I Am Kawehi – Hawai’i 78

By starrymag | October 29, 2021

By: Jamie Steinberg

 

 

 

Q) How would you describe your sound?

 

A) A little bit of everything mixed together.  Looping allows me to be as quiet as an acoustic guitar and as large as an orchestra.  It really depends on the song and the feel of it all.

 

Q) Who are some of your musical influences?

 

A) I love me some Yo-Yo Ma preshow.  Totally humbled by Björk and Imogen Heap.  Love anything 90s (since that was my teen angst years) from Nirvana to NIN to some early Britney.  I love a good Beatles song when I’m looking for good songwriting bones.  I’m influenced by all genres – I feel like genres are different styles of clothing and that depending on what your style is at the moment (because fashion changes with the times) you’re influenced by different things.  I always hope my music evolves in the same way, and never strive for my shit to sound the same as it did the year before.

 

Q) What made you decide to cover the classic song “Hawai’i 78?”

 

A) “Hawai’i 78” was a staple growing up.  I’ve always been attached to the song since I had such a strong sense of my Hawaiian culture while attending my immersion school and dancing hula.  I think anyone who was born and raised in Hawai’i and is of Hawaiian blood – the song resonates with you on a fundamental level; and you are aware of the fragility of your language and culture.  I had a lot of time to reflect in 2020 and being so far away from my homeland and my “Ohana” for such a long stretch of time – I was incredibly homesick and needed that connection.  So, “Hawai’i 78” was my way of reconnecting, even while thousands of miles away in rural Kansas.

 

Q) What kind of fan response have you been receiving to your version of the single “Hawaii 78?”

 

A) Such incredible responses!  From locals who have lived through the time when the language was almost lost – to people across the globe who didn’t know anything about the history of Hawai’i and how we became a part of the US.  Even the parts in Hawaiian that people can’t translate – there is still a sense of familiarity and understanding of progress and injustice and ugliness that mankind sometimes imposes on indigenous people.  And you can recognize that, if the words and movement are carried out with feeling – you recognize it deep within your own humanity.

 

Q) When it comes to your song writing process, do you need music before you can create lyrics?

 

A) Not always.  Sometimes it all comes together at once!  I try not to bog myself down with waiting for one or the other.  But I do treat it as a job, and make sure I spend a few hours every day trying to write – even if I only come out shitting blanks 🤣

 

Q) How much of hand do you have in the production of your music?

A) Paul (my husband) and I – we are one unit.  I can’t do what I do without him – and vice versa.  So, we both do it all – from songwriting to production to videos. Even when we tour, I’m on stage but he’s running sound. So, I can’t say I do more production, or he does more production – I like to think I AM KAWEHI is a team of two, even though I’m the face of the act.

 

Q) You are back out on tour now with “The Quarantine Sessions.” What have you missed most about being on stage?

 

A) I missed being able to thank my fans personally – up on stage through song and afterwards when I take every picture and sign every CD. I missed telling them thank you for supporting me throughout my journey because being DIY and not being signed to a label – the fans are really the only reason why I get to do what I love for a living.  If no one bought tickets, if no one watched my videos or listened to my music – I wouldn’t be able to do what I do.  So, that is really the only reason why I tour – to thank everyone face to face.

 

Q) What can fans expect from a live I Am Kawehi performance?

 

A) I tell people to go in without any expectations.  It’s always different!  Sometimes my shit breaks or I start a loop wrong and have to start over.  Sometimes we have long ten-minute sing-a-longs. I like to leave it up to the city to decide what kind of show it’s going to be.

 

Q) Where are some of your favorite places to perform and what makes those locations so significant to you?

 

A) I love the cities because I get to do all of the city things I don’t get to do because I live out in the country – sightsee, visit museums.  But the small-town gigs are also where I make great human connections.  I will say, though, that performing in Italy isn’t such a hardship, considering that pizza is my FAVORITE thing on the planet and eating pizza in the motherland is like dying and going to pizza heaven!

 

Q) Will there be a full album or EP coming in the near future?

 

A) For sure!

 

Q) You’ve covered Dua Lipa, Alanis and others. What are some songs you’re still considering covering?

 

A) I have some Portishead in the lineup.  Always wanted to do a Rage Against the Machine cover.  I like to mix it up!

 

Q) Who would you most like to collaborate with on a song in the future?

 

A) Too hard of a question to ask!  I’ll have to think about this one…

 

Q) What album/band are you currently listening to and why do you dig them? 

 

A) I’m digging the new Switchfoot record.  Really digging anything Phantogram, Lewis Del Mar.  When I’m looking for comedy and loop inspo – Reggie Watts and Flula.  Can’t get enough of Yo-Yo Ma’s Six Evolutions – Bach.

 

Q) You are a part of social media. Why is that such an important way for you to connect with your fans?

 

A) Because it’s the only way to have a large reach across the globe.  I wouldn’t be able to do what I do without that platform, that reach.  As much as I hate the ugly side of social media, it has brought good into my life.

 

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your work?

 

A) Thank you.  From the bottom of my pizza lovin’, whiskey drinking heart – thank you.  My life wouldn’t be the same without you.

 

 

 

 

 

Listen to New Single “So Bro”