
The album will be releasing digitally at the end of October. But we have an exclusive way for you to be involved with getting even MORE out of this project. More details to come. Till then, enjoy your life, and be nice to people around you! Don't talk shit and always tell the truth, open your heart to love and be true to it. Sometimes your brain is right, but most times your heart is. Do everything FOR LOVE.
Aloha always,
Anuhea
Some of my brand new music LIVE
Aloha you guys
I just got done with an awesome run with my friends, a band called the Common Kings out of SoCal. They backed me and played along side me for a small tour.. including Long Beach, Vegas, the KCCN Birthday Bash in Honolulu, Kona and Maui.
The shows were all absolutely amazing. All a great turnout, great vibes, and so much fun. Best of all we got to experiment LIVE with a few brand new songs from my upcoming album.
Here are a few fan youtubes of some of our faves. Thanks for filming this!!
"Higher Than The Clouds" LIVE from Las Vegas 7/29
"Simple Love Song" LIVE from Las Vegas 7/29
"Higher Than The Clouds" LIVE from KCCN Birthday Bash 7/31
"Mr. Mellow" LIVE at Kona Bowl 8/5
Check the Facebook album for some pictures of our fun adventures... http://www.facebook.com/anuheajams
To the Common Kings: I had so much fun with you guys and I can't wait to Hana Hou! THANK YOU for all your love and support and for making me sound the best I ever have!!
xoAnuhea
Cohibas in Long Beach
Us all wearing Missing Polynesia after the Birthday Bash at the Waikiki Shell:)
Our set list for Kona... we recycle btw
To top it all off, I took them to Da Kitchen on Maui for my fave Hawaiian Plate:) 'ono lish
You guys: Be sure to check out Common Kings music on YouTube and for their upcoming releases.
Common Kings "Alcoholic" Acoustic
For the LOVE of guitar: Reflection of my Summer of Love Tour
The Summer of Love Tour officially finished in San Francisco, CA on July 19th. What an amazing show and incredible turnout for the finale of our almost 2 month long run from coast to coast across the US and some of Canada.
I made lifelong friends in Mishka, Mat McHugh and Ethan Tucker, my tour mates, and bonded with my lil brother Jordan so much. Wrote songs along the way in preparation fore getting into the studio next week in Austin to FINALIZE my album, and get it ready for that October release, and did a lot of reflecting. It truly was a SUMMER OF LOVE for me. I learned to love myself. I learned to love my acoustic guitar again. I love the new friends i've made along the way. And most of all... i truly fell back in love with LIVE ACOUSTIC MUSIC all over again. After a year of touring with a band.. I reminded myself on this summer of love tour that my guitar is my comfort. My security blanket. Just me and my guitar are all i need to spend an ENTIRE day by myself. Entertainment. Insight. Beauty. Sadness. Happiness. and everything in between. That guitar gives my feelings validation. Gives my thoughts a voice. Gives me comfort and relief.
This tour has redirected my musical path. As I embark on this journey next week to finish the last few tracks for my album, I realize that the SIMPLICITY of a voice and a guitar is one of the most comforting things in the world to me. Its why and how I started playing music. Its why and how I started writing songs.
I think i need to write a love song about my guitar now... more later. Love. Love. Love!!!
Aloha always,
xoAnuhea
"Keep your fancy drinks and your expensive minks I don't need them to have a good time... keep your fancy car and your caviar.. all i need is my guitar." -India.Arie
"I'm just a guy with a guitar singing a song for you.. I'm just a man with a musical vibration, coming through." -Mishka
"Its funny how 4 chords can tell the truth in so many ways." -Some random chick from Hawaii....
PS:
Here are some pix of a lil photo shoot i did with my brother in Canada... featuring... my fave guitar. My Koa Pono...named Jack:)
Back in Hawaii for a bit!
So I had a LONG weeked full of gigs on various islands! But I can't complain, its been so amazing to be home. I'm thoroughly exhausted, and enjoying this (my first) day off in weeks. Had tenkaippin ramen with friends, dropped off my guitar at Ko'olau Guitars for refurbish, and hitting the road again CANADA bound on Friday.
"Simple Love Song" has been bumping on th radio since I've been home, and it makes me so happy. So glad peeps at home are digging this song.
If you haven't spocked the music video yet, here it is! Filmed in New York City last Sunday on my iPhone and edited by Yours Truly on iMovie. Simple video for a Simple Love Song!
So Friday I flew to Maui and did a show with Ozzie Concerts at the Hard Rock Cafe in Lahaina... was so great to see all my friends and fam back on the valley isle.
Check these pictures from Joyce Chin Photography and click the pic to see more!
Saturday it was off to the small island of Lana'i... next to my island Maui, Lanai is the smallest in population with only 3,000 people living there! Its a short boat ride from Maui, but i had NEVER been to Lanai before! crazy huh... I was honored to headline the annual Lanai Pineapple Festival this year, and John John and I had a BLAST jamming for the locals and visitors to this awesome event.
Sunday it was off to the BIG island of Hawaii.. the Summer of Love Tour continued at the Akebono Theater in Pahoa, about 30 mins outside of Hilo. The place was RAGING I had such a blast.
Monday, which was July 4th, we headed back to Oahu and I performed at the annual Maunalua Fireworks display and event in my Oahu home of Hawaii Kai. The free event was open to the community, and the fireworks were RIGHT there over the water shortly after I finished jamming into the sunset. Again, awesome to see my friends and fans on Oahu.
Check these awesome pictures by Ryan Sakamoto Photography!
Today is finally a day off and I'm doing absolutely NOTHING except writing this blog! LOL loving it.
Hope you all had an amazing Fireworks Day weekend with your friends and family!!
Aloha always,
Anuhea
Anuhea's new single 'Simple Love Song' available on itunes
I'm so amped. We just got "Simple Love Song" back from the mastering labs and it's done. Its been a long road with this one. But they do say nothing good comes easy... even a SIMPLE love song can be super complicated.
To be honest, this song really took a toll on me. I've been trying to record it for months now. The lyrics and melody truly meant a lot to me, as I don't really write true love songs too often. Nailing the feel-good vibe was important. I think producer Dwight Baker of Matchbox Studios nailed it tho. THANK U to him, WARREN and my friends and family, and of course the boy who inspired the song, for making it possible. I'm so pleased with the final outcome of this track, which will be on my album releasing later this year.
I actually recorded 4 different versions of this song that we might end up releasing eventually. I'm even pitching one of my favorite up and coming COUNTRY artists to do a duet version of this song with me! *crossing fingers*. There's also a slack key version featuring Sean Na'auao, and another with my aunty Nalani from Na Leo singing some harmonies. And another that the amazing Wendell Ching of Studio One helped make into a Locals Only island slammer. More to come.... But for now, one version is simple enuff. SIMPLE Love Song. Yes i.
"Its funny how 4 chords can tell the truth in so many ways!"
Had an awesome past couple shows with Mishka. Today we are in Philly, playing a show at the Tin Angel tonight. And yes, we did already have a cheesesteak:)
xoAnu
Aloha from Virginia
Aloha you guys, just checking in and saying what's up.
Currently in Virginia Beach, VA about to play a show here with Mishka here at the Jewish Mother. Over 100 presale, the show should be pretty good.
Alohalaways
Anuhea
A vid of one of my fave Bob Marley songs. Hope you like it.
Summer of Love Tour 2011
Craving island grinds...
Had to just say that I am craving some island grinds big time right now! Sadly our NOH Foods care package is still in the mail! Aggghh I'm so craving some teriyaki or sweet and sour chicken and veggies. It's gonna be awesome to mix up some seasoning packets and put on pretty much everything we eating here. Fresh fish tonight served at our venue, let's see how goes. #spoiled
Anuhea
Summer of Love Tour, The Scenic Route:
We had the most gorgeous drive today from North Carolina to Roanoke Virginia. Funny part about that drive today was that it was kind of a mistake to even BE on that road. I was sitting shot gun and therefore was supposed to be navigating WW who was driving, but I looked away for a second at something... we ended up missing our exit to the main highway that we were gonna stay on for like 3 hours. Grrrrr... So I guided him to pull over, and was gonna have him flip a bitch and do that whole find-another-on-ramp thing... but my phone ended up re-routing us automatically. It told us to go to continue on the wrong road and meet up with another road parallel to but a little more windy than the main hwy..... And with that, this is what conspired: The Scenic Route.
One of the most beautiful drives I've been on through America. The coming-in-to-summer season, the gorgeous countryside, the warm air with crisp cool breezes, the foreign yet familiar-ness of it all... it reminded me so much of Maui. Upcountry, like Makawao (where I was born) or Haiku (on the way to Hana). It was unreal. We stopped at a couple of small stores to track down Baked Lays and Mountain Dew (WW), and made sure to take a picture as we were crossing the border into VA. Looked up some interesting facts about the VA... did you know that George Washington was BORN in Virginia? And that its the 12th largest state by population (more than 7 million people). #funfacts!!!
We had a day off today, our first since tour started. Which was nice. We had some fun in Walmart, and then ate an awesome dinner at Outback Steakhouse of Roanoke, Virginia. I was craving steak like a fricking vampire.
I finished up putting together a new song tonight. Its called "No Time". Its very real, very true to my heart and how I'm feeling right now. I foresee it being produced true to its meaning, not like a club banger or rap remix kind of jam, more meaningful ballad-y production. I'm in love with country music. We were rocking out the entire drive to country. Its so powerful musically, yet the lyrics sometimes are so literal and almost comical. I love that style. I love songwriting. Wonder if I'll ever song write for others someday.
Show tomorrow at a place called AWFUL ARTHUR'S... lol should be interesting!
Aloha always!!
Anuhea
Jamming in the south, ya'll
Aloha all,
We've been on the road for about 5 days now, on my Summer of Love Tour... Had 3 shows with Mat McHugh of Australia, and played last night with Mishka. Now we're hitting the Carolina's for a bunch of shows all together. Acoustic solo jams representing our "island" homes.
Being in the south is a trip!! We've had a great turnout on the shows, and this being my first time to Florida, Georgia, and these Carolina's its been a culture shock in a way. The food, the accents, the people, the style, its really cool though! Lots of Aloha down here. We got hooked up with free Chick-Fil-A because it was my lil bro's first time. I also got free coffee too, just cause the guy was trying to be cool. Cool with me too!
Got to check out Myrtle beach for a sec... super busy and packed tourist scene this time of the year, but was so nice to see the East side of America's coast. Beautiful.
My purple hair.
Getting my new track "Simple Love Song" mastered this week and releasing to Hawaii radio as well, so I'm looking forward to having a new song bumping when I go home for 4th of July for a few days.
