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wcerto
Ahonui
USA
5052 Posts |
 Posted - 04/08/2011 : 10:20:44 AM
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For those of you who have listened to Shawn's "My Kine of Music, volume 3 - Hawaiian", you might be wanting to know a little bit more about the man behind the music. He was kind enough to field some questions from niele me! What a NICE man!
TaroPatchers, meet Shawn Ishimoto!
1. Tell people a little bit about Shawn Ishimoto. Where are you from? How old? Where you wen grad?
My name is Shawn Ishimoto... 18 years time put into the Hawaii music scene, 33 years time on this planet. When I was 5 weeks old, I was diagnosed with bilateral retinoblastoma, and was really given only about 2 to 5 years to live. In fact, doctors told my parents not to get too attached to me, because I'd be dead sooner than later. What a thing to tell a first-time parent, huh? Anyway, I picked up drums and piano when I was 2 years old.....Well....No I didn't literally pick them up... Anyway my biggest wish at the time was to be a drummer in a big-time rock band. Not the singer, or the guitar player, but the drummer. Drums have always been a real joy for me. I graduated from Aiea High, though it was really not that big of a deal to me, because I didn't have all that many real friends in high school. Anything closely resembling popularity for me would've been during my time in 7th and 8th grade, middle school, then called Intermediate school.. I went to Moanalua for that part of my scholastic career, such as it was, seeing as I really graduated from high school with barely passing grades... *sigh*
2. How did you begin playing music?
I started playing drums or simulating drums on buckets on the beach when I was about 2 years old. I heard from my grandparents and my mom, many drummers in the various bands around Waikiki, back when there used to be lots of show bands, would come watch me on their breaks. I started trying piano when I was 4, ukulele when I was 15. Guitar and bass came at about the same time. But here's the answer I always give to people who ask when I started playing. And I quote... Can I quote myself?? Well...I'm going to here, I suppose. "I started playing guitar when I was 15..... But I started listening when I was 21...." I think many folks who are apt to understanding music like that answer. Either way, like it or not, it's the truth. But I never, never wanted to, or had an interest in being a singer. I was a rapper for a while in intermediate school, and studied for many years in the "dancehall" style of reggae music.. But never wanted to be a front man, or singer. Still it's not my goal. I kinda got thrust into it. Henry Kapono, of the legendary C and K duo from the 70's, discovered me in 03, rapping at a somewhat seedy nightclub in town.. What was a 15-year-old boy doing in a place like that??... Wellllllll. A security guard from my high school was a bass player in the house band that played down there, and he wanted me to come down and throw down on the mic, since at the time I was rapping, and doing my "Dancehall" DJ'ing, or "toasting" as it was once called. I also battled, later that evening, a young Fijiian, who was himself breaking into the music scene at that time. We were neck and neck in the rapping part, but then he started singing, and....Well....I didn't, and still don’t, sing like him. So of course he won hehehe, if it was actually a contest.
That's how I started. From that point on, I had worked with not only Henry Kapono, but several very notable groups and performers such as Robi Kahakalau, Ka'au Crater Boyz, Typical Hawaiians, The Opihi Pickers, The Pipeline Band, up to folks like Peter Apo, Mailani, Kapala, and Na Palapalai.
3. Where do your musical tastes lie? Tell us about some of the music that you enjoy when you are the consumer.
ANYTHING CLASSIC... I have favorites so vastly different. From David Lindley and Ry Cooder, Joe Pass, Herb Ellis, Oscar Peterson, Peter Tosh, Eek A Mouse, Michigan and Smily, James Taylor, Nick Lowe, Na Palapalai, Kahauanu Lake, Gabby, Sons Of Hawai'i. Stuff like that. Any country before the 80's. Otherwise, I enjoy bluegrass up until about the mid 90's. I love Brazilian music, always have. And a few other types of world music as well.
