Bio on Ekolu taken from there website
“Lukela’s voice, Ekolu’s sound, they’re the total package. It’s their passion with the island rhythm that puts smiles on faces, gets listeners stomping their feet to the beat, and makes you sing-a-long while driving in your car. Ekolu’s one of the few E.F. Huttons in the industry. The skip of the bass, the strum of a guitar, the kick of the drum, when they perform, when they sing, WE ALL LISTEN.â€
--Robert K. Kekaula
It all began back in 1995 where 3 young and talented men of Maui, began their musical journey. Lukela Keala, Akoni Dellomes & Makapu Hoopii attended Baldwin High School and was enrolled in the music class. Day after day they would have little jam session's but always tried to perfect what they played. As the year went by, their talents allowed them to perform in front of an audience for the first time at Brown Bags to Stardom. Although they took 2nd place to ballerina dancers (Ha Ha Ha!). It didn't stop them. Former Baldwin High school teacher, Kevin Brown plays a great role in their music history today. He was the ukulele and slack key guitarist teacher but also Lukela's uncle. He taught them the values of becoming a musician but most important, to be humble. Since then Lukela, Akoni and Makapu strived on to become the entertainers they are today.
Lukela Keala, Akoni Dellomes & Makapu Hoopii “Down in the Valley†became their first hit back in 1999. This album made them well-known not only in Hawaii, but also in the Mainland and as far as east coast. Three years later, Ekolu came out with their second debut album called, “Shores of Waiehu.†This album gave Hawaii a little twist of its own unique style. Hits such as “Just one Night†and “Shores of Waiehu†took up a lot of air time on the local radio stations in Hawaii.
Lukela, Akoni, and MakapuEkolu has traveled to many parts of the United States. They've been to Alaska, Seattle Washington, Portland Oregon, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Colorado, Japan, Tahiti, and played in front of crowds up to 15,000 plus people. They enjoy every moment of sharing their music with people all over the world. Every trip they take truly becomes a memorable moment. Ekolu has a lot of achievements in their musical journey in Hawaii. Their main goal is to share their music with the rest of the world.
On their free time, the Band loves to spend the day at the beach and reminisce on all the wonderful gigs they did. Individually, Akoni enjoys surfing, Makapu loves to free dive and Lukela enjoys writing music, and spending time with his family. These talented men are the best of friends, but most of all brothers.
Katchafire bio taken from sxsw.com
Reggae is one of the bloodlines of New Zealand music, and the all-Maori band Katchafire has become its foremost advocate today. A family affair from day one in 1997, founder and lead guitarist Grenville Bell and sons Logan (lead vocals) and Jordan (drums) remain the core of the band. Transcending their origins in a Hamilton garage as a cover band, Katchafire took their Marley-inspired original music to the bars and clubs, building up a fan base of thousands. Their exceptional debut album, the prophetically named Revival, sold in excess of 45,000 copies ( more than double platinum in New Zealand) and they scored massive hits with songs like Giddy Up, the nation's biggest selling single of 2002-3.
After building on that success at home with the platinum follow-up "Slow Burning", Katchafire took a major step forward when New Zealand foreign exchange students Introduced their Kiwi reggae vibes to the fertile soil of the Hawaiian Islands. Underground popularity soon exploded onto the airwaves, and by the summer of 2006 Katchafire was topping the sales charts in the Aloha State and headlining at the 10,000 capacity Waikiki Shell. The past 2 years have found the boys giving their passports a considerable workout, from festival appearances all over Europe to increasingly successful mainland U.S. excursions. They now draw huge crowds all over the Pacific, from Australia to Guam and Saipan.
On record, Katchafire reached a new level of musical depth and maturity on 2007's "Say What You're Thinking". With jazz, pop, rock and even hip-hop influences enhancing a solid roots foundation, they scored their greatest American chart success to date with a #6 showing on the Billboard Reggae chart. Katchafire is well-known for trading instruments among themselves during their marathon live shows. That versatility is demonstrated as never before on this album, with no less than five band contributing songs and sharing lead vocal duties. Front man Logan Bell contributes four tunes including the instant classic love song "Meant to Be". Jamey Ferguson contributes his unmistakable raspy leads on four more, including the thoughtful title track and gospel-tinged "Doesn't Anybody". Percussionist Leon Davey shows off his vocal skills on "Now Girl" and "Love Letter", as does drummer Jordan Bell on "J. Dubb" and keybooardist Haani Totorewa with "This World".