Till then, the tour continues! Anuhea's Summer of Love Tour! (Dates with Mishka, Mat McHugh, back in Hawaii, and more.)
Brand new posters thanks to MusicBailOut.net and NOH Foods!
Some new friends from our show in Atlanta!
Mat McHugh of The Beautiful Girls (Australia)
My brother taking the wheel... the majority of our days are on the road.
New friend Jeff from Florida, the band the Divebar Stalkers with some home made moonshine
"I've fallen in love with a king;)"
And the Mishka dates begin!
Mishka hitting the stage in Charleston, SC
Shrimp and grits, ya'll!! SOOO 'ono!
Awesome crowd in Wilmington, NC with Mishka!
Had to try some oysters in the Carolina's
Pirates
Getting in the zone in the green room in Wilmington... seems like I'm getting my teeth cleaned.
On the road again!!! Heading to Chapel Hill, NC tonight.
Check in again soon!
Aloha always,
Anuhea
PS check my twitter feed! @anuheajams for the most up to date stuff
Recording dem hits...
Aloha guys,
Just a few pictures from my recording adventures here at Matchbox Studios here in Austin Texas. Getting a couple tracks done before I go on the Summer Of Love Tour, including the single "Simple Love Song" which I know you guys are going to fall in love with.
for now, enjoy these candid pix and stay tuned for more!
aloha always, Anuhea
Brand new music coming your way...
Here's a preview of one of my new songs, "Mr. Mellow" performed at Three's Bar and Grill this past Saturday night for the Summer of Love Tour Launch Party...
I'm trying to get a famous rapper on the song, but till then A-Boogie threw it down for the rap verse. :)
"You need a change, a different view, to turn the same 'ol into new... Meet Mr. Mellow... I think he got the thing for you."
Come Over Love Video Debut
Big ups Vince Keala and Caleb Lucero of Co Creative Studios.
All the Mana Maoli Collective peeps that are featured including John Cruz, Wayne Jehua and Shane of Natural Vibrations, Kekoa Kane, Kapena DeLima and Lopaka Colon. This was during our trip to New Zealand this March.
Dress by Missing Polynesia
Guitar by Pono
Song originally by Estelle... check out my version on iTunes . http://www.itunes.com/anuhea
Anuhea jams for the keiki of Maui
I had a blast surprising the kids of two schools on Maui this weekend.
My dad is a teacher at Iao Intermediate School, and I went a visited them on Friday afternoon. Got to draw names and hook them up with an iPod nano, some movie tickets, and iTunes gift cards. I played 3 sets, one for the 6th, 7th then 8th graders. I remember that age! Loved being around them and seeing what's cool in their lives as compared to mine. What's hot in 6-7-8th grade from my understanding? Justin Beiber, The Green, YouTube, Cell Phones, and ME!!!! lol
Awaiting the suprise show...
Aunty Anu jamming... lol
Lucky CD winnah!
Another winner...
Some students of my dad's of Iao Intermediate, Maui...
Look they wrote me letters! #Adore
Saturday I jammed at my favorite spot on the South Side to jam at Three's Bar and Grill with my girl Erin Smith of The Throwdowns. It was the kick off party for my Summer of Love Tour which starts in Atlanta on June 7th. What a way to send me off... a raging show at Three's with John John, JP from The Green, Erin Smith, Marty Dread, and all my friends, fam and fans! #mauinokaoi
Sunday it was off to Lahaina to surprise the graduates of Lahainaluna High School with a performance at the Westin Resort for their Project Graduation... Although I didn't go on till 1am, and they had the longest day of their LIVES, they were still in raging spirits and were so stoked. Made me happy.
Congrats to ALL the graduates of 2011! Go get um!!!!!!!
Aloha always,
Anuhea
Acoustic Roots Tour continues, Summer of Love Tour shortly after!
The Acoustic Roots Tour of the West Coast while I'm recording my album is going well... the San Diego show was incredible, and the next one is at The Mint in Hollywood on Friday the 6th.
Just confirmed shows in Santa Barbara and Hermosa Beach, and back in Maui.
We had to put a hold on booking more tour dates for that independent tour, because we got picked up for the Summer of Love tour. I'll be sharing the stage with one of my fave songwriters/singers MISHKA and with MAT MCHUGH of Australian band The Beautiful Girls. This will be an acoustic tour as well, really showcasing my songwriting, vocals, and fun-ness of JAMMING. These Unplugged style shows will be with my percussionist JP Hewett of San Diego. We are SO looking forward to the jams!
Confirmed
5/24 Nashville TN
5/29 Jacksonville FL
5/30 Charleston SC
5/31 Wilmington NC
6/4 Wilmington DE
6/7 Atlanta GA
6/8 Orlando FL
6/10 Lakeland FL
6/18 Towson MD
6/19 Washington DC
6/24 Portland ME
6/25 Teaneck NJ
6/26 Philadelphia PA
6/28 Cleveland OH
6/29 Chicago IL
7/12 Portland OR
7/19 San Francisco CA.
More dates, the venues, and ticket info to be announced soon! A total of about 40!
Blessed but working hard!!
Aloha always,
Anuhea
NYC: Concrete jungle where dreams are made of
Just finished my 2nd show here in the Big Apple... what an amazing trip. Our mission to NYC was to perform a couple of small solo acoustic showcases and to have some big meetings with some very important peoples. AND of course.... eat amazing New York food:)
Lombardi's Pizza
Brooklyn Diner Hot Pastrami Sandwich
Junior's Cheesecake
Mahalo to all those who came to support these Unplugged style intimate shows. Hope you enjoyed the new music, and I can't wait to jump into the studio to finish up these last few tracks for a September release.
Leaving on Thursday for Vegas! Pure Aloha Festival on Friday, then its back to Hawaii for some gigs and recording. Then back to San Diego. WHEW racking up those miles.
Lost Pro Bowl footage!
My dad was recording this throughout my Pro Bowl Halftime performance a few months back... and I just found it on my computer! Late, and extremely close, but its kind of funny to see it from that angle.. he was surrounded by dancers and cheerleaders. LMAO!
They were also covering the whole field. Still looking forward to getting the full field footage! Someday...
PS Check out How cute deez Local boys are! Local boys are indeed No Ka 'Oi:)
Everything changes...
What an incredible trip New Zealand was
Life changing.
Absolutely magical.
So many memories, so much cultural knowledge exchanged and learned, and so much inspiration. What a perfect little mission before I head into the studio to finish recording my 2nd album.
I sit here in San Diego at my brothers house. Going to support my fellow Surf Roots Tour mates Stranger at the Wave House tonight. Went and hung out with my boys The Green last night here in SD at both of their sold out shows. They called me up and we sang JP and Kimie's song "How Does It Feel" and of course "Come Over Love" for old times sake. I'll be here in SD hanging out with my brother for a few weeks, then heading to New York City for some meetings and acoustic shows. I'll be using this time until then to prepare my songs for the studio, gather and rehearse with a small acoustic band for my acoustic run of the West coast in April/May, and getting hyped up for the journey ahead.
This time in my life has been so different, so interesting. This year as a whole so far has. Everything changes. But there is beauty in the change. A caterpillar has to change into a butterfly. And nothing grows without sun and rain. I'm embracing this change and going to give it my all. Now is the time. Its yours too. Take it!
xoxo
Sweet As blog #4 NEW ZEALAND
The final days in Aotearoa were amazing. We performed and attended the incredible WOMAD (World of Music and Dance) Festival in Taranaki. Acts from around the world came to represent their culture in the huge 2 day festival, and we, The Mana Maoli Collective, represented Hawaii. We performed Hula Kahiko (old traditional Hawaiian dance and chant), Hula auana (a bit more modern melodic hula and singing) and a few originals. I was so stoked to have been a part. That was our final show. The festival was so much fun. The food, the music, the people, the crafts... The entire town of New Plymouth and Taranaki area was buzzing with the hype of WOMAD. It reminded me of South by Southwest how local venues were jumping on the bandwagon of music and we went to a bunch of shows for the Sounds of Aotearoa festival including our friends 1814. So cool. St. Patricks Day in Aotearoa rages, btw:)
Here are a few of the rest of my pix.. cause they speak a thousand more words than I'm capable of typing.
Sweet as blog #3 from Aotearoa (New Zealand)
Kia ora,
Its been two weeks here in Aotearoa (New Zealand). One more week to go. Here with the Mana Maoli Collection including Natural Vibes, John Cruz, and more...we are bringing awareness to our non profit to help fun self governing culture based charter schools like Halau Ku Mana, a student voyaging canoe program, and also the Mana Music program which sends a group to Aotearoa every year to represent in these big festivals like Nga Puhi, Pasifika and WOMAD.
This experience already has been mind blowing. Monumental thoughts and extreme clarity of mind, just observing the different culture and seeing the different mannerisms and behaviors, slangs, foods, styles, etc etc of this amazing place.
Since the last blog, we've been doing tons of press with local radio and TV stations. Maori TV and the popular sports show Code TV featured us, which was great for our shows. These kiwis are into their rugby and League! All-Blacks and All-Whites are the center of the topic of the sports show. Was really cool to watch.
We opened for 1814 and Katchafire this past weekend... shows were off the hook. Now we are up in Taranaki doing some workshops for the next 2 days, then the WOMAD (World of Music and Dance) Festival coming up.
Anuhea
"sweet as, bro!" Aotearoa blog II
Kia ora,
So we are about a week into the trip, and things have been amazing. After our show at the Te Papa Museum we had our first night time show in a small town called Paekakaranga. Family vibes. Our opening acts were blowing our minds. Majic and Robbie (Brother sister acoustic duo) were so amazing, and the PaePae sound system Dj's were bumping The Green, Fiji, and all sorts of great Hawaii-themed reggae jams. Also the pioneers of hip hop in Aotearoa, the Upper Hut Posse. Dance floor packed, and great vibes all around this small town city hall gig.
Next day early we went on a little tour with one of our Maori friends to a lookout point near Wellington. It was where his tribe settled years back, and he shared with us their story. It was windier than the Pali on Oahu at this place! We could literally barely walk! Better than disney land though, we had such fun like jumping straight up and seeing how far the wind could push us back... ahhh Nature.
That night we had a show with the Footsouljahs, a hip hop group from Welly. They were awesome. It was a swanky place right in the city called The Garden Club. It was a Friday night and the crowd was awesome. We had some fun bringing up other hip hop artists like Ahmed Mahal (Taj Mahal (on Kokua Festival with me last year)'s son who lives in New Zealand and has a sick band called Omecha Supreme)) and the beat box champion of New Zealand, King Homeboy. We played beats to Ready or Not and Umbrella while I sang and the band got nuts. Got to free style sing/jam/rap with them a bit too with them in the green room afterwards. Good times.