4. Now that you are living in LA, what are your professional musical plans?
Wow. I do not. To be totally honest, I haven't had musical plans for a long time. I've been working 7 nights a week in Waikiki for a lot of years. Honestly, I just want to do what I can to support my new family and I, and not go crazy with it. I never have been overly ambitious, I just wanted to try and be a good musician. Now, I just want to be a contributing member of the house. And if that means working nights as a club guy, or days as a session player, or even not really doing any music at all and taking some other means of employment, if the job is something I can learn quickly, or do well at, I want to do it for us. Those are my plans. To do as much as I can to keep my new family comfortable, and happy. Not just monetarily of course, which is why I don't wanna be out for long periods. Quality time. My plan, my goal, my ambition, from a very early age, was to be a nurturer, and to find someone to love and be loved by, for the rest of my life. To share, to laugh, to love and live together. That has always been my life's goal. And I have found that person in Jeni, my future wife. So this is what I want to cultivate.
5. What was your inspiration in My Kine of Music, v. 3, “Hawaiian”? How long were you working on the project.
My inspiration, first and foremost is Jeni. Especially for this one.
Normally, I wouldn't make such an attempt like this. I'm going way above my comfort level, in what I've tried singing on this. But there were some songs she liked that I sang with Na Palapalai, so I figured, I'll try to compile some of her favorites, and some that I like, and a lot of them were songs that people have asked if I would record, and I just went ahead and did those. I could've done more, but the CD was actually finished tracking three days before I left Oahu for the last time. It only took a few months, and that's only because we both were very busy, John Valentine and I. If we hadn't been busy, the CD would've been finished in a little under a week or so, in terms
of tracking.
6. You did all the vocals and played all the instruments on this CD. You harmonized with yourself! Tell us about the mechanics of recording a project where you are the one to make all the music on it. How difficult was it technically to Do? What all did that process entail?
My method is very simple... Don't have one. This only applies to how I like to do things. I wouldn't encourage or discourage anyone else to do what I do in these types of things.. But I do everything basically in 1 take, well, 1 or 2.. And it's never perfect. But I personally don't go for perfection. If I like how something sounds or feels, I'll try and get the one that feels good to me. Granted, if I sang it again later, it could be better.. But that's just how I do things.. And I never do anything the same way twice, which is why I usually go with the first few takes anyway, because they are the takes with the most emotion, feeling, inspiration, whatever the case might be. Hehehehe.
As far as harmonizing, well that one, too, is all by feel. I don't rehearse anything or work it out too much. I am very much someone who likes to go for raw feel as opposed to working something out so much that it feels too worked out. This is just me though, again and it's only my opinion. I'm living in a day and age, musically speaking, where if everything isn't "auto tuned" it sounds so rehearsed that I don't hear much feel or soul anymore from whatever it is that's being played. So for me, I wanted to try to get whatever I record to sound as live as possible. Like someone cloned 5 of me, or something.. Hahaha. And all my CD's that I recorded with my friend John Valentine are like this. Just very raw, and very much me. It's not perfect by any stretch of the imagination. But I can comfortably listen to myself now without cringing too much from having been either edited a lot or not having been ready. So I'm happy with what I'm doing, and it's nice that
some other folks like it too. I'm very flattered.
7. How did you come to develop that great leo ki`eki`e?
From being thrown in the very deep water, and told to swim!!! In November of 2009, I began singing with Na Palapalai as kind of the utility guy in the group, playing lead guitar and singing the high parts, and occasionally doing a song or two. Their faith in me, doing this with them, was flattering and really inspiring. I've always loved their music, so getting a chance to do this with them was a dream come true. This is basically a culmination of where I am currently as a person who tries to sing in this way. I'm not a falsetto singer, emphatically.. But I do enjoy it, and this is just my little homage to some folks that have either inspired me or supported me in my learning to sing falsetto.
