Dual Careers
June 17, 2006
I’ve been brutally reminded recently about the difficulties of maintaining dual careers. Like so many musicians, I have a “day” job (which seems more like a day and night job recently). So, I thought I’d offer a little inspiration. “Double Lives” by David Heenan is an inspirational read about people who successfully juggle two careers. One great example is Norio Ohga, of Sony fame who also conducts major orchestras. I’m also inspired by the Makaha Sons, great musicians who have also pursued dual careers. A recent article by Wayne Harada describes their journey. http://honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060616/ENT15/606160306/1123
A big salute to everyone who manages multiple careers.
Lala and the Transitioning Music Market
June 11, 2006
There has been intense discussion about the changing aspects of the music industry in recent years, particularly the transition from CD’s to digital singles, ringtones, video games and emerging musical markets. Yet another agent of transition has emerged, called lala. Lala facilitates CD trades, taking a small transaction fee in the process. The copyright law aspects appear to be relatively straight forward on their face. CD owners are allowed to sell their physical CD’s under the “first sale” doctrine. You bought it, you can sell it. But, what happens when someone buys a CD, sticks it on their iPod, then sells the CD? What happens when a person puts their entire collection of CD’s on their iPod, then trades for an entirely new collection? You can see the problem. The ease at which recordings can be pirated and reproduced beyond the scope of the copyright owner’s rights continue to expand.
Hoku Awards: New Talent
June 5, 2006
So, the Hoku Award results (Hawaiian version of the Grammys) have been announced. This year was particularly exciting for me, given the enormous amount of new talent. In such a small industry, it’s great to see new faces. More than anything else, that is a sign of health for the Hawaiian music market. For all of you looking for some new bands, check out Holunape. These guys have a wonderful traditional Hawaiian sound. Looking for another blazing uke player? Try Abe Lagrimas, Jr., an exceptionally talented guy. Of course, there are some old favorites too. Hapa continues to push the envelope of Hawaiian music, and it’s great to see that people who stretch the boundaries can still be recognized by the Hokus. There are so many more, Aaron Sala and Kaumakaiwa Kanaka`ole just to name a few. My pick to sweep the awards next year: Barfoot Natives.
Registering Copyrights: Why and How
May 27, 2006
When you put pen to paper and write an original song, you have created and acquired a copyright. Registering that copyright, however, has several added benefits:
1) Registration creates a public record of your claim of copyright.
2) Registration is required before suing someone for copyright infringement in court.
3) If you register the song within five years of publication, that registration will serve as evidence of the validity of your copyright and the facts on your registration certificate.
4) Registration allows the copyright owner to sign up with U.S. Customs for protection against importation of pirated copies of your music.
5) Perhaps most importantly, if you register within three months of publication or prior to infringement of your song(s), statutory damages and attorneys’ fees will be available in a court action. If you have a claim of copyright infringement, one of the first questions your lawyer will ask is when you registered your copyright. The answer can have substantial monetary implications.
String Squeak
May 21, 2006
String squeak occurs when a guitar player slides his or her left hand along a string, or changes left hand positions without fully lifting the left hand off of the string before shifting. String squeak is a sound that has been captured endlessly on guitar albums since the birth of recording. I had to redo a track completely on my last album because the squeaks were too prevalent.
Oddly enough, many guitar players actually find string squeak to be pleasing, or at least tolerable. But a classical guitar friend with dozens of albums under his belt made a good point to me the other night: the average listener hates string squeak.
Knowing the Standard
May 13, 2006
For any inventor, it is essential to understand what the “standard” currently is, in order to improve upon it. The “state of the art” is usually a product of countless hours, years and work from many people. Learning to play the guitar is no different. So many guitar players have stepped on the shoulders of those that came before them, to help them develop their technique and musicality. Once you see or hear something, it’s generally much easier to duplicate than if you attempted the same feat without hearing someone else do it.
About the Album
September 6, 2005
The main theme of this album was the contrast between New York and Hawaii. They are such starkly different places, both in terms of climate and attitude, yet they are both a part of who I am. The photo on the cover of the album is a the view from my parents’ home in Manoa, the place I grew up. I held the guitar out, capturing the reflection of the clouds in the guitar. Diamond Head is in the distance. The back cover of the album is the same guitar reflection concept, captured from my apartment window in New York City. The idea of the guitar reflection photos is that I captured all of my experiences, from Hawaii to New York in my guitar. So, hopefully my guitar tells my story, from Hawaii, to California, to New York, spanning time, seasons and experiences.