Next day, Saturday we were up BRIGHT and early and said bye bye to the Marae. We jumped aboard Air New Zealand again and headed from Wellington to Auckland for our performance in the Nga Puhi Festival.
Guess what... The Nga Puhi Festival was cancelled.
LOL
Due to the crazy weather the outdoor festival was cancelled but we salvaged the celebration indoors at the Te Mahurihuri Marae. We jammed some Hawaiian music, Hula Kahiko and Auana and entertained the guests of the event. We headed back to our friend Taj's house where we jammed into the night with friends family and amazing grinds.
Footsouljahs of Welly rocking the M-I-C
The lookout point off the north island outside of wellington.
Getting blown away by Aotearoa
Kia Ora!!!
Some media from Fresh TV outside our Paekakarangi show. John Cruz, Jehua of Natural Vibes, Anuhea and Lopaka Colon. Mean Maoli Mean!!
The Green room at the Garden Club.. Kapena De Lima, John Cruz, Lopaka Colon and braddah Wayne from Natural Vibes.
"sweet az..." Anuhea in New Zealand
Kia Ora and Aloha from Wellington New Zealand!
I'm sitting in the green room by the stage of the Te Papa Museum here in Wellington New Zealand, north island. We arrived early yesterday morning after about 20 hours of traveling! Pretty exhausting, but so stoked to be here. Have always wanted to come to NZ...
We are about to do a performance here at the Te Papa museum. Kapena, Shane from Nati Vibes and I did a radio show this morning for Atiawa Toa FM. Jammed couple tunes, interviewed, and promoted our show tonight at St. Peters Hall in Paekakariki. Tomorrow we have another show with the Foot Souljahs at the Garden Club. Upcoming shows include the Nga Puhi Festival, WOMAD, shows with 1814 and Katchafire, and more. Going to be a fun 3 week tour for me and the Mana Maoli Collective. Repping Hawaii and planting our own music seeds on this new frontier.
We are staying at a Marae which is one big room, so community living. the 17 of us all traveling moving singing dancing sleeping eating etc together.... its intense! Reminds me of summer camp! But loving it so far.
More later...Aloha always!
Anuhea
HAWAIIAN 101 and my upcoming trip to New Zealand!
Back in the day when missionaries came to Hawaii and settled among the natives, schools were developed and Hawaiian keiki were enrolled. During this Westernization of the native Hawaiian chidren, they forbade the students from speaking Hawaiian in school. Even my great grandmother has stories of the teachers in school whacking rulers on your hands if you were caught speaking Hawaiian in the classroom, on the playground... at all! Hawaiian was only spoken at home, and with the decreasing of native speakers over the years, without eduction in our ancient word, the Hawaiian language could be lost.
I am Hawaiian through my father's side, and our family has always been involved with the perpetuation of our culture. I come from multiple generations of teachers and educators, and as soon as I got to grade K, my parents decided to send me to the Kula Kaiapuni... This school is set up in public schools throughout the islands to educate the young sponge-like minds of the youth in the Hawaiian language. More specifically, we speak ONLY in Hawaiian. EVERY class, every subject including Math, Science, History, Music, from the time you step off that school bus... you are speaking Hawaiian. I remember being scolded at recess for talking in English on the jungle gym. (What a turnaround from the 1910's huh? 80 years later, teachers are scolding students for speaking English... Ku'E)
I attended Kula Kaiapuni o Paia on Maui for Kindergarten, part of 1st grade, 5th grade, and part of 6th grade at Anuenue on Oahu. I went on to take Hawaiian classes every single semester at Kamehameha from 7th grade on to reinforce it. The memories from my years spent at Kula Kaiapuni I hold so fondly. There were less than 20 kids in our class, and every year the class would change only by a few faces, so we were all close like family.... We'd share the school with English speaking kids, half Hawaiian language, half english, which was interesting. We would grow gardens and cook food, dance hula and play ukulele.
I could go on and on with special memories from that school. I was enrolled in Kula Kaiapuni off and on starting at age 5. We all know young minds are the most receptive, and the benefits of being multi-lingual are huge. It opens your mind to other languages, and for me, its given me the ability to be more creative and poetic with words. Even the English language: the poetry of the Hawaiian language and the puke 'olelo no'eau (book of wise sayings) or of the Hawaiian songs and chants of old, I have absolutely been inspired since age 5 and am realizing it more and more as i grow older.
So to wrap this auto biography up........geez!
MY POINT:
Mana Maoli directly supports 12 Hawaiian charter schools, much like the school I attended on Maui that has shaped my life with such positivity. They also directly support Kanehunawa'a, a Hawaiian canoe sailing program, and finally, of course the Mana Maoli Music program and our cultural exchange trip to NZ.
I am going to New Zealand with the band created, and its called the Mana Maoli Collective. It is an all-star band of Hawaii musicians that ideally will change members annually. We represent Hawaii at huge music and dance festivals in Aotearoa (traditional name for New Zealand). Aotearoa has a culture similar to ours, but theirs is much more active. I look forward to taking notes on how their government supports their music, and how their people are embracing and perpetuating their culture.
This is something that has always been important to me: being in touch with my Hawaiian culture. This trip is looking to be a very monumental thing for me personally, at a very pivotal part of my life as well.
Hawaii has such a unique music scene. So much variety and so much eclectic inspirations from all corners of the earth. We truly have a sound and cadence of our own... uniquely alike in the vibe and essence, and the world needs to understand that. Even though we're a small archipelago, we are kind of a big deal.
My band mates, which include a variety of fellow popular musicians from Hawaii, like Grammy Nominated singer songwriter John Cruz, Shane Wayne and Jehua of one of the biggest reggae bands in Hawaii, Natural Vibrations, percussionist extraordinaire Lopaka Colon, Kapena DeLima son of Kelly Boy DeLima and the band Kapena, and MORE. I can't wait to rock out with them. Our 8 piece band, 2 additional traditional Hawaiian musicians and 5 hula dancers will be doing workshops with children, cultural festivals, and club shows for 3 weeks starting next Monday. This is poised to be the trip of a lifetime, and I'll be sharing it with you so please check back.
I'm very excited and proud to be taking this trip to New ZEaland. The things that we are standing for are things I do believe in. We need as much cultural exposure as we can get in this fast-paced modern world we are in, and I'll be sharing my journey with everyone who reads my blogs/vlogs/facebook plogs, etc....
*i just made up the word plog.
I'm going to buy a fat suitcase, and a power converter tomorrow. Ia Orana
So this weekend was nuts. We had 2 fundraisers for Mana Maoli on Friday and Saturday nights. We raised a good amount of money for the Mana Music trip to NZ next week. Here's a fan-video of the show at Breakers in Hale'iwa. The place was PACKED, it was fricking raging. So good fun shows like that.
On Saturday I also had a quick day-trip back home to Maui for the annual Whale Day Festival in my once-hometown Kihei. Thousands were watching as we jammed in the hot muggy afternoon, and although my feet were filthy!!! I had such a blast.
More to come, ALOHA ALWAYS, sista Anuhea
Pro Bowl week & the Halftime show was NUTS
So the crazy week is over, and the NFL Pro Bowl is done. Hawaii was ALL about the NFL for the past week with rehearsals, events, parties, practices, and buzz all over the media.... When all was said and done, me and my band had a blast and killed it on that stage representing Hawaii on that field for everyone to see. The dancers all around us and on the field were so awesome, too. Missing Polynesia made us some rad outfits, I had my "Local Boys" dancing all around us, and my family in the stands. Did some tailgating afterwards with the friends and fam, and had an amazing day. Could not have been a better experience.
SADLY FOX didn't broadcast much of the halftime show, like they had promised. That's the bizz... its more motivation for me to show them that they made a big mistake:)
Thank you to all the fans who tuned in to watch! We're working on getting a video up for everyone to see asap. In the meantime, here are a few pix from the event. Facebook has more, too.
Anuhea performing the NFL ProBowl Halftime Show!
Are you ready for some FOOOTTBBALLLLLL!!!!!?????????
LOL well I am.
Just confirmed that I'll be performing at the NFL Probowl on Sunday January 30th, and about a minute of it will be televised on FOX for National broadcast to MILLIONS of viewers.
I'm so honored and stoked to show the world what's up. But now its all about making sure my 4-10 minutes are going to ROCK. No cheese, no trying-too-hard vibes, just pure real original jamming for the football fans across the country.
I was originally asked to sing the National Anthem, which I was also so honored and stoked on, but they changed their mind and decided to go with a different national pop artist. I don't want to divulge all the info before they do, but I'll just say I'm a fan of this American Idol. (Note, new season of American Idol debuting on the FOX network this week... coincidence?? I think not:)
So I'm getting all my stuff in order, band, dancers, pyrotechnics, costume, staging, blocking, hair do, farm animals, etc..... Should be an amazing experience, and a perfect way to continually push harder and challenge myself as a musician and in our live performance.
Like I said, about a minute will be shown on TV, but if you can't make it to the game itself, I'll make sure I get the whole thing on YouTube for us.
DOWN......SET........HUT HUT HUT!!!!!!!!!
2011 is starting off right.
-xoAnuhea
ps: If you are visiting Honolulu for the Probowl (or live on Oahu) catch me and the band for our live performance at the NFL Probowl Block Party hosted by KCCN Fm100 on Saturday January 29th. We close the night from 9-10pm at the Moana Surfrider stage right on Kapahulu Avenue. Free and open to everyone!
We are also performing at the Probowl open practice and keiki fun day at Aloha Stadium earlier that day, 1/29. Also free and open to everyone.
Going to be a fun weekend full of music, music and of course football.
My Top 10 Memories of 2010 (#mytop10of10)
My Top 10 Memories of 2010 #mytop10of10
During this time of year I like to reflect on my favorite memories of the past 365 days. On our journey to get to where we want to be, do we even stop and realize.......we are achieving the impossible? Every day, every mini goal that is set and achieved is worth celebration, but we're usually moving so fast we don't get to rejoice. In my attempts to slow life down a bit, I'll be putting the top 10 memories of 2010 right here on Anuheajams.com.
Let us pay tribute to where we came from, and take a moment of reflection. Let us learn from our mistakes, and make plans for a better future. Let us make resolutions that inspire and motivate us to better ourselves.
Anuhea's Top 10 Memories of the year 2010...
#10 Opening for the legendary Al Green at the Neil Blaisdell Arena
#9 Rocking a mohawk to the Na Hoku Hanohano Awards:)
#8 The Quarterlife Crisis Tour throughout Hawaii for my 25th Birthday
#7 Headlining the Surf Roots Tour this summer with The Green, Stranger and Tamarama.
