Rob Yamanoha

Rob Yamanoha:  One Akamai Hilo Music Man

By Ke Ola Music Correspondent Colin John

Driving over Saddle Road and into Kaumana, on the mauka side of Hilo, I am looking forward to speaking with the multi-talented Rob Yamanoha.

Still a young man, Rob wears many musical hats: guitarist, songwriter, producer, performer, studio owner, engineer and record label executive. He is also a devoted family man with four children, a supportive wife and the latest addition to the ‘ohana, a cute, miniature dachshund called Peyton. As I pull into the Yamanoha’s driveway, I am warmly greeted by Rob and the friendly little pup.

I’ve been aware of Rob for the past couple of years through his latest original CD—”Better,” a fine collection of “original island soul”—as well as through mutual musician friends. I want to know what makes this musician tick.

“I grew up on the North Shore of O‘ahu, in Wailua and Haleiwa, during the ‘70s and ‘80s. We lived a simple, rural village life before the area became popular with tourists and the international surfing scene,” he says.

Along with having a little fun surfing, Rob reports, “I took classical piano lessons from age 6 to 15. My parents encouraged me and I became proficient while studying the Suzuki method. I practiced daily in between lessons and this provided me with a fundamental discipline. Along with the classical music, I learned how to play ragtime piano and used to play, ‘The Entertainer’ and other pieces from that era.”

Reaching his teenage years, Rob lost interest in classical piano and became more interested in sports, as well as the guitar. “When I turned 15, I realized that the piano was not a ‘cool’ instrument, and I felt a little self-conscious because of it. I always looked up to my older brother, who played ‘ukulele. I liked the popular Hawaiian music of the day, including Ka‘u Crater Boys, Kapena, Makāha Sons and other bands. I liked their voices, sense of composition and the guitar.”

Like many adventurous youth, Rob soon started having feelings of wanderlust and sensed that there was another world outside the idyllic beauty of Haleiwa. California beckoned.

He moved to Santa Rosa, where his older brother lived, and enrolled in junior college, working odd jobs. “I loved the guitar but didn’t yet have one, so I saved some money and bought a Harmony acoustic from a pawnshop. The strings were really high on it and tough to play, but my training on piano made it easy to pick out notes and chords,” he said.

“I was becoming really interested in music and began thinking about doing it as a career. After junior college I thought about transferring to San Francisco State to major in music.” A family member suggested, however, that this might not be the best choice: a musician’s life is a tough life, being away from home often, with an uncertain future, and no guarantees.

Rob respected this person enough to consider taking the advice. “I had to rethink my position. I wanted to be independent and not be a burden on my family. I loved music but was always interested in teaching, so I moved to Hilo and enrolled at UH, where I majored in Hawaiian Language Studies. I felt I was doing something noble and satisfying my interests. I still had a strong desire to play music so kept at that while earning a BA in
Hawaiian Language.”

During this period, Rob joined the popular, Hilo-based band, Moe Moe’a, a funky, original rock-and-roll band with aspirations beyond the back yard. “I enrolled in a masters program at UH, where I intended to go into counseling. At the same time, Moe Moe’a was getting popular and was composed of many interesting personalities. We made a record, got a deal with a company on O‘ahu, played many shows, and made no money. I took a look at the contract and realized that it was a bad deal and not in our best interest.”

“Every cloud…” as the saying goes…This knowledge set Rob on the way to becoming self-sufficient, savvy and akamai. He learned all he could about the music business while taking advice from his future wife, Karla. “I did my homework and got all these books on music business law and contracts. I looked to other artists whom I admired.”  These included Indie DIY Goddess Ani Defranco and another Haleiwa native who used to play Little League baseball alongside Rob, Jack Johnson.  “I thought, ‘If they can do it, so can I.’ So I started studying what they were doing and adapting their principles to my career. Then Karla said to me, ‘What are you doing with this counseling thing? You don’t seem very happy.’ I really didn’t feel comfortable with academia anymore, so with her blessings and my determination, as well as a slap of reality, I set out to do music full time. I felt that if anyone was going to make it happen, it would be me.”

In 2005, Rob created his own cottage industry, Red Moon Entertainment, LLC, where he used his self-taught knowledge to be a musician, studio owner, producer, engineer and record label owner. To date, things are looking bright.  “I always thought about my music as a guinea pig. I play live, record, get others’ opinions, and then keep working at my craft, constantly learning. I enjoy helping others and have just finished projects with two bands. Kuahiwis are friends of mine, with members from Moe Moe’a and Mixjah and have a great, original island sound. The other band is called 4 Fathers, and they too have a unique sound. Half the band is based here and the other half on O‘ahu. Their keyboard player is Boom Gaspar, who also plays with Pearl Jam and is a Hawaiian
music legend.”

What does 2011 hold for the hard-working, multi-talented
Rob Yamanoha?

“I am currently working on my next solo CD as well as putting the final touches on the 4 Fathers project. I play locally at Cafe Pesto, Miyo’s and Hilo Yacht Club. I plan on hitting the road in the summer, playing dates in Seattle, Portland, Napa, Sonoma and San Francisco. I will always make time for my great kids and wonderful wife.”

Spoken like a true journeyman.

Hometown: I grew up in Haleiwa. I still have much love for the North Shore, but I’ve since made Hilo my home. It reminds me of what the slow life was like on the North Shore back in da hanabata days.

