Sashamon
Del.icio.usThis month marks the official release of Sashamon’s hit underground CD, One Day Maybe, a raw blend of reggae, rock and Hawaiian music that was intended as a demo.
Until now Sashamon,born Sasha Makia Spiller-Reiff, handed out his CDs and played the role of both musician and distributor.With the CD’s increasing popularity, Sashamon recently decided to relinquish his duties as “a box packer"and focus his energies on assembling a band and creating a live version for his music.
Two of Sashamon’s songs on this album, Japanese Squeeze and Necta (Butterfly), have already been huge radio hits on the Neighbor Islands and have recently made their way to Oahu.
Sashamon’s upbringing on Molokai deeply influenced his love for music. It was during his elementary years on Molokai’s west side and singing along with the kupuna who introduced him to Hawaii’s musical culture.After high school, Sashamon attended UH-Manoa where he received a degree in music and the arts.
One Day Maybe incorporates many of Sashamon’s cultural and educational influences and demonstrates his diverse talents. Sashamon composed, produced and played all the instruments - including ukulele,guitar,bass,keyboard and drum sequencer.
“I made my CD all by myself on my computer. I did all the tracks and then all of a sudden I was getting radio play,” he says.
Sashamon, who now resides on Kauai, describes his sound as “all music trying to be wrapped up into one.“And as for his vocals, he says “I wish I could sound like Bob Marley, but I’ve got a ways to go.”
With a new look, an actual press kit and a label support, Sashamon hopes to take this CD to the next level in Hawaii’s competitive market.
“The hardest part about being a musician is it’s not food, shelter and water,“adds Sashamon. “It’s not a necessity and you don’t need it to survive, so somehow you got to convince people to have your music be a part of their life.”
Q’n A
What language do you wish you were fluent in?
That’s a hard question because how can you choose? Maybe, English.
(laughs) I tell people, I can talk standard English and they look at me and say, no, you can’t.
What is your favorite candy bar?
3 Musketeers. But it’s bad for you, so I hardly eat that stuff.
How many meals a day do you eat on average?
I’m a vegetarian, so I’m closer to the five meals a day. But basically I eat when I can, when I remember.
What’s the saddest movie that you have seen?
I try not to watch that kind of movies. But Schindler’s List and Snow Falling on Cedars, those are good ones. Those were pretty sad.
Sashamon
What’s your dream car?
An oxygen-powered car made out of hemp.
In what sport are professional athletes the most overpaid?
I don’t know which sport is the most overpaid, but I gotta say that surfers are for sure the most underpaid.
What do you do to stay healthy?
I’m a 99 percent vegetarian and I try to surf as much as I can. I think the more vegetarian-conscious we can be the better. I’ve been vegetarian for about 10 years now, maybe a little more.
Do you believe in ghosts?
I believe that a person’s spirit can live on, so if that’s a ghost then I guess I believe.
What’s your favorite board game?
I can’t say I’ve played any board games recently.
Is there anything that can make you gag? Oh, yeah. I haven’t had it in a while, but for sure natto (Japanese fermented soybeans). That stuff is rough. But I’m pretty squeamish in general. I’m a vegetarian, so a nice bloody piece of meat could make me gag.
What celebrity would you like to spend the day with?
Paul McCartney, because he’s just the man.
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