The dance floor was packed Friday night at Trees Lounge in Waipouli as Iris Downey and The Feel lit up the stage with a dynamic show. Wearing a leopard print dress, this cat can sing! The Feel certainly knew how
The dance floor was packed Friday night at Trees Lounge in Waipouli as Iris Downey and The Feel lit up the stage with a dynamic show. Wearing a leopard print dress, this cat can sing! The Feel certainly knew how to keep “the feel” of the music alive.
A diverse mix of people steadily streamed in to hear soulful originals like “Paradise” and covers, such as “Son of a Preacher Man” and Michael Jackson’s “The Way You Make Me Feel.” Downey gave new life to these classics with her vibrant stage presence, sultry voice, and her ability to engage the audience.
Members of The Feel include drummer Philly White, bassist Doug Schneider, and guitarist Kawika Scotland. Keyboardist Bart joined The Feel, adding a dimension of soul and funk reminiscent of Herbie Hancock.
Downey said the music she and The Feel plays is an eclectic mix of all the musical flavors on Kaua‘i. Indeed, a mix of funk, soul, jazz, rock and R &B kept the audience dancing and moving. Some people were even dancing from their cushy red velvety seats, taking advantage of their swivel.
In addition to her mesmerizing vocals, Downey also plays guitar, ‘ukulele, and percussion instruments.
Wise beyond her years, Downey shared her story with me over lunch. After living on Kaua‘i with her mother and auntie as a young child, Downey was raised in Vermont. During her senior year in high school, a time when most young people are looking forward to the future, Downey was diagnosed with lupus, an autoimmune disease with various debilitating symptoms.
Soon after her diagnosis, Downey began receiving traditional, western medicine treatments consisting of chemotherapy. With an indomitable spirit, Downey turned to music throughout her healing process.
With the encouragement of her auntie on Kaua‘i, Downey came back to her childhood haven of fond memories at Baby Beach to seek alternative healing therapies.
Downey’s auntie, a naturopathic doctor on Kaua‘i, began teaching her niece nutrition. Through eating healthy, vibrant foods and swimming in the ocean, Downey began to notice a change in the way she felt.
“You can heal yourself,” Downey said. She incorporates a 90/10 philosophy to eating healthy. “90% good, healthy foods that are going to heal your body and 10% is for the special occasions” when you want to have fun.
Music continued to wrap a luminescent light around Downey. Feeling more energy from healing with nutrition and La’au Lapa’au, Hawaiian herbal healing, Downey’s spirit and musical path continued to take flight.
The Kaua‘i Music Festival opened the door for Downey’s future in music. “I had a culminating experience of working on my craft and putting myself out there as a performer. I made amazing connections, one of them is a producer who wants to do my album,” said Downey.
In October of 2010, Downey recorded two songs you can find on her website. In March she will finish recording the vocal tracks. Downey said she will be “hunkering down with the year of the hare” and expects to see her album out next year, “the year of the dragon,” astrologically speaking.
With a reverence for ancient Hawaiian star navigation as well as how engrained singing is here, Downey feels at home and connected to the land, the culture, and the people of Kaua‘i.
“I feel strong. I feel my feet under my body. I feel myself radiating,” said Downey. Shine on. This young woman is an inspiration.
Be sure to see Iris and The Feel at an upcoming venue posted on her website: irisdowney.com.
Iris and The Feel can be seen at venues throughout Kaua‘i.Check out IrisDowney.com to find links to her music and facebookpage.
