Stuart Hollinger wrote all 12 songs, words and music, on his new CD, “Endangered Species.” He chose those two words for good reason. “Endangered species is us as humans, as rock and rollers. It’s animals in the ocean, in the
Stuart Hollinger wrote all 12 songs, words and music, on his new CD, “Endangered Species.”
He chose those two words for good reason.
“Endangered species is us as humans, as rock and rollers. It’s animals in the ocean, in the seas, on the land. We’re all endangered,” Hollinger said. “We have to be aware of what’s happening. That’s why I came up with ‘Endangered Species,’ to highlight the different music, draw attention to the animals and their plight.”
Hollinger, who has called Kauai home for more than three decades, is a man known for his love of nature and wildlife, for his passion to live in unity with his surroundings. His many tattoos are a part of him, a reflection of who he is. Sometimes, when he looks around at the world and all that is happening, he shakes his head in disappointment. He would prefer to see people getting along and welcoming each other, not fighting and feuding over who is right.
He is saddened that elephants are killed in Africa for their ivory, that adult rhinos are killed in South Africa, that fewer than 2,000 pairs of Northern Spotted Owls remain in the U.S., and that the gray wolf is in danger of being hunted to extinction in North America. He wants people to realize they can help stop it.
“In all of the states and throughout the world, things are under siege,” he said.
On the cover of his CD, Hollinger is surrounded by creatures running of out space on this Earth. On the back cover is a humpback whale, rising out of the ocean. Next to it are these words: “Why are we here. What have we done. Who will help. Are U the one?”
On the inside cover, it says: “Extinction is forever, but U can stop it. Please get involved. Get informed. Respect all living things.”
Hollinger leads by example.
A donation from profits on the sale of his CD will be made to five organizations: American Bird Conservancy; Conservation Council for Hawaii; Hawaii Wildlife Center; Ke Kai Ola, the Marine Mammal Center; and Wyoming Untrapped.
From his music and the theme of “Endangered Species,” he hopes people recognize they need to take action to make the world a better place, a lasting place — for all creatures that call Earth home.
“People can make a difference,” he said. “It takes only one.”
This is your second CD. Your first was “Dangerous Crossing.” How did this one go?
It went really smooth. I met with my partner Rick Robbins, who produced it. It was all recorded at Paradise Recording Studio in Princeville.
Making this project was so much fun. Just to let go and have fun and not wanting to be in control. Just listen to the higher forces.
How would you describe the music on “Endangered Species”?
It’s definitely toe-tapping, upbeat, positive. It’s really a fun CD. It has a great message to it. It’s very uplifting. It’ll make you get up and want to boogie.
On your first CD, you wrote half the songs. What led you to write all of them this time?
On the first one, the producer told me, “Don’t do all originals. Do half originals and see where it goes. If people like it, on your follow-up CD, go all original.” It seems to work. People liked the first one.
How did you find time to write all the songs?
I hurt my Achilles in 2014, so it forced me to write music. It just poured out. We started recording at Rick’s. It was so much fun. Adventuresome, new sounds that were coming out. We had like 18 tracks down, and we said, let’s stop. Let’s just put 12. We’ll come back to the drawing board later to try and see what we’re going to do.
You had CD celebration parties on Oahu and Kauai. How did they go?
Spectacular. So many people there. Friends, supporters and family. It was really a fun time. What we did for both CD parties, we had no live music. For the first hour we had a DVD and that was bringing attention to my first CD. When it was time for the new CD, we did a video of 12 songs, each song had it’s own video. It was cool.
Do you listen to your CDs at home or when driving?
The truth is, the last time I listened to my music was the last CD party. I don’t pay attention to it because there are new songs coming through all the time. I’m stoked, I’m honored it’s out there. But I don’t keep listening to it because it’s time to move on.
Will you be working on more CDs?
At least two more in me, if not more. I’m working on new materials as we speak.
Can you describe the songs on “Endangered Species”?
Each song has its own topic.
“Because of U,” it can sound like I’m singing to a girl, but I’m singing to the higher power.
“Falling” is a groove song that talks about not wanting to get hurt again. You had the first cut, you don’t know if you want the second cut. Then, she came along and swept you off your feet.
“Not Enemies,” when you listen to my chorus, it’s “Children, men, women, sisters and brothers, why do we continue to suffer, how long will it take us to see we don’t have to be each other’s enemies?”
“Yolo” is something the young people say. “Yolo. You only live once.” That’s kind of like their slang thing, so I crafted this song.
“Picking up the Pieces” is about getting your heart broken, having to pick up the pieces and put it back together.
“Dog House” is a really cool song. Not that I’ve ever been in the dog house, but every man can understand what the dog house is about. When you listen to the words, other guys will relate, you get up, it’s like a deer in the headlights. You look at her and she looks at you, “What did I do?” And you’re in the dog house.
“Surrendering” is a little urban love song.
“She’s Hot” is about hot girls out there. In your dreams, you hope you can get them, there’s no way you can even get to first base.
“Night People” talks about people who only thrive at night. Their day starts at 10 o’clock.
“Steffanie” is a love song.
On “Honey Girl,” you can think I’m singing to a girl, but actually, I’m singing to my chickens. There’s a lot of double meaning in this.
“Soldier’s Story,” I wrote that to honor our soldiers who keep us free. A lot of times they don’t get due credit.
So, there’s always a message you want to share in your songs?
Yeah. There definitely is a story behind each one.
When you write songs, do you sit down and just go to work, or wait for that moment it hits you?
It will strike me like lightning. I get the inspiration. All of the sudden, the melody starting coming out. From there, I’ll start crafting the song.
Would you say your music is an extension of your lifestyle?
It’s important for us to embrace life and live it to the fullest. Follow your dreams. It’s OK if you don’t make it. But if you never try, you failed. That’s unacceptable. You don’t want to wake up one day and say, I shoulda, coulda, woulda. Have a clear conscience and go for it. You’ll make some people happy and some you won’t make happy, but it’s just putting it out there.
Where is your CD available?
Online, the Hawaiian Music Store in Coconut MarketPlace and Princeville and at Kauai Music and Sound in Kapaa.
How do you unwind at the end of the day?
Just sitting down on the back lanai and looking at nature. That’s really relaxing. That’s the best.
Last question. You said your alpha chicken, Dusty, is pictured on the CD, right at the top. You and Mika welcome chickens on your property. Have you learned anything from them?
Every rooster, you can tell their crow because they have a different cadence, a different tonal quality. We can tell if there’s a ground predator, if there’s an air predator, they make different sounds. It’s pretty amazing.
Watching the mamas with their babies, it’s just like humans. Some mama hens are really, really good. Some mama hens are bad.
And we don’t have to worry about centipedes.