8. This CD as well as volumes 1 and 2 were collaborations with John Valentine. Who is he? Tell us a bit about him?
John Valentine is a long time veteran of Hawai'i's music scene also. He's been involved in a lot of bands, and done many things on his own. Super talented,very good at what he does, and a very good friend.. Actually, he was nice enough to give me the freedom to do everything, make all the musical decisions, play and sing everything, and just kinda have free reign. Hehehe. He also works a lot in Waikiki, and is the real life uncle to new pop icon Bruno Mars. But more than that, he's been a great friend, and a joy to play with, joke around with, and record with. I have done a lot of session work for him and
his studio also. And it's all been super enjoyable.
9. What does the future hold for you musically?
I don't know. I have no clue. But again, I'm not overly ambitious. But, if James Taylor, or someone like that called and wanted me to play bass or guitar with him, or even drums, I wouldn't say no, provided it works for all of us. I would actually like to be a good session guy out here, if possible. Ideally, if I could work doing sessions during the day, I'd be pretty happy I think. Since I feel at my strongest and most useful when I'm in a supporting role as a session musician, I would like that.
10. Any words for the folks on TaroPatch who truly love Hawaiian music?
Thank you for supporting Hawaiian music. That's really all I can think of. And thank you for supporting me. I do appreciate it. And keep the music alive.
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Me ke aloha
Malama pono,
Wanda |
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PuaLynn
Lokahi
USA
120 Posts |
Posted - 04/08/2011 : 12:35:36 PM
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| Very nice interview. Thanks Shawn; thanks Wanda. |
Me ke aloha,
Lynn |
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Admin
Pupule
USA
4551 Posts |
Posted - 04/08/2011 : 9:11:36 PM
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| Wanda - you have become an official Taropatch.net correspondent. Nice interview! Congrats to Shawn on the new CD! |
Andy |
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dragonfly213
Akahai
66 Posts |
Posted - 04/09/2011 : 12:08:33 AM
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| Oh Auntie, what a terrific interview. :) Even I learned a few new things. I do know Shawn was impressed with your questions. TaroPatchers, thanks as always times a million for your support. Feel free to contact Shawn or I if you want a CD. =) |
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Shawny
Akahai
USA
8 Posts |
Posted - 04/09/2011 : 4:21:15 PM
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| Thank you guys.. It was great to be able to do this.. And, this also marks my first activity on this forum! Yay! Hehehehe. |
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wcerto
Ahonui
USA
5052 Posts |
Posted - 04/10/2011 : 12:28:49 AM
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Woo-hoo! Now all we have to do is get Shawny to come wala`au over in the "Talk Story" forum.
Welcome to TaroPatch, Shawny! |
Me ke aloha
Malama pono,
Wanda |
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markwitz
`Olu`olu
USA
841 Posts |
Posted - 04/10/2011 : 06:02:17 AM
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Great job Wanda. It's always nice to know more about the musicians that we love listening to. And Shawn certainly fits into that category.
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"The music of the Hawaiians, the most fascinating in the world, is still in my ears and
haunts me sleeping and waking."
Mark Twain |
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wcerto
Ahonui
USA
5052 Posts |
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Tommy
Akahai
USA
72 Posts |
Posted - 04/12/2011 : 1:56:42 PM
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Nicely done Wanda. Quit your day job--oh yes, you don't have one! Thanks to you and Shawn.
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wcerto
Ahonui
USA
5052 Posts |
Posted - 04/12/2011 : 3:12:26 PM
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| Thanks you guys for the kind words. Easy to interview when you are so niele like I am. I just asked the stuff I'd like to know and figured other people might like to know it, too. Shawn is such a nice young man and Jeni is a wonderful lady and together they are so SWEET! I wish Shawn much success. He is such a humble man who has great talent and much aloha. |
Me ke aloha
Malama pono,
Wanda |
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wcerto
Ahonui
USA
5052 Posts |
Posted - 09/09/2011 : 01:35:30 AM
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Watch this video of Shawn playing "Kaulana Na Pua". Also notice, he keeps playing while reading Hawaiian lyrics in Braille. He is not playing an open tuning. Figure that one out!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPUzjpphrLo |
Me ke aloha
Malama pono,
Wanda |
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Interview with Shawn Ishimoto