#6 Watching Estelle perform "Come Over Love" Live at South by Southwest in Austin.
#5 A very special Maui weekend with loved ones.
#4 The Right Love Tour (my first US tour) and the TOUR BUS experience!!! (Also, my first time to many cities, like NEW YORK)
#3 Opening for Bruno Mars:)
#2 Winning 2 Na Hoku Hanohano Awards, the prestigious annual Hawaii music awards. I was honored to have been voted Most Promising Artist and Contemporary Album of the Year.
And my number one experience of 2010???
#1 PLAYING AT THE 2010 KOKUA FESTIVAL WITH MY #1 MUSICAL INSPIRATION, JACK JOHNSON!!!!!!!!
Thank you all for helping make my 2010 memorable! Let's make 2011 even better! New album releasing, New Zealand trip coming up in March, and MUCH MUCH MORE.
Reflect on your 2010 for a better 2011. Life is beautiful.
Aloha always,
Anuhea
Top 10 of 2010 (#mytop10of10)
Aloha you guys,
Merry Christmas, hope yours was amazing. Here's a recap of my latest.
The Quarterlife Crisis Tour celebrating my 25th birthday and the new single "Crown Royal" was a huge success, thank you to all who partied with us at the shows. Big ups Ho'okoa, Kimie, Gomega, RJ Kaneao for jamming with us, and mahalo to Pakini Grill, BudLight, KWXX, Native 925 Maui, Bert and Charley's, MauiPhotobooth.com, W.A.I. and Maui Divers Jewelry. Check my Facebook for some pictures.
My new single "Crown Royal" continues to hit the #1 spot on multiple Hawaii radio stations, and people are downloading on iTunes like malasadas. Keep rocking out, music video coming soon.
During this time of year I like to reflect on my favorite memories of the past 365 days. On our journey to get to where we want to be, do we even stop and realize.......we are achieving the impossible? Every day, every mini goal that is set and achieved is worth celebration, but we're usually moving so fast we don't get to rejoice. In my attempts to slow life down a bit, I'll be putting the top 10 memories of 2010 right here on Anuheajams.com.
Check back on January 1st for my "Top 10 of 2010", and I encourage you to do the same on your blogs. Use #mytop10of10 so we can share with each other.
Let us pay tribute to where we came from, and take a moment of reflection. Let us learn from our mistakes, and make plans for a better future. Let us make resolutions that inspire and motivate us to better ourselves. #mytop10of10
Aloha always,
Anuhea
"Grenade" Acoustic Cover by Anuhea
For my facebook fans who submitted their suggestions of a popular cover for YouTube... The #1 song happens to be the #1 song in America on iTunes. Hawaii's own, Bruno Mars.
Anuhea's Quarterlife Crisis Tour!!!
Calling all the 80's babies of Hawaii!!!!
Come celebrate Anuhea's 25th Birthday, and the upcoming release of her new album The Royal EP, January 2011.
Maui Divers Jewelry Presents
ANUHEA'S Quarterlife Crisis Tour 2010, Hawaii
Thursday 12/9 Waimea, Big Island - Pakini Grill
Friday 12/10 Hilo, Big Island - W.A.I.
Saturday 12/11 Kailua, Oahu - Boardriders
Sunday 12/12 Paia, Maui - Charley's
Hitting the 25-ish mark? Feeling monotonous and in need of a good vibe rager? No need to go buying a Lamborgini, all you gotta do is get up get ready and come out and party with us at the Quarterlife Crisis Tour this December, 2010.
Drink specials, prize giveaways, crazy contests...and live brand new music from Anuhea's new EP coming out January 2011. Anuhea and the full band will be finishing each night off. Different opening acts from bad ass Hawaii bands, as well as musical friends of Anuhea as special guests will be gracing the stage on every island. These shows are going to be off the hook. Each island a different party, each party a celebration of getting through life this far! Cover charges aren't anywhere near the downpayment on plastic surgery, and cheap drink specials will help you satisfy that need for monthly sanity-saving inebriation.
PS: Mainland Quarterlife Crisis Tour dates are currently being booked! Let us know where you want to see us this January!
Good news & bad news...Help a sista out? (iTunes reviews are gonzo!)
Great news: November 10th my label Worldsound got picked up by UNIVERSAL distribution! Now we have the backing of the awesome company with a world renown reputation, and the ability to do more things with the music I make.
One small issue however.......... All my reviews and stars on iTunes have been wiped off upon making the change, so now a year and a half of reviews, comments and stars are gone and I have ZERO as of right now.
Can you guys please go in there and write some reviews of my album for me? Comment on the debut album and the "Come Over Love" single, and let people know what your favorite song is and why! Also give it some stars if you can.
Just visit iTunes.com/Anuhea and help a sista out!
Thank you so much you guys. I'll make a small YouTube clip soon to show my appreciation during this Thanksgiving season #causeifrickingloveyou.
Aloha always my precious Jam Teamzies,
Anuhea
"Crown Royal" release update!
Stay tuned folks, the title track for the upcoming 'Royal EP' is coming soon.
iTunes has pushed the release date back because they said they're going to do something nuts with the song! I'm feeling the tingling of another feature!!!! Let's hope its the Free single of the week or something.... you never know until it happens with those guys:)
Well hang in there, cause the jam is off the hook. I love it. And keep requesting "Crown Royal" on local stations, cause its been up and up for the number one spot with Bruno Mars all week!!
Fricking love you guys,
Anuhea
Crown Royal artwork?
So I asked on facebook if anyone wanted to take a stab at designing the iTunes artwork for my new single "Crown Royal"... here is what peeps have been working on!
Mahalo nui for ALL the submissions!!!! I'm going to pick one by Halloween for its November release. I'll contact you via Facebook for sending the hiQuality and compensation for your art.
Everyone: Keep your submissions for the album artwork for "Crown Royal" coming! Post on my Facebook fan page or message me. I might choose YOUR artwork for my iTunes image for the single! It needs to say "Crown Royal" and Anuhea and use cd dimensions. I'll pick one on WEDNESDAY so hurry!!! Here are a few submissions!
Here's a snippet in case you missed it, cause I fricking love you.
Aloha always,
Anuhea
WORLD PREMIERE of "Crown Royal" TUESDAY
Aloha pretties,
Tomorrow, Tuesday 10/26 we'll be unveiling the full song, the new single, the title track for the "Royal EP"...... "Crown Royal".
Tune into Island 98.5fm (Oahu radio station, you can find online at www.island985.com at 9am Hawaii time and hear the full version. You can request throughout the day 808-296-9850.
Oahu peeps: Do you want a chance to be in my music video for "Crown Royal"? I'm having an All-ager rager at Fresh Cafe on Friday night, October 29th. Tickets are only $12 presale, so click the "Shows" link at this page and find out the details!!
NEW SONG
Just got finished mixing "Crown Royal"...the first track off my new album. Here's a snippet cause I fricking love you.
OAHU PEEPS!!!
Do you want to be in my music video for "Crown Royal"?? Yes? Okay then, come to Fresh Cafe this Friday October 29th to catch me and friends LIVE in concert. Dress to impress and come with a smile, cause we'll also be recording clips for the music video of my upcoming single "Crown Royal".
Listen to Island 98.5fm for the world wide debut of "Crown Royal" this TUESDAY October 26th at 9am Hawaii time. Not in Hawaii? Listen live online at http://www.island985.com.
I fell in love with North Shore Consignment!
I grew up in Paia town. The cute little "hippy" town on the North Shore of the Island of Maui. Attended Paia School, worked at Hana Bay Juice Co and Livewire Cafe, and cocktailed and jammed at Charley's when I first started playing music. When I took a trip home last weekend for the Maui County Fair, I was so stoked to see that the vibe of the town was exactly the same as I left it. Same fave restaurants, like Paia Fish Market Milagros and FlatBread Pizza Co... and some of the same cute boutiques like Mahina and the bathing suit shop. But what I was stoked to see what something a little more 'real'... North Shore Consignment on the 2nd floor right there on Baldwin Avenue... above Cafe Des Amis across from Mana Foods.
Low and belhold, I walk up the stairs to the shop and my fellow Miss Maui competitor and friend Ana is working there! Turns out her mama bought the spot and turned it into Paia's only Consignment shop! Ana and her sis Sarah are super stylish beachy Maui girls, so between them they have great taste for the Maui look. Everything in there is super cute, quality, and are from other Maui peeps!
If you don't know what a Consignment store does, basically you give your clothes to the shop and they sell it for you. You get the call that your stuffs been sold, and you pick up your percentage of the cash. Its like a classy low impact Garage Sale! Nice way to recycle your old clothes that you know are too cute just to donate to Savers, and also get a little bit back for your original purchase.
Ana outfitted me with a bunch of new cute things, from a Roxy jean skirt, to a super sexy silky hankerchiff top, to a brand new Abercrombie and Fitch white tank, and JP a vintage orange aloha tee with the seal of Hawaii printed all over it. Jewelry wide, cute bathing suits too. If you're into those one of a kind pieces but don't like to rummage through Savers for 3 hours (like I've done too many times)... then go to North Shore Consignment. If you got a couple of trash bags of cute clothes lying around, go unload at NSC and make some money! Tell Ana or Sarah I said "Heeeeyyyy girl heeeey!!"
North Shore Consignment
42 Baldwin Ave
Paia, HI 96779
808-579-6079
(terrible face! lol but cute shirt! Brand new A&F)
2 shows 2000 miles apart in 2 days? nutso
Ey pretties!
I am finally blogging again after probably the craziest weekend of my life...
Friday the 24th was the West Beach Music Festival in Santa Barbara... what an event. I was on the bill with TONS of sick roots rock reggae acts like Collie Buddz, Katchafire and Rebelution, (http://www.westbeachmusicfest.com) ...the following day had UB40, SOJA, etc and TONS of Dj's from all over the place... what a line up. Held in beautiful Santa Barbara, I couldn't refuse the offer to play at this incredible event....eeeeeven though I had another very important show the next day in HILO, Hawaii... the KWXX Ho'olaule'a... the biggest free concert event in Hawaii, hands down. I'm a girl always up for a challenge, so after I realized it was actually physically possible to get a (series of) flight(s) from Santa Barbara to Hilo in time to perform at both, I made it happen. I called my boys STRANGER from San Diego, who took the challenge of backing me at West Beach with ZERO practice with me--Just the memories from watching my set with The Green during the Surf Roots Tour and a small jam sesh with only 1 acoustic guitar in the hotel room 20 mins prior to zooming out the door. They are such amazing musicians, they pulled the damn thing off beautifully. Thanks you guys! After watching Collie Buddz and Rebelution, we caught Katchafire at the afterparty at SOHO and I was stoked to catch some sick live hip hop of Zion I too... such bad ass music out there, I always gain so much inspiration when I get out of the Hawaii bubble for a bit.
