She's made People Magazine's "50 Most Beautiful People" list. She's voiced a multi-million dollar top-grossing Disney movie, "Lilo & Stitch," and has held her own on the red carpet with stars such as Mike Myers, Arnold Schwarzenegger; and in addition to starring in many movies, has even made her mark on ABC's "Dancing with the Stars." Yet, she's a true local girl at heart, who hasn't forgotten her roots, and most importantly, where her roots have her heart implanted permanently . . . Hawaii. I recently had a nice hearty chat with Carrere, who phoned me from her home, in Los Angeles. Just released was her first Hawaiian album, called "Hawaiiana," out in Borders' stores as well as on her website (www.tiacarrere.com) and her producer's website, www.danielho.com. You'll get to hear sample music tracks at the end of this column. But first, I'm sure you want to hear a little more about this local girl done good.
Tia Carrere's first Hawaiian CD, "Hawaiiana" was just released in stores.
Tia Carrere-Filipino, Spanish and Chinese local girl from Hawaii, is the beauty most well-known for her role as Cassandra in the movie series "Wayne's World," has done extremely well, both in modeling, and filmography. But Carrere's singing has been her passion since she was a young girl, attending Sacred Hearts Academy in Honolulu. Born and raised in Kalihi with her two younger sisters, she attended Sacred Hearts Academy, and it was there where her vocal talents were truly recognized. There, she refined her love for singing and was given the opportunity to showcase her talents, on many different occasions. It was while she was at Sacred Hearts where she met a great friend; one of whom has definitely had his own success in the music industry and is one of the most respected, and one of the youngest most successful songwriters/producers to come from Hawaii. Multiple Grammy award-winning Daniel Ho met Carrere when she was asked to be the lead vocalist fro the St. Louis High School Jazz Orchestra. It was there that the two of them built a friendship that would last for years. Ho wasn't the only one who noticed her talent from early on."I played piano for her Sacred Hearts Academy talent show; which she, of course, won and went on to perform at the Waikiki Shell," says Ho. He then went on to describe her experience with the St. Louis Jazz band. "She sang with the Lancers, St. Louis High School's Jazz Band, which was led by Mr. Ray Wessinger. I was studing jazz arranging from Mr. Wessinger at the time and one of my assignments was to write the arrangements for her vocal songs. Tia always had that something 'extra' - a star quality. She was an amazing vocalist at the time and is even better now!" beams Ho.
Tia Carrere and Daniel Ho, long time friends, have some fun in the studio.
Thus, years later and both with successful careers all their own, they finally teamed up for a project they both had been talking about for a few decades-Carrere's very own Hawaiian album, entitled "Hawaiiana." Having recently taken on yet another role-motherhood, Carrere's aspirations now took on even more meaning. "Since I had Bianca (daughter), and with longing to be connected to Hawaii as well as after having done Lilo & Stitch, I wanted her to be aware of where I come from and where her roots come from; what a beautiful place this is, and how melodic and soothing and beautiful the music is. We (Ho and Carrere) wanted to put that into a record; with a combination of Daniel's Hawaiian's style and my own style, but wanting to share this with my daughter. I want to go back there (Hawaii) one day but for now, this is just to share that love with everyone," contemplates Carrere.
I wanted to know what Ho, who produced and arranged all the music on the album, as a musical expert, had to say about the sound of Carrere's latest release. Ho's response: "Tia is a world-class vocalist. She has a beautiful tone, vibrato, range, support, accurate pitch, and musical phrasing. Though she is technically capable of belting out notes in the stratosphere and riffing on R&B/gospel licks (which have become the measuring units of contemporary vocalists thanks to American Idol);her music has soul and sincerity. She tells the story and coveys the feeling of a song with every inflection and nuance in her voice. I limited myself to one instrument per song and chose my notes very carefully to underscore her vocals with a transparent accompaniment." Carrere made it clear that she wanted her love for the islands evident throughout the CD. "When you go back to Hawaii after being gone for so long, its like time slows down just enough for you to enjoy each and every moment; that's what I felt like singing the songs; every breath, every sigh; I had that feeling of 'ahhh'–it was such a nice release, says Carrere."
Carrere longs to come back to the islands to do a movie soon
and eventually move back for good.
