Kona-based musical duo, Nowelo, celebrates their new single release “Passing Days” featuring guest artist Ann Hoku Lyn on Saturday at The Edible World Institute in Kailua-Kona. The band will provide entertainment for the Raise the Bar Event and present their
Kona-based musical duo, Nowelo, celebrates their new single release “Passing Days” featuring guest artist Ann Hoku Lyn on Saturday at The Edible World Institute in Kailua-Kona. The band will provide entertainment for the Raise the Bar Event and present their first single from their EP of the same name to be released this November. The edgy duo incorporates blues, hip-hop, rap and reggae with an island influence connecting diverse audiences world-wide.
Guitarist and harmonica player Truth Musiq from California’s Bay area, and rapper/singer Pana Jones, from the Big Island, joined forces in 2015 to create the group Nowelo, and have continued to create unique sounds ever since.
“I heard the song ‘Hit the Road Jack’ on my dad’s record player when I was like 3 years old and I was mesmerized,” said Musiq. “Ever since that time I just kind of knew music was something I wanted to be involved with. When I was 13, my dad took my sister and I to a BB King concert in Palo Alto and that was very inspiring. Then rock artists like Jimmy Hendrix and Eric Clapton always said you should start with the blues, so I made the blues my focus as a young person.”
Pana Jones grew up in Kona and was influenced at a young age by contemporary and traditional island music. His love of ancient chanting and Polynesian drumming, combined with an attraction to rap and blues music, ignited his passion for song writing and playing. Today, the two combine their artistic talents to form their one-of-a-kind characteristic sound.
“We’ve been working together for three years as Nowelo trying to figure out our artistic identity,” said Musiq. “We tried some different routes and configurations because we were interested in doing live hip-hop. It became clear we should perform as a duo, so we developed into this blues-rap kind of genre that we’re creating.”
Grammy Award-nominated artist, Ann Hoku Lyn will join Nowelo on stage for their release party at the Edible. Raised in the Marshall Islands, Lyn spent ten years working in New York City as a freelance trumpet player and continues to write and record jazz-inspired work. She is also a featured artist on Nowelo’s new single, “Passing Days.”
As for the band’s future, Nowelo is set to release their full EP of the same name this November. The songs will reflect relationships past and present and share elements of rap, jazz, folk and island-inspired blues.
The release party is sponsored by Kona Wine Market and features Chef Noah Hester and special guest performer John Keawe, Reggie Griffen, Maylan Ackerman, fire dancers and live artwork by Robert Thomas. Tickets prices vary depending upon selected pupu/pairing menus. For more information and to purchase tickets visit brownpapertickets.com/event/3041786. ■