Next morning we left SB by car to LAX at 4:30am to catch the only flight that could make the connection to Hilo by showtime. Boy oh boy..... ha.....um..... that was a rough one. Lets just say thank you so much Hawaiian airlines for those foldable head rest things that lock around your head so you can sleeeeep! I was crashed and managed to have a voice for the big show despite the time zone change and the screaming I did from the front row at all the great West Beach shows the night before.
Ho'olaule'a was going off by the time we rolled up. My Oahu band Ambrose, Rev, BW on keys, and JP on git met me at the airport in HNL, and after checking in to the hotel we rocked the Haili stage in downtown Hilo 2nd to last to Maui's finest, Ekolu. Big Island peeps give me so much love... thank you so much for a great time at my first Ho'olaule'a performance! Here's some clips. THANK YOU KWXX for all your support!
Now its back to business! I get to go to my home island MAUI this weekend to play at the Maui County Fair! I used to go every single year, ride the Zipper, eat Chow Fun from the cone, and you better believe you'll see me in line for the jumping castle. ("I'm sorry ma'am but this is for children 10 and under")....;)
Aloha always!
Anuhea
Hawaii's First Fashion Week!
Since I met Ralph Malani, my life has changed:) He's my stylist, and has hooked me up with so many different polynesian based designers and their clothing. Names like Hinano Tahiti, Missing Polynesia, and Tiare Teiti... jewelry and threads, hats and shoes. Ralph has the eye for maintaining my connection to Hawaii through my clothes, even though my music isn't necessarily "hawaiian" at all.
Ralph owns and runs a modeling and talent agency as well.. http://www.hawaiipolynesianmodels.com. Ralph is a visionary, and he has decided to put on a big event to bring together all of Hawaii's finest designers and fashion lovers and calling it Hawaii Fashion Week. There's one in London, one in New York, Hawaii is next!!! Just like our music, Hawaii's fashion scene is so unique and so inspired by our natural surroundings. The fashion and style that comes from these islands deserves to be recognized and celebrated!
Sunday of Labor Day weekend! Get pre-sale tickets to Hawaii's Fashion Week Launch Party at Level4 Nightclub. Check out mean local styles for guys and girls (like MissingPolynesia.com), hot chicks, fashion shows, hot guys, and a live concert by some girl named Anuhea. Should be a fun evening!
And if you hadn't checked out this article about my style make over in Hawaii's Star Advertiser... here it is:
Surf Roots Tour is going STRONG.. I say it all the time, but we are having the time of our lives on the road. It is HARD sometimes! Especially since this tour we don't have the tour bus like last time.. so its a LOT of driving, a lot of moving in and out of hotels, and a lot of late nights and early mornings. Taking a toll on my voice a bit, but I'm handling.
I'm sitting in the green room of the Hodi's Half Note in Fort Collins, Colorado. P-Knuckle rocking right now, then the green and I hit the stage in about a half hour. We have a show tomorrow night in Denver, then we hit Arizona and finally Vegas on Sunday. I can't wait!! I get to stay in Vegas and play the Guam Nation event in Vegas with Iration and Tribal Seed on the 21st. Should be a blast. Then its back to Hawaii. The whole tour so far has been great... started in LA, then up and down the Cali coast, oregon, washington, Idaho, Utah, etc etc... and we can't forget about our stop back to Hawaii for Birthday Bash (crazy!)
I'm getting anxious and excited for my next album already.. Collecting inspiration every day.
PS: Brad says HI! lol
Anuhea
PS: For the best most up to date photos of the tour and the adventures of myself and The Green, check facebook! I have a fan page...
Search Anuhea.
Anuhea in the Road Runner Music Hall 8/25!
Oahu peeps!
The week I get back from tour, we'll be right back at it! Come catch my first Road Runner Music Hall Performance! Winning tickets is the only way you can be in the live studio audience, but you'll be able to tune in LIVE around the world on www.island985.com at 9am HST (Wednesday 8/25) to hear my hour set.
Check the press release from Island985 for details:
Na Hoku Hanohano Award winner ANUHEA will be performing at the Road Runner Music Hall. We'll be broadcasting and streaming LIVE with The Wake Up Crew -- Wednesday Morning, August 25 at 9 AM. Enter to win your seats to this event!
You and a guest could catch Hawaii's Hottest New Artist, ANUHEA, up close and personal, as she performs LIVE in the Road Runner Music Hall on Wednesday, August 25 at 9 AM.
ANUHEA will be sharing stories of her life and career, along with her Na Hoku award-winning music!
This event with ANUHEA will be Broadcast Live on Island 98.5 FM with Hawaii's top-rated Wake Up Crew - Rory Wild, Gregg Hammer and Crystal Akana.
The event will also be webcast live at www.island985.com and www.thehall.tv.
Additional Contest Details:
What's up for grabs (prize)? Each winner gets 2 seats at the Music Hall event.
How many times can I enter? To increase your chances, enter daily between now and Thursday, August 19.
How will winners be picked? Winners will be chosen randomly on Friday, August 20 and will be contacted by email.
On the road again! Surf Roots going STRONG!
So I'm actually back in Hawaii right now... we just arrived for a quick trip back to the 808 for the KCCN FM100 Birthday Bash... kinda crazy we're doing this, (coming home for about 48 hours just for one show) but its a necessary break from the road, and this Bday bash is a huge annual concert. We have to show love to our Hawaii people. So The Green and I are going on tonight. Should be mean.
The Surf Roots Tour has been going strong! About 10 days in so far. Here's some YouTube I found from almost every show:
Wednesday July 21st, The Roxy in LA:
Thursday, July 22nd BriXton Redondo Beach, CA:
Friday July 23rd, Wavehouse San Diego:
Saturday, Tiki Bar, Costa Mesa, CA (raged!)
Sunday, Rhythm Lounge, Long Beach, CA (raged!)
Tuesday, Sandbar Santa Barbara, CA:
"Charismatic SOB"
We also played in Santa Cruz, and last night in San Francisco! Soo much fun. More pix and vids coming soon, but be sure to "like" me on Facebook so you can get the hottest updates!
Big ups Tamarama Stranger Resin Music and The Green! We're having a blastttt!!!
Aloha always,
Anuhea
Style Make Over? ummmm ok!
So I never really thought I had terrible style... but I did realize I was not feeling very confident on stage in some of the things I was wearing. So Ralph Malani, the artist who did my hair for the Hoku's (the vertical crazy faux hawk thing).. and I have made a connection, and he offered to help me get styled out before I left on tour again. He knows tons of designers, local and national, and they were kind (and stoked!) to give me some clothes. My style before was very Hawaii... I would wear slippers or bare feet, bathing suit tops for bras, and trucker hats all the time. Ralph wanted me to be a little more... "pretty" and since I am Hawaiian and am from Hawaii and live in Hawaii, but don't play Hawaiian music, he said I can and should embrace the florals and flowiness of Hawaiian style apparel. I was down to try. He cut and dyed and curled my hair, put lipstick on me, and gave me tons of cool clothes from local polynesian designers.
When the people at the Star Advertiser heard about our project, they wanted the story. Our Chinatown Honolulu photoshoot is documented below, photos by Whitby Beirwolf.
Aloha you guys...
In about a month we are heading to America again. July 21st-August 15th we'll be on the Resin Music Surf Roots Tour 2010. Hitting west coast and mid west on spreading the surf roots culture across America. I can not wait to get on that bus again!
I am honored to be headlining the show this year, backed by my boys The Green again. The tour will also be featuring Stranger from San Diego and Tamarama from Australia. This is the 5th annual Surf Roots Tour, and the Resin Music team has it on lock booking at the sickest venues with some killer local bands opening in almost every city. The debut show is at The Roxy in LA on the 21st of July. Presale tickets already available too! Do not miss the opportunity to see us!! We absolutely can't wait to rock for you.
Check my SHOWS tab for some PRESALE TICKETS!
SURF ROOTS TOUR 2010
WED, JULY 21 - THE ROXY - LOS ANGELES, CA
THURS, July 22 - BriXton - REDONDO BEACH, CA
FRI, JULY 23 - SOUNDWAVES - SAN DIEGO, CA
SAT. JULY 24 - TIKI BAR - COSTA MESA, CA
SUN, JULY 25 - RHYTHM LOUNGE - LONG BEACH, CA
TUES, JULY 27 - SANDBAR - SANTA BARBARA, CA
WED, JULY 28 - DOWNTOWN BREW - SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA
THUR, JULY 29 - THE CATALYST - SANTA CRUZ, CA
FRI , JULY 30 - BROADWAY STUDIOS - SAN FRANCISCO, CA
SAT JULY 31- (ANUHEA & THE GREEN back to HAWAII FOR KCCN BIRTHDAY BASH)
SUN JULY 1 - THE UNDERGROUND - RENO, NV
MON, AUG 2 - SENATOR THEATER - CHICO, CA
TUES, AUG 3 - APPLEGATE LODGE - APPLEGATE, OR
WED, AUG 4 - WOW HALL - EUGENE, OR
THURS, AUG 5 - HAWTHORNE THEATER - PORTLAND, OR
FRI, AUG 6 - SNOQUALMIE CASINO - SNOQUALMIE, WA
SAT, AUG 7 - WILD BUFFALO - BELLINGHAM, WA
SUN , AUG 8 - THE REEF - BOISE, ID
MON, AUG 9 - TBA - SALT LAKE CITY, UT
TUES, AUG 10 - HODI'S HALF NOTE - FORT COLLINS, CO
WED, AUG 11 - CASSELMANS - DENVER, CO
FRI, AUG 13 - THE HUT - TUSCON, AZ
SAT, AUG 14 - THE COMPOUND - PHOENIX, AZ
SUN, AUG 15 - BLUE MARTINI LOUNGE - LAS VEGAS, NV
"Come Over Love" on the FIRST DAY OF SUMMER
Today is the first day of SUMMER! Can't believe the year has gone by so fast. This morning was pretty cool... we went down to the Wet N Wild Waterpark in Kapolei for a live broadcast of Hawaii News Now morning news. All the Sunrise crew were there, and the public was invited for free if they were down to come that early. 640am was my first song... (Below) 'Come OVer Love'. The Green boys came after, and jammed, then us together at the end... then we had a nice little waterballoon fight at the end there (you can see on the camera.)
