Wahiawa’s Hope Mayo Sets Concert
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Despite her admitted stage fright, Hope Mayo has always been musically inclined. The homegrown Wahiawa woman played the violin as a child and sang in choirs throughout high school, but it wasn’t until college that her love for music truly took hold.
Today Mayo owns UpRise Music, an independent indie record label in Wahiawa that she also founded. And she’s using her talent, skill and passion for music to make the world a better place.
Beginning Feb. 24 and running through July on the last Sunday of each month, UpRise Music will present The Social Lights - a series of benefit concerts in Honolulu Design Center’s Cupola Theatre. The season opens with Jazz Night, featuring the Windward Jazz Quartet and the Theo Gonzalves Trio, two of Mayo’s favorite local jazz bands.
The entire season will benefit four local organizations: Autism Society of Hawaii, Domestic Violence Clearinghouse and Legal Hotline, The Children’s Alliance and The Hawaii Arts Alliance.
“The name says it all really,” said Mayo. “The Social Lights was formed to bring like-minded artists and businesses together to raise awareness and support for these local organizations. Basically, I want to make a difference for today as well as for the future. I know there are others who want to do the same.
“There have been some recent local events which have been very disturbing - we need to be proactive in our community,” she added. “This is a different world than the one I grew up in!”
The Amuse wine bar and Stage restaurant will provide plenty of food and libations for the concert crowds. Doors open at 6 p.m., and the concert runs from 6:30 to 9. Tickets are $20, $25 at the door, and $100 season passes also are available. To buy tickets online, visit www.thesociallights.com
Mayo, who grew up and still lives in Wahiawa, said she formed UpRise Music for two reasons: to bring artists together to help the community and to give aspiring local musicians the chance to advance and perfect their craft - her own included.
“I formed UpRise Music out of necessity,” admitted Mayo, whose background is songwriting. “The chances of a major record label knocking on my door in the middle of the Pacific ocean are very slim!” Mayo is the sole artist under UpRise Music, and said she’s not yet ready to take on other artists. But she’s excited to work with her peers at the benefit concerts.
“Wouldn’t it be great to have Daniel (Ho) headline a night?!” Mayo asked in excitement. In fact, some of Mayo’s songs have been recorded and performed by the Grammy award-winning slack key artist himself, as well as Na Leo.
“Writing with Daniel came very naturally. It didn’t take us long to get into a groove,” she said. “When we first started working together, he was very honest about the music industry, and also about where I stood musically. I couldn’t have asked for better direction.”
(For more about Mayo and her company, visit www.hopemayo.com and www.uprisemusic.net).
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