High school graduated from: Waialua

Family life: I am happily married with four kids (yes, four!). My wife, Karla, has been so supportive of my career.

Musical occupation: I’ve been performing for about 10 years, solo for about three, so most of my income comes from entertaining. I do a lot of solo acoustic gigs, where I can just show up, plug in and sing my songs. One of my good friends and longtime musical partner Spencer Ahuna (son of Darlene and JJ) occasionally accompanies me on electric guitar. There’s also a very talented ukulele player by the name of Kalei Gamiao who joins me whenever he’s not out performing his solo ukulele gigs. I also have a full band to back me up for the larger club or concert venues. I’ve played coffee shops, bars, clubs, parties, weddings, webcasts, large concerts.

Then I own the record label Red Moon Entertainment LLC, which so far has only released my music, but soon will be looking for other local talent. I also have a recording studio in Hilo in conjunction with Pacific Music Connection (musical instrument store) and Angel7studio (graphic design company). We do full recording sessions and demos as well.

What has been your biggest musical accomplishment?

I guess being able to be so musically and professionally independent. There are plenty of musicians who think they must play a certain type of music to gain respect and popularity, when in reality it should be that you do what you want and do it well with all your heart and soul poured into it, and everything else should follow. I’ve spent the majority of my life studying music, whether it’s jazz or blues, classical or pop, mainstream or Island - it all boils down to two things: the artist who creates the music and the fan who loves the music. I love doing the kind of music I do, and because of that, I know there are others who love it as well.

How would you describe your music?

My music comes from a very personal singer-songwriter perspective, through the lens of soul and classic Island music - I am still, of course, an Island boy. What I love doing is my version of smooth jazz, soul and light acoustic rock. I’d like to think it’s worldly, more for the discerning ear, while appealing to the masses.

What’s the latest with your music?

Well, I released my first solo CD titled Better late in 2007, and it’s available in all Borders retail outlets and online at CDBaby.com or iTunes. It’s since gotten some great reviews and won a Hawaii Music Award in the adult contemporary category. So right now I’m out and about promoting that disc. I’m planning to start recording the next CD in the fall. And it’s not like I’m short of material. I’ve got tons of songs and a great songwriting partner. It’s all about managing time.

"Better" by Rob Yamanoha; Red Moon Entertainment

A little bit rock, a little bit slack key

Rob Yamanoha
Better
Rob Yamanoha, $12.97

If you’re jonesing for a Kalapana/Country Comfort kind of musical fix, complete with original light acoustic soulful songwriting and vocals, Rob Yamanoha’s debut solo CD Better is just what the doctor ordered. With uncomplicated yet stylish arrangements and insightful lyrics, Yamanoha delivers a musical sketch that is intelligent and interesting and yes, better than most.

After seven years as the singer-songwriter-lead guitarist with the ever popular funky eastside party band Moemoea, Yamanoha established himself as a mostly solo artist and sometimes lead man of the Rob Yamanoha Band performing regularly on the Big Island club scene.

Better includes a selection of 10 tunes, recorded at Red Moon Recording Studios in Hilo; all songs (except ‘Wailua Sky’) are written, arranged, engineered and produced by Yamanoha. Although he wears many musical caps, he did have a little help from a few talented friends. Guitarist Spencer Ahuna (son of Darlene and JJ Ahuna) is a steady member of his band and contributed his own rock infused flavor to the mix. Formerly with Plethora and Bruddah Kuz, Ahuna holds his own. Popular drummers Bo Wade and Kamakoa Lindsey-Asing (of ‘Ai Pohaku) drop in on percussion. Gonzo and Yamanoha share bass line kuleana.

‘Sugar Cane’ captures the gusty rain laden trade winds, swelling surf and changes in the light and sky that herald wintertime in Hawai’i. A wistful visual snap shot of the silver tasseled pua ko sugar cane flowers signal the closure of one year and the onset of another for a young man raised amidst the swaying fields of cane and plantation towns of yesterday.

‘Beautiful,’ released earlier as a single, remains an ode to a fathers’ initial feelings of tenderness and wonder at the birth of his baby girl. With a nod to Stevie Wonder’s ‘Isn’t She Lovely’ Yamanaoha’s writing is solid and fresh.

‘Don’t be Afraid,’ pushes words of encouragement to a brother who suffers from personal demons. ‘Sailing Around’ is upbeat and danceable while holding tight to the hope of finding love once more on the horizon.

Other standouts are ‘Stars,’ which poses the questions that all artists face in pursuing a dream of fame and fortune amidst a sea of distractions. Local audiences will appreciate the soft rock easy groove, catchy phrasing and positive message put forth in response.

‘Wailua Sky,’ was written by Bonnie Gearheart and Brian Robertshaw for the 1970s group The Fabulous Krush. For Yamanoha, who was born and bred on the North Shore, the tune was a comfortable fit. He does it justice with a few signature vocal nuances thrown into the arrangement.

Yamanoha’s voice is deep and expressive, but sometimes lyrics are lost in muffled delivery. Still, this debut is notable with the promise of paving the way for more creativity on the local music landscape.

For audiences hungry for something that not only sounds and feels good but also truly reflects the issues of life and love, come a little closer. Yamanoha has something that is indeed better.