We then missioned the rides. I was down to try the FLOWRIDER... the stationary wave machine that you can ride stand up board or body board on... Girls should wear a rash guard... I also wore my padeo tied like shorts... JUST in case. First time I ever tried it, but it was a blast! And no clothing ripped off. (Ive heard horror stories from girls!) We did all the other fun slides and stuff too... what a great day. Got to hang with some of my favorite people too. #mahalokeakua
Anuhea wins two for two at the Hokus!!
Anuhea is stoked to announce she won both awards she was up for at the Na Hoku Hanohano Awards last night! Most Promising Artist and Contemporary Album of the year! Congratulations to Anuhea and all those who support the music!
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Hoku Hanohano Awards coming up!
In Hawaii there's this annual thing called "The Hokus", short for Na Hoku o Hawaii Music Festival... kind of Hawaii's version of the Grammy's. Local music in Hawaii has a style of its own, and we definitely aren't represented properly in the Hawaiian music category of the real Grammy's... all the more reason why the Hoku's are so cool in Hawaii. Pretty much the who's who of Hawaii music are in attendance at the awards show, and as long as you fill out your paperwork properly, sold records, and are down to rep yourself (as opposed to those who WANT to remain underground), if you're somebody in 808 music, you'll be at the Hokus.
This year I've been nominated for 2 awards! Most Promising Artist, and Contemporary Album of the Year. Its pretty cool for me, since I was a little kid I used to watch my aunty Nalani and Na Leo on the Hoku's. Now I'm going to be there, nominated, and I've been asked to perform LIVE on the Tv program. That's going to be nuts. The Green will be backing me, and we're going to do a unique version of the Hawaii hit, "Big Deal". (Been watching Beyonce live in DVD, and I'm ultra inspired! LOL)
So May 30th, if you in Hawaii watch the program... not sure if its going to be streaming live for mainland, but I'll def be filling you in via Twitter and such. (@anuheajams).
Also if you guys want something fun and different to do, come attend the HOku's! Anyone can come to the show... its pretty cool! I attended last year. Its almost like prom again! But you get to get dressed up all fancy, choke local celebs around, drinks, meals, entertainment, etc. Tickets to the event, and other events throughout the week can be found on: www.NaHokuOHawaiiMusicFestival.com!
For real, check it out.
Also, check this commercial for it... can you see me? lol
In the meantime, I gotta practice the show, figure out what I, AND the boys in the band are going to be WEARING, (I'm thinking I wear bright yellow, green or blue with the boys in dark gray..), and all the other details.
I have some shows coming up with the Mana Maoli Collective. Read about them under "Shows" on this page... but I get to go to Big Island and play with them in couple weeks, show on Oahu, and one on Maui the night before the HOku's actually.
We're going to Moloka'i on Friday night too! Should be mean. Moloka'i is the "Friendly Isle" in Hawaii, small, super laid back, and its very exciting when a band comes to play at their one bar, Paddlers. So The Green and I are playing on Friday. Should be ridiculous. Can't wait to stock up on that 'ono Molokai sweet bread.
Looking forward to The Surf Roots Tour that I'm headlining starting July. Its official, The Green is coming too! Stoked to hana hou this time with all that we've learned from the Right Love Tour... how to live on the bus, how to perform, to travel, to get along, to stay healthy, etc. This time it should be a fine-tuned machine! So final line up for the Resin Music Surf Roots Tour!:
Anuhea
The Green
Stranger
Tamarama
and a local band in every city we go to.
Get ready, dates and venues for the country-wide tour will be released hopefully next week! Cheeeee!!!!
More later... love you all and mahalo nui for all the continued support!
Some promotion on the news the week leading up...
Some VIDEOS i found on YouTube from KOKUA FEST
Me singing "Mud Football" with Jack Johnson at Kokua Fest...Day 2
"Three Little Birds" with Jack Johnson, Ziggy Marley, Taj Mahal, Jake Shimabukuro, and Paula Fuga.. day 2 Kokua
Here I Go Again/Shoop remix on Day 2
"Big Deal" on Day 1
"Come Over Love" on Day 2
Some Kokua Pics...
Kokua Fest was last weekend at the Waikiki Shell. I was so stoked to be on the bill with Jack Johnson, Ziggy Marley, Taj Mahal, Jake Shimabukuro, and myself backed by my friends The Green. It was seriously one of the highlights of my life. And for such a great cause! The Kokua Hawaii Foundation is doing an amazing job blazing a trail of cleaner, eco-friendly living by blending their education with entertainment. Brilliant. Here's some pictures... more can be found on my Facebook Fan Page... click my Facebook link of the bottom of this page.
Anuhea's Kokua Fest Facebook Photo Album
Right Love Tour Signing OUT.
The Right Love Tour is officially Pau. I'm laying in my bed back in Kahala Avenue, spent the morning at the beach, slept, attempted to unpack my 4 suitcases, slept some more, laundry laundry and now I'm zoning out to Jack Johnson as I play out my Kokua Festival set (which is only 10 days away now!)
The Right Love Tour seriously changed my life. Anyone that knows me and my music will see that things are going to be different from now on. I have seen the country for the first time. Learned a lot about stage presence, live sound, managing your health and the physical aspect of being on a bus for a month, getting along with the people you're around day in and out with zero break, etc. I was also inspired and influenced by so much other music along my journey. Being around musical people day in and out definitely affected me as well. The Green and I would either be watching Live in Concert DVD's (John Legend, Beyonce, John Mayer, etc) or jamming 'ukulele/guitar making up funny songs as we travel down the road.
The intention was to have everyone in the band have their own little blog section... some attempted, but it just became too hard. I'm a feign at bloggin and keeping my stuffs up to date, so I tried to encompass everyone's experiences in my blog. But I suggest if you want a deeper bio of everyone in The Green's experience, check out their Facebook page:
Overall, the Right Love Tour was a huge success. Thank you so much to our sponsors Creative Labs, Kona Brewing Co., Hawaii Central Credit Union, to my manager and friend Warren Wyatt and the Worldsound team, Todd and Dwayne for the internet and design help, Julie for her constant hustle, planning and advice, to Ross the boss my sound-guy and friend who stepped up as Tour Manager extraordinaire, Kimo for being SUCH a huge help, Sheehan for the merch responsibilities, posting vids and pics and making sure we were all taken care of, to Rafe for the assistance at South by Southwest, Mike Cusanelli for all the work you did and stepped up to on this tour, to all the bands we played with on tour, Tribal Theory in San Diego, Sage from San Francisco at our SF and LA shows, Jen Kearny of Boston, and Analogue Transit of NYC for our Lowell and NY shows.
Also a big aloha to The Green boys Kaiks, Zion, Caleb and JP, also Les and Brad in the rhythm section. You guys became some of my best friends on that bus, and I'm so happy it was as good for you as it was for me. I can't wait to HANA HOU!!!
In the meantime, we'll be preparing for Kokua Festival on April 23 &24th, the Hoku Hanohano Awards on May 30th, and another mini-tour of the West Coast and Vegas in May! More info coming soon.
Aloha always!
Anuhea
Some pictures from our home stretch heading from New York to LA:
Home Stretch Photo Shoot!.
Check out the KWXX Radio iphone app!
Click this link to download...
Big ups to the KWXX ohana for always supporting me and my music over on the Big Island! They even featuring me on their iphone app! Hows that for aloha.
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/kwxx/id324690675?mt=8
Anuhea loves HCCU
So Hawaii Central Credit Union is helping me manage my life when it comes to money. Jump on the train Hawaii peeps! This is the real deal. Let's get our money right and enjoy life more! http://www.hccu.info
Koch, Keiki in Connecticut and Ma-MassaChewtsutz?
To cover where I left off from Cleveland Ohio...
We rolled out of Cleveland on the Sunday March 28th and on to a quick stop over the NY border for a tour of the Koch/E-1 Entertainment Headquarters.
OneHawaii (my wittle indie label) has been with Koch Distribution (now called E-1 Entertainment, but I'm going to call them Koch for this right now okay?) since the start. They are the number one independent distribution company in the world, being up and up with the big guys like Universal for certain things. So we wanted to give back to the hard working handful of employees they have there and have a little jam sesh pizza party. Plus The Green are only physically distributed in Hawaii right now, so.... eh... you know... see how they like um! After jamming in the board room we walked around the warehouse, checking out the machines and workers that pile hundreds of thousands of CDs into boxes to ship out across the US. The people who work in the categorizing and organization of the warehouse itself are pretty amazing. But unless you deeply enjoy the wonders of the Dewey Decimal system, its not the kind of job I'd choose to pursue.
We pulled out of the outskirts of NY and headed to Connecticut (where I was TRIPPING out that there's a "c" in the middle that you don't pronounce... i was like nuh-uh! no way.) It was super stormy and cold there... not super common for this time of year, so Mike Cusanelli (one of my label/management heads) was apologizing for it being pretty miserable since that's where he's from. But it was really cool to be somewhere different. Mike had asked me if I wanted to do a little meet and greet and spread some aloha to his wife's students, since she's a KINDERGARDEN teacher at a local Montessori School. I was down! But as I pulled up I got nervous! Lol! The kids were so sweet! I brought one of the Pono 'Ukulele's from Ko'olau Guitar/Ukulele Co (Thanks you guys!!) and taught the kids how to play "My dog has fleas" (any Hawaii kid knows that song! No chords, just strum each of the 4 strings top to bottom.) They loved the download cards, and taught them the shaka, they all said my name properly, and pointed out where Hawaii was on a map. A few had even been before! I realize how much I really do like kids, and made me think back to when I wanted to be a teacher like my dad, my grandma and my great-grandma.
That night (Tuesday the 30th) we had a show at Two Boots which is an Italian and Boston fusion restaurant-- so think Pizza meets east coast style grinds-- but all their restaurants also boast great live music stages. The turnout in CT wasn't packed like our West Coast run, but we knew it would get less and less the further away from Hawaii we went. However the peeps that did come were super fans and knew our stuff, sang along, bought merch, took pix, etc. Plus Two Boots took mad care of us! Food, (best caesar salad I ever had! Grilled Blackened cat fish) and the boys had buffalo chicken pizzas! Unlimited drinks and great vibes afterward.
The hotel we got for showering had an indoor pool and sauna, so Les and Caleb enjoyed the steaming hotness. I didn't find out about it till it was closed, boo, but that would have been amazing in the 30 degree temp.
We rolled back out of Bridgeport CT over to Massachutsets (can I EVER spell these states and cities correctly? My gosh, Hawaiian is so easy for me, but these double letter silent 'c's are killers...)
We had a show at Gemstones on Wednesday the 28th, a sick venue above the popular bar The Blue Clover in downtown Lowell. Opening for us there were my management, Worldsounds' label artists and unique indie rocking New Yorkers 'Analogue Transit' and local soul Nikka Costa-esque singer/songwriter/piano player 'Jen Kearny'. Show went great, I had a blast, but at this moment I don't have a SINGLE picture! Lol... someone help me out with that please! Facebook me.
