Tavana
Bio
Tavana is a multi-instrumentalist from Honolulu, HI who uses his feet to lay down a variety of grooves while simultaneously playing guitar, banjo, lap steel, or ukulele and singing soulful, island-inspired Rock and Blues.
"I perform everything live and use no looping. Everything is played moment to moment...It's hard to explain how fun it is to do this. It's like having a whole band in your body and mind. And they can stop and go together on a dime!!! They can slow down, speed up or whatever in perfect unity! Every sound comes with its own identity, colors, and emotions creating a much larger pallet from which to express myself. Additionally, it gives my mind very little time to stray away from the music resulting in a truly meditative state."
The result of this exploration and improvisation became his 3rd Album - 'Kicking and Screaming' featuring hard-driving hits such as 'Mystery', 'Wise Up', and 'County Line' while also offering softer, more melodic tunes such as 'Baby Blue' which he wrote while trying to lull his newborn baby - Mavrik - to sleep one afternoon.
His 4th album - 'Aloha Spirit' - was a Na Hoku Hanohano Award Nominee for Best Contemporary Album of the Year in 2018, and features Leon Mobley (Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals), Chris Chorney (Kanye West and Jay-Z), and Mike Lewis (Sammy Davis, The Temptations, Billy Joel), as well as other world class musicians - Mark Lindberg, Ken Likens, and Ane Pessin. The album displays Tavana's versatility with crossover pop songs 'SMH', 'Aloha Spirit', and 'Island Days,' while still showcasing some of his traditional hard-driving rock style on 'Walk My Way' and 'Glass Castle.'
Tavana has been the supporting act for Alabama Shakes, Shakey Graves, Xavier Rudd, Jenny Lewis, Julian Marley, and Kaleo to name just a few, and In 2009, Eddie Vedder invited Tavana to sing 'Hawaii 78' - a Hawaii anthem of sorts - with him at the Hawaii Theatre. "He's more the exception than the rule, he is a great human and I'm glad to know him" said Vedder while introducing Tavana to the audience. From a recording of their performance together, Vedder produced a limited vinyl record that was sent out to 10,000 Pearl Jam fans.
After taking a few years off from touring to be back on Oahu with his family, Tavana spent a great deal of 2018 on the road touring on the US Mainland, in Japan, and in Canada and was honored to perform with such legendary musicians as Henry Kapono, John Cruz, Willie K, The Doobie Brothers, Lily Meola, and Leon Mobley.
In 2019, Tavana has his sights set on releasing another album that will showcase his ever-evolving, one-of-a-kind signature island-inspired rock-and-blues sound, while continuing to tour regularly both on the US Mainland and abroad.
-
On the Rise TAVANA
Experience Tavana yourself at the June 18 Home in the Islands concert!
Raw, organic, natural, home grown and spicy hot. No I’m not talking about tabasco, jalapeños or wasabi. I’m talking about Tavana. His talent, his culture, his music.
Raw in that he is passion driven. True to his art and not afraid to expose his true love for music.
Organic, his music is focused on what he feels in his heart and doesn’t sway
from what is true to him.
Natural, Tavana is a single force of nature. He puts every element of his soul into his music. He rocks hard and deep as a musician and a singer and for him it’s natural.
Home grown, he’s an island boy with island love working his way beyond the reef while keeping it real.
Spicy hot, he’s on fire whenever he performs. It’s who and what he is. He lets it all out. His talent is his culture and his music.
Tavana is a man on a mission and big opportunities await his arrival. As a human being and friend Tavana’s a chill guy, honest and easy going. I believe he’s on the edge of going big. Go brother and don’t stop. Henry