2008 is shaping up as a momentous year in the history of Katchafire. At home, in January they shared the stage with acts like Rage Against the Machine and Bjork at the Big Day Out Festival. In February they opened for UB40 and Maxi Priest on the Raggamuffin tour of Australia. With the musical evolution evident on their latest release, combined with their relentless tour schedule and phenomenal live shows, It looks like only a matter of time before the whole world is Katchafire country.
Ooklah the Moc
article taken from the StarBulletin.com
On any weeknight, every week for the past four years, an unassuming home on a Palolo Valley side street transforms into a rehearsal space filled with the sound of live reggae.
And we're not talking about working through another cover of an always-popular Bob Marley tune or making up some "island rhythm" song. The musicians that make up Ooklah the Moc have always kept it real. Roots dub reggae real.
The group started as a hard-core punk band. Guitarist Asher Phillipart, drummer John Davis and bassist Ryan Murakami began as an open-minded trio back in 1994. Their willingness to expand their musical horizons put them in good standing with singer Jimbo LaPierre, who shared Murakami's passion for hard-core reggae, and the four of them transformed and solidified themselves as a reggae band.
"It was more out of necessity that we did that," admits Phillipart, "because in order to get our first gig with Jimbo, we had to play reggae."
Thus was born Ooklah the Moc, a name lifted from the name of a character on the '80s cartoon show "Thundarr the Barbarian."
Bearing such a goofy-sounding moniker, you'd think the band's music and stage presence would be equally entertaining. Well, they are, but in a serious and earnest manner out of a commitment to present Jamaica's music in a right and honorable way.
Ooklah the Moc is now nine members strong, with an additional guitarist in Nick Sayada (who also plays with Kamakazi Kong), Micky Huihui and Nick Navales helping to create a formidable front line of singers, and horn players Gary Nakano and Tony Bush, formerly of El Toupé, Dread Ashanti and Plush Nugget.
That's quite a change in lineup from the group that put out "Ites Massive" on its own Ghetto Circus record label back last January. But the new and improved Ooklah hopes to have its next album of originals out by mid-2002.
With Nakano missing in action, working that night in the art department of the film "Surfer Girl," the rest of the band has gathered in Murakami's reggae room. They are listening to the grooves they created about a month ago with recording studio engineer Wendell Ching. Even on these rough demo recordings, it's clear they did their homework well.
"We're heavily influenced by dub," Murakami said, the expansive kind of reggae where the spaciousness of the rhythm is stretched out. "It's what's missing in a lot of reggae-influenced, cheese-ball kind of music that's usually made here."
While Murakami is the band's main songwriter, everyone else brings something to the table at their regular rehearsals. "Gary and I bring in a smidgen of horn parts," said Bush, "and Asher writes a whole lot of lyrics as well."
Ooklah has been a dependable staple on the local underground music scene, doing popular numbers like "Dance Ram," "Creator" (the band's first song in its first incarnation), "Fafa Island" and "Herbal Meditation" in clubs, in concert, for weddings and benefits like the recent Palolo Pride community gathering.
LaPierre, a good-natured, bearded fellow with a bit of the kolohe in him, said his music background dates to his days as a member of the Kamehameha Schools glee club, along with classmate Huihui. Although LaPierre said the band would love to do more neighbor island gigs, "one problem with us is that we're so big in number, it's hard for us to get hired for off-island jobs. We've played on Kauai and Maui, and the people on those islands really want to hear that true reggae sound because it's so hard to get."
"We really want to play on the Big Island," chimed in Phillipart. "So if anyone wants to get us a boat or a van, or offer up a place where we can sleep, get in touch with us!"
"For the younger crowd," said LaPierre, "their only exposure to the sound is through our CD. But we're happy to bring our vibes to wherever we go.
"While Ryan is the heart of the band," he added, "there's only one boss," his eyes turning and pointing heavenward, "and maybe Rocky Balboa," referring to the Murakami household dog curiously snuffling around our ankles. "This is really a diverse group, and it's nice that we can come together and do this music."