From Lowell we headed out for the climax city of our tour... our final city.... the big one... the big apple in fact.......... NEW YORK!!!!!!!!!!!!
To be continued......
We're in the south ya'll
Yeeeeehaw ya'll!!
So right now as I type this blog (Friday March 26th) we're on the bus somewhere in the middle of Kentucky. Heading to the Jack Daniel's Distillery in Lynchburg, TN, and then Saturday we're hitting up the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland Ohio. But before I get there, let's back track on our past couple shows and our southern endeavors! Arkansas, Tennessee and Louisiana!
Nashville, TN
We had a show last night in Nashville at this Grimey little spot called "The Basement" right beneath Grimey's Record Store, owned by Mike Grimey... lol It was awesome. Intimate crowd at 6pm on a Wednesday but we rocked it!! So cool to be playing in such a musically famous city! We had to check out Nashville city after that, so Pizzle and I caught a cab to 2nd street. Every bar on that place had live country music. It was pretty incredible. We went into this spot that had food, music and drinks and had some sweet Tennessee bar fare while watching a young girl jamming on the fiddle, another chick with the voice of Carrie Underwood singing any song you wrote down on a napkin for her while she danced all over the bar--all the while her dad played bass, another chick drummed, and it wasn't a big thing when 2 older men in denim overalls started like square dance tap dancing on the dance floor. So rad. Saw a couple other spots before we got too cold and tired and cabbed it back to the bus.
The night before was incredible as well. We had the honor and privilege of recording at the legendary Sun Studio in Memphis Tennessee. If you don't know what that is, its the original studio that legendary artists of history like Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, BB King, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Howlin Wolf, JUST to name a very few. They have tours by day, then in the evening they open the "museum" as a fully functioning LIVE recording studio.. Basically just a room with mics and no over-dubs... just jam and record! We had a blast in there! Recording late into the night. The Green did 6 songs, I did 6 songs. We're planning on releasing them in the near future for a live EP... LIVE FROM SUN STUDIO. Can't wait!
Little Rock, AK
The night before was also fun.. we had a show in Little Rock Arkansas... another place I had never been before. It was a cool venue with lots of character called, "Sticky Fingerz". Located near President Clinton ave... (yup.. we were definitely in Arkansas!) I had done a little in-store at an Air Force Base in Little Rock earlier that afternoon, and met a couple of Hawaii peeps there. We invited them to the show, and they came, rocked with us, hung out with us, showed us where to go afterwards. It was really fun! I met President Obama and made out with him.
JP caught him smoking a cigarette...That's it Barack, I'm telling Michelle.
New Orleans, LA
Of course our favorite city for food so far was New Orleans! We had a day off before our show at the Republic New Orleans on Monday, so The Green and I saw, did and ate as much as we could:)
Quick story, the morning we got there we decided to find some food. We all stopped in a casino to use the bathroom, then we walked like 10 blocks in the unusually cold windy afternoon weather, and finally found Acme Oyster House!! All excited while waiting in line I go to bust out my iPhone to tweet something, I realize its gone. I search my purse, ask around... nothing. I figure I must have left it IN the Casino bathroom!!! Leaving your phone in a casino isn't like leaving it in a church... the chance of you getting it back is not quite as high... I HAD to try though. Pizzle came with me and we jumped in a cab back to the casino... just knowing that it was already history. I walk into the bathroom, and low and behold... HALELUJAH it was right there. Amazing. I was all stoked. As we're going to run back to the restaurant, JP suggests we stop at a craps table cause I was the luckiest person in New Orleans right then. I had never gambled before so I let him take the lead. He puts $5 on 20 on the craps table, and within 30 seconds of us squeezing on this table, it HITS!!! We won like 140 bucks. Crazy!
Acme oyster house was insane.... Even the guy from Man Vs. Food ate there! He pounded 42 dozen oysters, we had like 3 dozen on our table. Not to mention fried catfish, hush puppies, or what I ordered, Shrimp Po' Boy sandwich. The Gumbalaya was nuts! As were the 2 shots each of Crown Royal that J and I took to celebrate our big win:) Good times.
After a good nap, we got together and roamed the famous/infamous Bourbon Street. It was a Sunday, so it wasn't like packed, but everything was open, and bumping, and live music, and naked ladies, and all the things you want in a street named after an alcohol.
Next night was our show at the Republic NOLA. Our friend and Worldsound helper Rafe went to school in Nawlins, so he invited a bunch of his friends out. The venue was sick! Awesome sound, and we were all stoked to be playing in the super bowl city, especially since it was booked last minute. Bonus.
So I think I covered all the blanks. Shout out to our sponsors again, Kona Beer, Creative Labs and Hawaii Central Credit Union! You guys are creating so much inspiration and memories for us, and we hope we're showing our fans and friends around the world that we can spread the aloha throughout the US.
Aloha always,
Anuhea
Seattle in the books! Now on the trail blazing to Oregon!
Official day one of our Right Love Tour was all that I imagined it would be... with a few crazy twists to keep it exciting!
We woke up at the hotel had some breakfast at a local by-the-airport-diner called Dave's Diner, then packed up our hotel. Waited anxiously for our bus to arrive, and finally it pulls up! It was so much better than we expected... leather couches, 2 flat screen tvs, wifi, 12 beds, full fridge, etc etc.... so lush and so pimp. We picked our bunks and semi settled in. Still missing our 7 bags, I realized I had to rock the show without my hat that night... Brad hit up Urban Outfitters since most of his clothes were lost in the air.
We did a small in-store performance at Silver Platters Record Store at around 530. Met a few girls from Lanai and some other locals. Then we zoomed back to Chop Suey for soundcheck.
Chop Suey was a hip lil venue and we were greeted by the local band Island Bound (comprised of mostly peeps who lived/has family in Hawaii). Once the doors opened it started getting flooded with local peeps... lots of flowers in the ears, Maui Built shirts and hats, college kids and young local music lovers wide. So stoked with the turnout.
We slept for our first night on the bus as it was parked behind the venue, after having one of the most amazing late-night-hot dogs (made with grilled onions and cream cheese!) As I was falling asleep we would all look at eachother and just stop and realize... OH MY GOD we're on our tourbus, on tour, playing music every night!!! HOW stoked are we.
Woke up the next day later than everyone, and we were at the Seattle airport FINALLY picking up our lost luggage. Once we got that down, we stopped at a grocery store to meet Warren and grab some stuff for the bus. As we were pulling away, JP gets a call from Shniggs. Yup, sure enough we accidentally left him in the parking lot! LOL... had to get Julie out of bed and pick him up, and meet us a bit up the freeway since it was too late to turn all the way around! So classic.
So now we're on the bus to Oregon where pretty much half of my family is currently living. Sis is in college, brother in school, mom is living there, and that's where my grandparents, uncles, aunties, and cousins live too. So trying to swing it to have dinner with them tonight... mom wants to feed all 11 of us at my grandpszz house.. I'm warning her these Hawaiian boys can EAT! beware....
Tonight at Pacific should be awesome! Our first college show, and my sis is telling me all her peeps are super stoked we're coming. Lots of Hawaii people at Pacific U, so let's entertain them and those who appreciate the island vibes!
Free to students, $10 donation to all else. All welcome! We'll start around 930, open mic starts at like 7pm.
Pepper supports the Anu-Nation! ;)
Check out this video that the boys from Pepper made promotin the show in San Juan Capistrano! So rad...
Our California endeavors
Aloha friends and Anu-Nationals!
So its about a week into the Right Love Tour... its our first day off and I'm catching up on the pic/vid/vlog update-age.
After Seattle and the amazing hot dogs, we bounced down to Oregon for our show at Pacific University. I was very excited to see my sister who's a student there, and everyone else in my mainland family.... plus college shows are always a blast! The place was RAGING! Its like the kids hadn't seen a good reggae show in months! So much good feedback and aloha.
Got to have a drink with the mom, she finally met JP and Warren and the rest of my main peeps in real life, and we had a drink with her and her coworkers and my uncle at a local pub. Dropped off my suitcase of Hawaiian snacks and goodies (mochi crunch, shrimp chips, li hing mui gummies, iso peanuts, etc.) to my sis, and then we had to bounce to the city by the bay!!!
Our shows in San Francisco was killer! Pulling into that city was the best feeling ever! The Broadway Studios was such a rad venue, so much character... and i got my own little green room to chill in. We also had enough time to run down to the Pier and get some classic SF seafood!!!
The turnout was great! Ikaikas sister and his family came out, lots of classmates, and random fans as well. We actually had the option for peeps to buy a ticket to come early, cruize with us for dinner and chatting, and I met a friend (Shanna) who I only knew on Twitter until then! Another testament that Twitter is the shit.... :)
We stayed there that night, then headed out the next morning to San Jose. It was freeeezing in SJ! We checked into our awesome hotel, The Fairmont San Jose and I called dibs on sleeping in the room that night! Sound checked then started the show. It was an awesome venue... it was a Sunday night, so we didn't know what to expect with the turnout for our first time, but there was a lot of good vibes! The Bay area got mad love for reggae and island influence music... much love.
THAT night however, I was trying to be funny and I started to run alongside the equipment truck with everyone inside as it was cruising down the street. I ended up twisting my ankle in a pot hole and going DOWN. My ankle felt BROKEN! Was so insanely sore... I was carried into the Taqueria where everyone was teasing me as I cried, then hobbled back to hotel where I got hooked up with a wheelchair. Sleeping that night was painful. No painkiller (other than a couple of shots of Crown Royal) and no compression. I needed to get to Rite Aid or something pronto.
Next day we were heading to San Luis Obispo, but not before a heavy WalMart stop. I still couldn't walk, and needed some stuff to make me better. So JP hooked me up with a motorized wheelchair and I got my shopping done. Ace Bandages, Aleve, Icy Hot, and ice packs. It was very humbling being in that wheel chair. Hard work. Makes me thankful for everything I may take for granted at times.
We arrived in FREEZING SLO and unloaded our stuff at Downtown Brew. Again, a Monday night we weren't sure about, but we were greeted with posters of mine lined throughout the venue, and a bunch of fans waiting in the upstairs restaurant for us to start! Great vibes, and a bunch of our Santa Barbara peeps came over for this show. Can't wait to return on a weekend and just RAGE it. Awesome show in SLO.. thanks to Korey and the crew!!