That did it for me. It was time to listen to my "Hawaiiana" CD. I've always respected Ho as a musician, song writer and producer, so I completely trusted his comments. According to Carrere, song selection was based upon Carrere's favorite songs from childhood. My curiosity peaked as to what songs they would be. First off, when I received the CD I was surprised to see how great Tia looked. Not that she's ever looked bad but we all have this "Cassandra" image of Carrere implanted in our minds. It was as if she just stepped off the Wayne's World set. She hasn't aged one bit. I opened up the case and popped it into my player. As soon as the first track came on-Aloha 'Oe, I got what we call in Hawaii, "chicken skin." Goose bumps, to you visitors. Its not that I don't hear the song often, or that the song is overrated and overplayed. But hearing Carrere sing it, just gave me this very warm feeling. Soulful, emotional, and a bit of longing—those are the thoughts that came to mind when I first heard her sing. As I went through the CD, I was not only shocked to hear the simplicity of the music and the beauty of the vocals, but how much I enjoyed it. I've grown up with the "harmony" of the best of the best Hawaiian bands playing these same tunes in my ears, as well as my musician father, and to hear it in Carrere's interpretation, was refreshing and different. Feminine, but strong. Her vocal talent is by far above what I had expected of her, especially in a Hawaiian or contemporary Hawaiian setting/release. Carrere talked to me about the decision to include Aloha `Oe on her CD. It started when she was allowed some personal input on the song within theDisney hit movie "Lilo & Stitch," when the directors asked Carrere, "So how would your character say 'bye' to a sister?" Carrere immediately thought of Aloha `Oe. So when time came to record, she wasn't about to leave this meaningful track. "Its short, its beautiful, and when you say it with words, that's perfect," says Carrere. As I continued to listen, I became intrigued-what else did I have to look forward to? I already liked the first track. I went on to listen, each track afterwards different and special in its own way. But then -- I stopped in my tracks when I heard Pua `Olena. Every single version of this song, has always made me stop, listen, and sing along. The beauty and its musical arrangements, have always appealed to me, and moreso, with Ho's accompaniment, I absolutely fell in love with this version of one of my favorite old time favorites. Then it got better. The last three tracks on the CD are "Ku`u Lei `Awapuhi," "Sing," and "I'll Remember You." Each of them, I must have replayed about three times because I enjoyed them so much. I didn't read linear notes as I listened, just tried to enjoy the music and appreciate the melodies and harmonies of each piece. Ku`u Lei Awapuhi . . . was simply, haunting, in the most heartfelt way possible. Had I known Carrere was aiming for Loyal Garner's version of the song, I would have probably been more prepared for the strength and power of this rendition of a song I had heard for so many years. For me, personally it took guts for Carrere, away from Hawaii for over 20 years, to record a Hawaiian album. But her heart and soul went into it and its evident from beginning to end. The next track that caught me off guard was Karen Carpenter. The song has meaning for both Carrere and Ho. "Its one of my all time favorite songs," says Carrere. The words are especially inspiring, as Carrere recites and then goes on to sing a few lines to me, all from the heart. Its clear to see this song has personal meaning to her. Ho also has fond memories of the song. Reminisced Ho, "Sing is particularly special to me because I loved this song as a kid. My dad always had KUMU on in his '68 Cutlass Supreme and the Carpenters' recording of Sing was one of my favorite songs. I'd always sing along with the "na, na, na, na, na" part."
Both Carrere and Ho are Hawaii natives who have done
extremely well in their respective fields.
Then last but not least was "I'll Remember You." A huge fan of this song, Carrere swoons this song out with the utmost class and truly shows her talent. I'm a huge fan of Michael Buble, and if I had to compare styles, I'd say Carrere has that Buble "swooning" tendencies in her songs, while keeping you laid back, relaxed, and I guess, exactly where she wants you to be-Hawaii, home.
All in all, from a "real person" standpoint, talking to Tia was like talking to an old friend; only refined. Her personality is cool, comfortable and down to earth. This woman knows where's she's been, where's she's at, and where's she's going. To me, her success befits her strong character. Sharing stories about her daughter and my son, who are only a few months apart in age, and comparing funny moments with our children, I realize that Carrere takes her role as motherhood seriously. Then professionally, as we go back and forth between our personal and professional lives, each time we chatted about a song, she'd sing a pretty good chunk of the selection. As if I didn't know she had a beautiful voice, I appreciated the samples because it showed that this woman had no shame—true to her roots, as most of us Hawaii hams are, she belted out many tunes we talked story about. When I asked her what her favorite song was, she started singing none else but another fellow Hawaii star's song—Jack Johnson's "Upside Down," from the movie "Curious George." "I looove that song!" said Tia, after singing the first several lines to me. I took a great inner satisfaction being that I personally love Jack Johnson's music and upon getting to spend some time with the performer (Heroes fans, you remember when I surprised him for our show?) was even more impressed with his character and laid-back style. It made me smile to hear one Hawaii artist rave about another. So thus was a simple day in the life of Tia Carrere—another interview, another diaper change, another costume change, another performance. But for me, I had a newfound respect for, in my mind, an actress who had class, and a singer who had style. With her latest release, "Hawaiiana," I think Ho wraps it up perfectly . . . "If I were to attempt to sum it [album] up in one word it would be pristine. I was striving for clarity in the musical arrangements and production. Because you can hear every note, squeak, or noise of the instrument, and every breath in the vocal track, everything had to be pretty close to perfect," says Ho. So in addition to musical clarity and perfection, you'll be sure, as a listener, to hear the passion and love the duo (Ho and Carrere) have for the islands ... as their "coming home" release. "This project is special to us because it's music we love, music we grew up with. We both left the islands many years ago, and in a sense, this album is our return home," says a heartfelt Ho. "First of all, I wanted to complete a whole project with Daniel, and to finally pull the trigger and do it; talking about it to choosing the songs, playing and singing them, polishing, to the artwork and photography and everything from beginning to end; a great feeling of accomplishment; also, I wanted to share my love of Hawaii with the world . . . whether the person who listens to this is in Germany, France, England, if there's one thing they can take away from it, I would want them to hear what its like to be in Hawaii in one album would have heard all the greatest songs of Hawaii," says Carrere.
And this girl doesn't go far from her roots. Her answer to where she feels "heaven" is in Hawaii? It wasn't a beach, it wasn't a park, or mountain top. It was Liliha Bakery. "I looooove sitting at that counter," says Carrere. "I've been going there for as long as I can remember, and throughout so many different stages of my life. Yet the counter is the same, some of the waitresses are the same. Its comforting-the smell of the kitche and the bakery just the way everything is there." And here I was thinking it was for the Coco Puffs. So the question would be for this internationally known star, can you take Hawaii out of this local girl? My answer? No ways, brah.
You can't take the local girl out of this Hollywood star.
Tia Carrere's Hawaiiana sample tracks:
You can catch Tia on Nip/Tuck on FX as well as HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm, this fall. Visit http://www.tiacarrere.com/ for more details.
