LIHU‘E — “We Are One World” is dedicated to frontline health professionals and first responders caring for COVID-19 patients while risking their own lives throughout the world as people try to get a handle on this medical crisis, said the artist formerly and currently known as Kaua‘i’s Daphne Sanchez.
The title track from singer and stage performer Sanchez is being released to state and local radio stations today.
The track is from Sanchez’s upcoming CD, “Aloha From Kaua‘i: We Are One World,” that will premiere in December with seven accompanying tracks.
The second cut from the CD, “Everybody Wear a Mask,” will be released on Saturday, Nov. 7, during a time the state is fighting with “universal” face-mask-wearing requirements.
Sanchez collaborated with Kaua‘i producer and composer Art Umezu on this project that started in June. Umezu produced Sanchez’s debut CD, “Angel on My Shoulder,” in 2010.
Musician Chucky Boy Chock, executive director of the Kaua‘i Museum, offers a special pule that leads into “We Are One World.”
Umezu, who served as the county’s film commissioner and sport/cultural tourism specialist and in other capacities for the county for over 17 years, has composed numerous songs, including “The Caring Touch” for Wilcox Health, “Heartaches and Heartbreak” for The New Generation, “I’m So Lucky” for Leahi, “This is Kaua‘i” for Smith’s Tropical Paradise, “Aloha To The World” as a post-Hurricane-‘Iniki anthem in 1992, and songs for Japan’s Paradise Kings band, known as the backup band for singer Kyu Sakamoto, who rose to “Sukiyaki” fame.
Umezu has been involved with a number of Kaua‘i artists, including the late Robbie Kaholokula and Doric Yaris, Abra and Koki Cummings, Stacie Taniguchi-Caires, Cindy Jackson, Maila Gibson-Bandmann, Nick Castillo, Lady Ipo Kahaunaele, Leahi, The New Generation, Nalani Ka‘auwai-Brun, Rose Alayvilla Kanehe and others.
Sanchez, a graduate of Kapa‘a High and a former Miss Island Mokihana, brings a wealth of experience to her latest CD. She served as hostess for the popular teen music venue The Jam Room at Kukui Grove Center, and was a poster girl and entertainer for 10 years with Spa Resort Hawaiians, Japan’s largest Hawaiian-Polynesian resort and amusement park in Iwaki City, Japan.
As a stage performer, Sanchez performed many years with the Broadway musical “South Pacific” on Kaua‘i, and was the lead in the island stage production of “Carnival” that was presented at the Kaua‘i Community College Performing Arts Center.
She is employed by the Kaua‘i Marriott Vacation Club and is a member of a top island convention band, The Greenstone Project.
The CD “We Are One World” was recorded at MIRAI Studio and the Sheraton Kaua‘i at Coconut Beach, with sound engineer Albert “Berto” Genovia and mixed by Percy “Action” Sanchez of Blaze Entertainment. Music was programmed by Ronnie Esteban of the Hawai‘i band HNLV, based in Las Vegas.
Kaua‘i High senior Edlyn Marquez designed the CD jacket with Kaua‘i High sophomore Kate Mie Nakamura, who is also helping with publicity on social media.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