It was off on the bus again the next morning to Los Angeles which brings me to YESTERDAY. Last nights show at The Mint was amazing... one of our best so far ever. It was a very important show to me, not just because there were a lot of big wigs in the house, but also because I had played The Mint about 8 months ago, and it wasn't a homerun for me personally as a performer. I just really wanted to knock it out of the park at that legendary awesome LA venue, and I think last night we succeeded. I Love playing with The Green... they are some of my best friends so being up there is just millions of times more comfortable. Makes a huge difference. The band that played with us in San Francisco and here in LA was this band SAGE. You guys gotta check them out! Super interesting sound, like Pepper and Jake Shimabukuro put together!After the show was over we all just hung out and enjoyed our Kona Beers that the Kona Brewing Company hooked up for us!
Anyway, so right now me brad and JP are in the back of the bus watching "Longest Yard". Prolly gonna watch 3D Alice in Wonderland later tonight with everyone! Don't want to overdo it tonight, our first night off since the Right Love Tour started. Tomorrow we bussing it super early to the OC area and playing at the Coach House in San Juan Capistrano.
We're having a hard time getting everyone's videos from their Vado to this site, just because things have been so hectic! But I'm working on it slowly but surely... and be sure to check my first edited video Vlog here on this page.
SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO THURSDAY!!! SAN DIEGO FRIDAY! ARIZONA SATURDAY AND SUNDAY!!!
Aloha always,
Anuhea!
South by Southwest a success!
So we had a blast at our week in Texas. (March 16-20th)
South by Southwest 2010 was even better than last year. Highlights? Meeting Doug Benson, watching ESTELLE LIVE!!!!!! and seeing Travie from Gym Class Heroes after a few years, Stone Temple Pilots, Mayer Hawthorne, late night Gyros, jamming with Tavana, The Green (of course), Kona, Pimpbot, Sabrina, and all the other Hawaii peeps, JP's parents surprising us in Austin, and the kick ass Official Showcase at Submerged on Saturday night. I want to re-live South by again and again, but alas, the week is over. Good news is that we are still on the road for 2 more weeks! More memories to come!
Jack Daniel, Cleveland Browns and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame!
The past few days have been gig-free, but very interesting! After leaving Nashville we had a weekend to do some exploring in the Middle America area. So after a vote, The Green and I decided we wanted to do 2 things.. visit the Jack Daniel's Distillery in Lynchburg Tennessee, and hit up the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland Ohio.
We rolled through the most beautiful countryside I've seen (other than Upcountry Maui of course:) through Tennessee and into the quaint town of Lynchburg. The weather was perfect, rolling up at around 3pm, when the shadows from the trees, homes and cows created a nostalgic ambiance that made us keep the bus windows open.
We pulled up to the Jack Daniel Distillery, got our tickets and jumped on the last tour of the day. After watching a brief movie of the history of the land, we took the tour. Our tour guide was awesome, southern accents just make any story sound SO much funnier and interesting to us! We learned where Jack was from, how whiskey is made (from wheat, barley and corn), why Jack chose Lynchburg (beautiful fresh naturally filtered spring water), why Tennessee whiskey is different from regular whiskey (filtered through natural home-made charcoal) and how to assemble a genuine Jack Daniel barrel for whiskey. Most of us on the bus are Crown Royal fans through and through, but after seeing the serenity of the are where this whiskey is created, and the amazing vibes of the people and processing, we all have appreciation for Mr. Daniel. Seriously one of the highlights of our tour thus far! I highly recommend.
Jumped back in the bus and missioned it North all night, up to Cleveland Ohio. We were on a mission to visit the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. But we actually got something else that ended up outshining the museum... Maui boy and Defensive Line Backer Kaluka Maiava of the Cleveland Browns is friends with some of the guys, and he picked Kimo JP and I up, took us to lunch, and arranged for us to have a VIP tour of the Cleveland Browns stadium. The weather was perfect (although very cold for us 808'ers) we entered through the underground back-gate and headed through the private hall into the players locker room... checked out the training room, showers, coaches lounge, sky boxes, through the tunnel and onto the field. Private boxes above the field are rented for $30,000-$100,000 per season... seems worth it to me:) It was so badass up there. Again, made me want to be a Browns fan after getting so much behind the scenes action! (Sorry dad! (vikings fan))
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame was cool too! Although you weren't allowed to take pictures inside, I sneekily snagged a couple (sorry! but isn't that what Rock and Roll is about?? Breaking the rules and stepping outside the norm??:)) Saw original drawings that Jimmy Hendrix drew as a kid:
Some clothes from pretty much every rock star in history, lyric scribbles, stage costumes, guitars, etc. Super cool. We heard a rumor there was a Bob Marley dreadlock in there somewhere but we couldn't find it.
San Diego Rage-o and choke Aloha in Arizona!
Aloha my friends, 'ohana and Anu-nationals,
So Thursday night (March 11th) was our show in San Juan Capistrano. The venue was called the Coach House where Pepper played often years ago when they were starting off. When they told me they were going to come support, I was tripping! Stoked, and nervous too! lol... The service at Coach House was off the hook. There was a helper, August, who was dedicated to keeping us stoked. Open bar, open menu, green rooms with the sickest decorations, and so much aloha and respect. There were two other local bands who opened for The Green and I... (I gotta find the names!! They were good!!) Then the boys hit the stage. Rocked their set, I did mine repping my Buti Groove shirt for this show:) Cruized with some friends from Twitter/Facebook after (big ups girls for driving 5 hours!!!) and we spent the night in the bus in the parking lot! The yushe.
Went for a run the next morning by myself in SJC, rocking out to the new Iration album (congrats on being #1 on iTunes reggae charts in your debut days!!) Then it was off to Ron Burgundy's hometown... SAN DIEGO!!!!
San Diego was awesome. (Friday March 12th) Rolled in, my brother picked us up and first things first: BURRITOS. Then second things second: LAUNDRY!!! We cruized at his house watching movies and catching up while my clothes washed, then he took us on a mini tour of Coronado Beach as we caught the sunset! Rolled us back up to the 710 Beach Club right in Pacific Beach, and it was already packed. Although we had a couple of issues with peoples personalities at the venue (douches), we had SO much fun. SUCH an awesome turnout, line out the door, over capacity, etc. Aloha spirit wide. Only thing is, someone stole my Tamba hat right off the stage!! I wanted that hat for the tour, girl! So un's. ;) Sadly we had to bounce immediately after the show, cause we were heading to ARIZONA for a performance at the annual Aloha Festival in Tempe at TWELVE NOON.
Woke up at 11 in a parking lot in Tempe... (hey that's a cool first line to a song!) and I had to get READY to be on stage, more importantly SING in an hour in front of potentially 50,000 people. (Annual festival in AZ hosts over 100k people over the weekend... HUGE festival at Tempe Beach Park, sponsored by our friends at Hawaiian Airlines!;) I was exhausted... semi-sicky vibes going around the bus little bit, and I was tossing and turning all night. So my voice was acting kinda nuts. Slapped some make up, threw all my un-brushed hair under my hat, brushed the jaws and rolled out the door, singing to the sound guys radio the whole ride over to the park. I think I did okay considering I just rolled out of bed. The boys rocked, and everyone else loved it. All the Hawaiians and polys were just so stoked to see some peeps from the islands. Although this was my show I knew the people wanted to hear The Green, or would at least fall in love with them if they did for the first time. So I asked them to play none other than.... "I wanna love you love you girl..." Signed autographs, shirts, cds etc with The Green and grinded.... YUP: Spam Musubis.
That evening we wanted to do something, and our friend from Hawaii, Blaze who's living here in Tempe right now for NFL training camp, suggested a bomb sushi spot called Sushi 101. We all met up there and grinded some of the most ridiculous rolls we've had, let alone from a land locked state like Arizona! Sake bombs wide. Then we had to hit up Mill street... I guess that's where its bumping we heard... so we stroll through the number one college party town in the nation (ASU) and roll upon some douchey douche bag door guys at one of the clubs. He checks id's.. checks all the boys in front of me, then when he gets to me, my hologram sticker thing was coming off my ID so he's like, "No your ID is damaged) and wouldn't let me in. Les and Z were all like dude, come on, etc etc... finally after begging he let me through. No Aloha. :):) After more drama that I'm not at liberty to discuss on a blog... ensued, we were able to sleep and prepare for day 2 of the Aloha Festival.
Which brings me to today. Today was awesome. We played at the smaller stage, at 2:30 so I had time to warm up, get ready proper, etc. We had a super good production meeting this morning with all of us, just focusing on how to streamline our procedures, duties, evaluating mistakes, quality control, blogging/vlogging responsibilities, post show etiquette, and bus behaviors, etc. I think that really made us closer and pumped us up on stage. Not to mention we sold like 10 times more cds and merchandise today than yesterday, which was a goal of ours. This bus does not pay for itself! We gotta hustle, my friends. Hustle.
Ate some huli huli style chicken (sooo many food booths to choose from! Shave ice, hawaiian plate, teri chicken, malasadas, etc etc etc) then we went back to the bus for some R&R. We all watched a bit of Coming to America, showered in the hotel, relaxed some more, then some of us went to watch a movie, others (me JP Zion Ross and Kaiks) went to CLAIM JUMPER for dinner! Again, one of those HAD TO things cause we're on the mainland!
Now its like 1am and we're on the move again, heading as far as we can towards Austin Texas for South by Southwest Music Festival! We have to stop in El Paso for 8 hours or so so John our bus driver can sleep. Heard some scary stuff about El Paso. We probably won't be leaving the bus.
Good night for now! Aloha always,
Anuhea
Central Park NYC!
Creative Labs!
Its a piece of cheese!
Right Love Tour Episode 1 "Hawaii Times to Seattle Vibes"
"Right Love Tour" Starring Anuhea & The Green
From Hawaii, 6 boys, 1 girl, tour bus across America. The Right Love Tour featuring Anuhea and The Green. Check anuheajams.com for tour details!
My purple hair.
Brand new posters thanks to MusicBailOut.net and NOH Foods!
Some new friends from our show in Atlanta!
Mat McHugh of The Beautiful Girls (Australia)
My brother taking the wheel... the majority of our days are on the road.
New friend Jeff from Florida, the band the Divebar Stalkers with some home made moonshine
"I've fallen in love with a king;)"
And the Mishka dates begin!
Mishka hitting the stage in Charleston, SC
Shrimp and grits, ya'll!! SOOO 'ono!
Awesome crowd in Wilmington, NC with Mishka!
Had to try some oysters in the Carolina's
Pirates
Getting in the zone in the green room in Wilmington... seems like I'm getting my teeth cleaned.
On the road again!!! Heading to Chapel Hill, NC tonight.
#4 The Right Love Tour (my first US tour) and the TOUR BUS experience!!! (Also, my first time to many cities, like NEW YORK)
