It’s the holiday season! Ready for some Island music to celebrate Christmas? Here are five island artists with new takes on holiday classics:
8ro8: “Mele Kalikimaka.” Oʻahu-based music artist Myron Armstrong, also known as 8R08, grew up in Mākaha and pursued music after high school, while working at McDonald’s. Earlier this year, he released several singles, including “On Sight,” which he spoke with ASD about in July. He just released his own version of “Mele Kalikimaka.”
Iam Tongi X Bing Crosby: “Mele Kalikimaka.” The winner of Season 21 of “American Idol,” Iam Tongi captured hearts across the nation with his performances in the televised talent competition. Now, he has more than 1.4 million monthly listeners on Spotify.
This year, he teamed up with the estate of Bing Crosby to share a new version of “Mele Kalikimaka,” which dropped Nov. 21 on Spotify. Earlier this year, he also released a new version of “Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride” for Disney’s live action version of “Lilo & Stitch.”
Read more in his recent exclusive interview with Aloha State Daily.
Jake Shimabukuro: “Tis The Season.” The renowned ʻukulele player just finished recording a holiday album, “Tis The Season,” which is now live. It features collaborations with Justin Kawika Young, Yo-Yo Ma, Michael McDonald of The Doobie Brothers, and more. There is also an old holiday track with his first band, Pure Heart, which he played with right out of high school. Find the full album here.
Shimabukuro has more than 1 million monthly listeners on Spotify. He recently spoke with ASD ahead of concerts at the Blue Note Hawaiʻi.
Kalaʻe + Kalena + Zeo Worship: “Christmas Christmas Time is Here.” Kalaʻe + Kalena joined Zeo Worship to release a music video premiere for “Christmas Christmas Time is Here,” which released live on Plantoem and Dec. 2 on YouTube.
Earlier this year, Hawaiʻi Island-based singer and songwriter Kalaʻe Parish took home some of the most prestigious honors in Hawaiian music at the Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards, including Album of the Year, Contemporary Album of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year and Song of the Year. He and Kalena, his wife, also took home the Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award for Christmas Album of the Year (“Kala‘e + Kalena + Kalikimaka”).
Here is the video for the recently released holiday song:
Thunderstorm Artis “O Holy Night.” Singer and songwriter Thunderstorm Artis grew up in Haleʻiwa before moving to Nashville with his young family. He was a contestant in Season 23 of “American Idol." Listen to his version of the classic “O Holy Night” performed with Sarah Reeves, which released Nov. 21 on Spotify.
What does Artis love about the Islands?
“For me, man, it's the culture,” he told ASD. “It's the lifestyle. It's the people. It’s the aloha spirit.”
Read more of his exclusive interview with Aloha State Daily earlier this year.
Listening to other Island holiday music not on this list? Let us know! Email: katie@alohastatedaily.com.
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Katie Helland can be reached at katie@alohastatedaily.com.
