Stories

Brother Noland is a well-spring of inspiration and knowledge. His roots hold deep in both urban and natural environments in the Hawaiian Islands, and his influences comes from around the world. In preparation for the reissue of Noland's 1980 debut LP, Speaking Brown, we chatted with him about his music, growing up, and what it means to "speak brown".  Roger Bong: Tell me your name. Where you’re from. Who you are. Brother Noland: So, you know my name already [laughs]. Pretty much raised in the inner city. And then having the opportunity to be raised also on the outskirts of the Big...

Japan is a special place for Aloha Got Soul. We've been traveling to the country since 2017, and since our first gig there we've been encountering warm embraces and smiling faces from people who love the music of Hawaii. Every event brings together music fans who appreciate the sound of our islands, and want to hear more of the rich tapestry of song that permeates Hawaii's past and present. This May, with the support of RUSH Production, we played two magnificent venues: DJ BAR Bridge Shinjuku, and Greenroom Festival in Yokohama.  Here's a recap of the two events and highlights our week-long adventure.     We arrived...

I wasn’t alive when Brother Noland released Speaking Brown. The year was 1980, and the influences of artists like The Sunday Manoa, Gabby Pahinui, Olomana, and Keola and Kapono Beamer resonated throughout the islands as they heralded a new sound of and for modern indigenous peoples, part of the cultural revolution known as the Hawaiian Renaissance. On the other side of 1970s island life, bands like Kalapana, Country Comfort, and Cecilio & Kapono were shaping a contemporary sonic identity for locals — indigenous and otherwise — blending rock, soul, country, and jazz into a pleasant pop blend that continues to...

We're headed to Tokyo and Yokohama this month for two gigs: Greenroom Festival on Saturday, May 25th, and DJ BAR Bridge Shinjuku on Friday, May 24th. Big thanks to RUSH Production. Here's the details:  Friday, May 24thDJ BAR Bridge Shinjuku We’re making our debut at the renowned DJ BAR Bridge Shinjuku, going till 5am alongside residents Hiroshi Kawanabe and Yumi-cco.  In a city like Tokyo that accepts foreigners and locals alike, DJ BAR Bridge evokes emotion and excitement by expressing music that transcends the boundaries of genre with a new sensibility. Hiroshi Kawanabe is well known as the trackmaker of “Tokyo No.1 Soul Set”, and has brought...

Procured from two reels belonging to Mike Kahikina, these songs were part of the sessions that Kahikina and his band Ka‘ala recorded some 40+ years ago. In 1983, two of the songs here released on Protea Records as a 7-inch single: "Ocean Rider" and "Show Me". When we restored the tapes with the help of audio engineer Jessica Thompson, we found three different versions of "Ocean Rider". There were also two versions of "I Am A Native", both of which could easily serve as long-lost anthems, speaking just as powerfully today as they did when Kahikina and Ka‘ala first committed...