Categorized | Entertainment

Kalima launches solo album: Rising In Love

MEDIA RELEASE

Multi Na Hoku Hanohano Award winner Lehua Kalima, one third of Hawaii’s highest selling female group Na Leo Pilimehana, launches a solo album, Rising In Love.

The album will be available in stores and online Monday, Nov. 21.

Lehua Kalima


Kalima’s solo debut features all original songs penned by Kalima, the album’s producer Shawn Pimental, and up and coming vocalist Kaleo del Sol.

“The creation of this album, has been a personal journey, from writing the songs to creating the music, it allowed me to push my vocal capabilities to create music that I am honored to share,” Kalima said.

Kalima tinkered with the idea of a solo album three years ago while dealing with personal issues, “these songs represent a point in my life where music was my outlet – these songs were not the type of songs that Nā Leo would perform, so I needed a venue to express this point in my life.”

Kalima added, “this does not mean my 30 year career with Na Leo is over, Na Leo has provided amazing opportunities and I am indebted for all of it. I look forward to another 30 years with Nalani and Angie.”

The new album features Kalima’s rich and sultry voice, known to other award winning songs written by Kalima such as “Flying with Angels” and “Rest of Your Life.”

The album features producer Michael Grande on keyboards and piano, Pimental on drums and vocals, del Sol on guitar and vocals, Randy Aloya on bass, Imua Garza on electric and acoustic guitar, Jon Porlas on percussions, Jay Dee Mannes on pedal steel guitar and Hawaii music icon Michael Paulo on saxophone.

The albums graphics and design were done by Kuhao Zane and Alia Serikaku of SigZaneKaiao.

Born and raised in the close-knit community of Keaukaha, on the east side of Hawaii Island, and steeped in the rich music traditions of her family, Kalima acknowledges, “You could say music is in my blood.”

Singing along side her brothers and sisters in Keaukaha’s famed Haili Church Choir, Kalima had special influences from her father, a member of the popular 1950’s band, The Hilo Kalimas. These influences provided a rich foundation to which would bring her music career to fruition.

The Hilo native left her comfortable surroundings at age 12 to become a boarding student at the Kamehameha Schools – Kapalama Campus on Oahu. It was there in the Seventh Grade that Kalima met Nalani Choy and Angela Morales and together their love for singing blossomed.

As seniors in high school the trio won their first competition, Brown Bags to Stardom with the ever-popular “Local Boys”. This success gave way to the creation of Na Leo Pilimehana – Hawaii’s highest selling female vocal group, with 19 albums produced and over 20 Na Hoku Hanohano Awards garnered.

Kalima’s talent extends beyond the sultry tone it lends to the group’s sound, her lyrics have been award winning and memorable. Prevailing with three Na Hoku Hanohano Awards for Best Song of the Year in 1996 for “Flying With Angels”, in 1999 for “Rest of Your Life” and in 2001 for “Saving Forever” has placed Kalima in an unmatched category as a lyricist.

Lehua spends much of her time touring with Na Leo and raising her three children Malie, Kalamaku and Kialoa.

— Find out more:
www.LehuaKalima.com

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

 

Quantcast