Local music artists share Christmas all year long

Local music artists Glenda Delenstarr and Fran Kalb collaborated on their first EP album, “Christmas From Hawai‘i” and were nominated for one of the most sought-after awards in the music industry, the Na Hoku Hanohano Award.

They met in December of 2007 and started working together by July of 2009. The original piece on their EP, “Hawaiian Christmas Song,” came from a visit to Kaua‘i by Glenda in 1999. The memory of the beauty of Kaua‘i more than 10 years later was expressed in words and music befitting the experience.

Although both artists write lyrics and compose music, it was their collaboration that resulted in the “Hawaiian Christmas Song” and the production of the EP “Christmas From Hawai‘i.”

Glenda’s piano education and genre is more classical with some jazz influence whereas Fran’s music is a more eclectic mix. On the EP, Glenda’s arrangement of two traditional Christmas songs — “Greensleeves” and “O Holy Night” — show her background in these musical genres.

She has more than 30 years of original piano pieces. Fran’s musical background stretches back even further to when she was a child in Puerto Rico.

In 2007, she started her own music publishing company, which holds a catalog of hundreds of original songs and instrumentals in many genres. Fran strives to bring together melodies, lyrics, ideas, rhythms, instruments and arrangements to create a rich musical tapestry. While songwriting, Fran and Glenda often work independently and then come together to finish a project.

Their intention is simply to write a great song. They challenge every word and every note with that ideal in mind. This recording was produced on the island with local artists although many of Fran’s works are recorded in Nashville using talent there.

Their EP can be purchased on iTunes, CDBaby and Amazon.com or by going to Fran’s website, www.eklecticmusic.com.