Coming Full Circle

June 29, 2007
By Melissa Moniz

Before Tia Carrere's big movie roles, Daniel Ho's music label and their fast-paced L.A. lifestyle, was an innocent teenage friendship that began in Mr. Ray Wessinger's jazz band, the Lancers. "Tia and I met in high school," says Ho, a Grammy-award winner. "My music teacher, Ray Wessinger, was the band director at Saint Louis High School and he formed a big band jazz band. I had been studying arranging with him and he wanted to feature a vocalist. I heard that there was this girl from Sacred Hearts and she's an amazing singer, who was Tia, and she was the one who ended up singing with the band." Just as their musical talents brought them together 20 years ago, Carrere and Ho crossed paths again recently to make good on an endeavor that they have been talking about doing for years. They hit the recording studio and produced the recently released album, Hawaiiana. "Daniel and I have kept in touch and remained friends over the years,"says Carrere."He was doing his thing and I was doing my thing. We talked forever about doing a record and it was like you know what? Let's just do a record of all the songs that we love. " The album, which hit shelves June 19, is a compilation of all the music that Carrere remembers as a child, as well as her favorites today. "I've figuratively and literally traveled very far from home and I feel that I'm just now coming back to who I am and what makes me happiest," says the mommy of 1 1/2-year-old Bianca. "All these songs take me back to home." The album jacket is an intimate expression of Carrere's love for Hawaii and the music that has touched her life. It's scattered with fond memories, childhood pictures and sentimental descriptions of what each song means to her. "The concept of this record was simplicity,"says Ho."We kept it pristine, just one instrument and her voice. Our goal was really to leave a lot of space for people to hear every breath and every note. She also knows how to tell a story, and that's what is really amazing about what she does. She's not singing high notes just to sing high notes that take away from the meaning of a composition. It's not a lot of movement and not a lot of notes, but carefully chosen to orchestrate and compose lines that support." Aside from handling the production, mixing and mastering of the album, Ho also is responsible for the instruments featured, which include the ukulele and slack key guitar. He worked closely with Tia to create the perfect balance of instruments that would allow her voice to shine through. "Tia is amazingly easy to work with," says Ho. "I've known since we were kids that she has this amazing voice and tone. And while she can totally get by on looks alone, she doesn't even need to. She has an amazing vocal talent." Carrere was discovered in a local grocery store in Waikiki when she was just 17 years old, and was immediately cast in the movie Aloha Summer. From there her acting career catapulted her from the valleys of Kalihi to the hills of Hollywood. Since then, she has appeared in General Hospital, MacGyver, Wayne's World, True Lies, Rising Sun, Relic Hunter, Lilo and Stitch, Dancing with the Stars and most recently Nip/Tuck. Although acting has been Carrere's claim to fame and the primary source of the spotlight that has beamed down on the starlet for the past 20 years, music is actually her first love. "I always sang and always loved music,"says Carrere."I would sing in the car. Stick me in the corner and I'd be singing to myself. My grandmother took me to my first singing lesson when I was 11, then I started entering talent contests." Professionally she has been featured on two tracks of the Wayne's World soundtrack,which went double platinum, and also released a solo CD, Dream, in 1993. But she holds Hawaiiana most dear to her heart, as it brings her closer to home. "I so can't wait for the day when I can live back in Hawaii," says Carrere."It's hard to do what I do and to live anywhere else but L.A. So I'm playing this out, but I'm trying to figure out a way to get back home." The album features a list of familiar favorites, such as Aloha 'Oe, He Aloha Mele, Pupu Hinuhinu, 'Ulili E, Ku'uipo Ipo I Ka He'e Pu'e One, Hi'ilawe, Pua 'Olena, Po La'i E (Silent Night), Sing and I'll Remember You. "I love the old standards and that's why I love these Hawaiian songs that I've chosen," says Carrere."All along the way we wanted this album to be something that feels good to us, and it has been such an enjoyable experience." To celebrate the release of the CD, Carrere and Ho are coming back to the Islands with performances scattered throughout the next few days. Performances are scheduled Saturday, June 30 at 2 p.m. at Borders Pearlridge and 8:30 p.m. at Borders Ward Centre, Sunday, July 1 at 4 p.m. at the Flavors of Honolulu and Monday, July 2 at 1 p.m. at the Pacific Beach Hotel. "To stand up there and perform music, which is something that means so much to me, is exciting and scary,"says Carrere."It's a different comfort zone than what I've been in." It's a good thing she'll have stage pro Ho to lean on for support. The Kaimuki native has been performing since he was a kid. His first attempts on the organ were at just 3 years old. "My mom introduced me to music and I took all kinds of lessons," says the 1986 Saint Louis graduate. "I even tried dance, but my head is too big and I'm too short,so that's not a really good center of gravity. But it was my dad who really supported my passion for music. He took a bit of a risk and invested a lot of his time and money. He was a single parent because my mom passed away when I was 5. He raised my brother and me and dedicated his life to us." With the unconditional support of his dad, Ho immersed himself in music, trying his hand at piano, ukulele, classical guitar, bass, drums and electric guitar. "I don't play any wind instruments. I tried the harmonica, but I just did more sucking than blowing," jokes Ho. With the encouragement of his mentor and teacher Mr.Wessinger, Ho made the move from Oahu to L.A. to pursue his dreams of becoming a composer. The big city meant a lot more musical opportunities, but it also meant a lot more talented musicians vying for those gigs. It was a tough first couple years. Ho explains that he spent most of it living in a crummy apartment, struggling to make ends meet. "I'd have to say that Ray Wessinger's advice is what got me through," says Ho."He told me to be versatile - learn bass, learn to compose, learn to play piano and all the genres and you'll never be out of a job and he was right - I got by." Next year marks the 10th anniversary for Ho's production label, Daniel Ho Creations, which to date has released more than 50 acoustic and Hawaiian-themed CDs by many of Hawaii's well-respected artists such as Herb Ohta Jr., Led Ka'apana, Martin Pahinui and Dennis Kamakahi. "I have always been in awe at what he can do musically," says Carrere. "He's a musical genius." In addition to having his own production label, Ho's personal musical achievements include two Grammy Awards, three Na Hoku Hanohano awards and eight Hawaii Music awards. And he has a slack-key guitar book titled Slack Key Guitar - The G Kilauea Tuning, releasing in July. "There's a lot more that I want to do," says Ho. "Music for me is a work in progress. So there really is no end, it's just a journey." For Carrere, she says her musical journey has just begun. "I think this is just the beginning of doing the things that I want to do," says Carrere. "I want to do more recordings and explore around. This is sort of a jumping off point."