HANALEI — Slack-key guitarist Makana is one of the artists nominated for a Best Compliation Soundtrack for Visual Media Grammy as part of the “The Descendents” movie soundtrack. But while his song, “Deep in an Ancient Hawaiian Forest,” is gaining
HANALEI — Slack-key guitarist Makana is one of the artists nominated for a Best Compliation Soundtrack for Visual Media Grammy as part of the “The Descendents” movie soundtrack.
But while his song, “Deep in an Ancient Hawaiian Forest,” is gaining recognition by the Recording Acadmey, it would just be OK to have another song featured on a soundtrack.
Makana said that he’s “really into music that is the soundtrack for life.”
Makana will perform at 7 p.m. Saturday at Tahiti Nui, at 5-5134 Kuhio Highway in Hanalei.
Tahiti Nui is the bar featured in “The Descendants” where the characters played by George Clooney and Beau Bridges meet up.
“The owner is a good friend of mine,” Makana said of playing in the low-key North Shore hangout.
Makana will also perform two shows at 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Sunday at Trees Lounge at 440 Aleka Place in the Coconut MarketPlace in Kapa‘a.
“Kaua‘i was the first big support audience I had,” Makana said of the “countless times” he has performed on the Garden Island since he was a teen.
He loves how every little part of Kaua‘i has such a different vibe.
“I’ve been feeling Ha‘ena lately,” he said, reminiscing about the open-ended feeling in the community.
He also appreciates that Kaua‘i has an air of mystery to it, something that interests him as artist.
“The real magic is under that mystery,” he said. “The wave of potentiality, that’s what inspires my music.”
Currently in the process of recording a new album, Makana is working with producer Ron Nevison, who has produced albums for The Who and Heart, among other big name acts.
One song they are working on is “Tears” which Makana said is “so powerful everyone who hears it starts crying.”
He is also working on another album in tribute to Sonny Chillingworth, who was Makana’s master until he passed away in 1994.
“I’m bifurcating my career between Hawaiian and mainstream music,” he said. Remaining an independent artist, he has avoided signing with major labels, which this allows his music to “happen on a different schedule.”
For as low key as some of his compositions are, Makana is also whip-smart and is known for his wicked sense of humor and unwavering commitment to stand up against injustices.
He gained international notoriety last year after he was invited to play at a state dinner during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting in Honolulu.
During the dinner, Makana played his song, “We are the Many,” for 45 minutes in tribute to the Occupy movement.
“I got lots of positive feedback,” he said of the performance, which was posted on YouTube. “Only 1 percent was negative.”
He said heard from people around the globe who were inspired by the story.
“It was a beautiful thing,” he said.
He said he loves using his art to inspire and empower people and is writing more all the time.
In the end, Kaua‘i remains one of Makana’s favorite places to play.
“I just feel very connected to Kaua‘i,” Makana said. “People there get what I do.”
The show at Tahiti Nui is all ages, but minors must be accompanied by an adult. Doors open at 6 p.m., and the show starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20 per person and are available by presale or at the door. For tickets or more information, call 826-6277 or 639-8487.
At Trees Lounge, doors open at 5 p.m. Sunday. The 6:30 p.m. show is all ages, while the 8:30 p.m. show is 21+ only. Tickets are $15 per person on a first come, first served basis and the house will be turned over between shows. For more information, call 823-0600.
