Anjani Thomas [Hawaii/USA]

Hawaiian-born singer-songwriter Anjani has a new self-titled debut album out this month.  Martin Curti of New World Buzz recently caught up with Anjani for an exclusive interview.

Martin Curti: The music on your new album has been described by your record label as an impressive collection of original songs with elements of folk, pop, and world music.   How would you describe the music on Anjani?

Anjani: Anjani is a very relaxing CD--that is how I describe it. It's full of wonderful moments drawn from different musical genres: there's a little bit of folk, some pop, some world. It's not a strictly Hawaiian record at all--in fact there are only two Hawaiian cuts on it. But, I've had such an extensive musical background that I sort of drew from all of that and created this mix.

I like to tell people that I think when they listen to it from beginning to end that they will have felt like they've been to Hawai’i, and they've had a relaxing time on the beach, and they have just melted into the sand, and they're ready to rest. And, it's a very sweet very sweet record. I'm very happy with it.

Martin Curti: To complete a project like this, it must take a lot of effort on the part of everyone involved?

Anjani: Now that I know the pitfalls that are inherent in completing a creative endeavor, I have such admiration for anyone that sees their artistic vision through to completion. It's really quite an achievement: even if you think you’re doing a solo project, you’re not. There are so many people involved from the recording engineer to the master, the mixer; and of course if you happen to have some musicians on there. So, it really becomes a group effort and all of that energy is sort of a snowball that helps you go on your way. It's been a really wonderful experience and quite a learning curve in learning how to put my music down on tape. I have worked with so many other people as a background vocalist or supporting band member, but this is the first time that I've done it as a soloist. So, I'm really excited. It's been a lifelong dream, and I'm finally ready to go out and let the music be heard by the public.

Martin Curti: A track from the album that we found interesting was your duet "Kanaloa." Tell us, what's the song saying?

Anjani: "Kanaloa" was adapted from a poem by my sister Delaina. It was called "Kanaloa (Island of Many Names)." "Kanaloa" refers to the Hawaiian island of Kaho'olawe and it is also the name of the god of the ocean. That island was his domain.

Martin Curti: Is there and significance to the song?

Anjani: During 1941 in World War II, the military over took that island. They claimed it for tactical maneuvers, and they continued to bomb it for many years. Two gentlemen, George Helm and Kimo Mitchell, were dedicated activists who started to protest the military occupation by making some very dangerous trips to the island. Not only were they open to possible arrest but also imprisonment--not to mention how dangerous it was with a lot of unexploded ordnance in the island. But, it was a most sacred island to the Hawaiians and they just couldn't stand to see it being desecrated by the military which had, also, not only destroyed sacred heiau or temples and artifacts, but also basically changed everything about the island the topography--it was once a lush island, and now it's pretty barren.

George Helm and Kimo Mitchell lost their lives at sea on one of those missions to the island. They were trying to make it back to the island of Maui, and they did not succeed. So this song is a tribute to them of their story. It does have a good ending. In 1990, the military finally stopped bombing it due to public pressure, and they've since been working on clearing the land of unexploded ordnance and replanting native flora. Part of the proceeds from this record are going to Protect Kaho'olawe 'Ohana, which is an organization that aims to restore, locate and identify ancient sites and artifacts.

Martin Curti: The distinctive other voice that is heard on "Kanaloa" is that of Henry Kapono--tell us about your singing partner.

Anjani: He's a pretty huge icon in Hawaiian music and also in just contemporary rock music. In the 70s he was part of a duo called Cecilio and Kapono, and then he went on to have a great solo career. He's released many albums on his own, and I've sung background for him on a number of occasions. This is really a delightful opportunity for me to have him sing this duet with me. It meant a lot to me.

Martin Curti: Sounds like you’ve got some great musicians behind you.

Anjani: The ki ho'alu or slack key guitarist you’re listening to is Ozzie Kotani. He's on Dancing Cat Records and he's playing his own contemporary style of ki ho'alu. He has a very big classical background, and he was trained by Sonny Cillingworth. His style is very similar to Keola Beamer, who is also a pretty well known Dancing Cat artist. And all of the artists, these ki ho'alu masters, are amazing. Not only is hearing them perpetuating a uniquely Hawaiian genre of music; but it's also fantastic listening. You can just put it on any ol’ time of the day and feel great after you hear it.

Martin Curti: When listening to your album, I notice what sounded like an Asian influence in the song "The Spirit Of Love." Will you tell us about that?

Anjani: Ten years ago, I was asked by Osamu Kitajima, who is a wonderful new age jazz artist--one of the first to incorporate traditional Japanese instruments into his music. Anyway, Osamu was producing a record of Rinken Teruya's music. Rinken is a leader of a band called Rinkenband, a contemporary Okinawan band, and Osamu wanted to reinterpret that music and bring a western flavor to it. So, we started doing this record, and there are amazing players on it. Masa is a phenomenal shakuhachi player, Hiromitso Nishikawa is one of Japan's top three percussionists, and of course there's Osamu and a variety of guest artists.

This song "The Spirit Of Love" was also known by its Okinawan title "Timunikakati," and it's one of my favorites from the record. That record sat on the shelf of the Den Music vaults for about ten years, and just last month, in July, it was released in Taiwan for Asian release by Concept Music. Hopefully, it'll end up making its way toward full release here in the United States. The record is called Okinawa Time and the cut that I chose to put on Anjani is "The Spirit Of Love."

Martin Curti: Thanks, Anjani, for being our guest on New World Buzz.

Credits:
Interviewer: Martin Curti
Date: September 2000
© New World Buzz