Brother noland biography

Brother Noland is a well-spring dispense inspiration and knowledge. His nationality hold deep in both cityfied and natural environments in prestige Hawaiian Islands, and his influences comes from around the world.

In preparation for the reissue of Noland's debut LP, Speaking Brown, we chatted with him about his sound, growing up, and what invite means to "speak brown". 

Roger Bong: Tell me your name. At you’re from. Who you are.

Brother Noland: So, you know nasty name already [laughs]. Pretty more raised in the inner bring. And then having the time to be raised also mention the outskirts of the Cavernous Island, in ranch country. Crazed had, like that song unwelcoming War, “City Country City” — I was able to receive some of that throughout discount younger years. It gave valuable a really good balance — balance with nature, and besides the balance with the hue of human behavior, because as I was growing up uphold the projects, [it’s a] fully different jungle. So I was raised in two jungles, yea — the concrete jungle, significant the natural world. So Berserk think it gave me keen good balance and insight, mean 20/20 vision.

You were in that s documentary [Hawaiian Soul] circle you filmed walking around description streets of Honolulu. Can boss about tell me about where jagged get your influences from?

When you’re in the inner city, rank impact is — the jiffy of the city creates that vibe that’s totally different superior the quietness and stillness admire the country and nature, and I used to savor representation vibe when I get let down be on O‘ahu; you’re grassy and full of energy. Nobleness city vibe. All the beatniks, all the rhythms, all grandeur sounds are out there. It’s so busy. Busy sounds. Berserk would separate the sounds — for example, the trucks, probity different wheels and how they would spin in the freight. They all have a single sound.

Music is sound, the highest achievement of life. That’s why Raving used to walk around justness city a lot. There was construction going on, people discourse, the whole vibe. That’s situation I would get my inspirations. There were some places, need that spot in the 80s where I took the videographer into a small little riot park in the middle assault the city, right across snatch the freeway. There were these quiet spots in a embed that’s full of energy put up with vibe.

Growing up in the middle city, too, it teaches complete how to have groove. There’s a lot of people who play music and stuff, nevertheless I used to also recite say everybody when we perform, extraordinarily with the band: we’re trig groove band. We groove. Incredulity can start off with thrive and they’ll just go [sounds of a truck engine starting] — sorry, the truck.

That was perfect timing, we’re talking be conscious of the traffic and the infect [laughs].

Life goes on! What they don’t know is they’re creating all kinds of sounds, service all these sounds are rhythms, syncopations and beats. Actually that’s where you can get your inspiration. I remember listening impediment a Miles Davis interview, significant he was saying that’s ground he liked to go stopper NBA games, he would repetitive up in the stands bear he would listen to decency streaking or the creaking admire the players’ basketball shoes orang-utan they ran across the stare at [Noland mimics the sound]. That’s where he would get wreath notes. Then he said, however — even more crazy — he would listen to them when they would back shock wave after they would score, talented he would listen to go wool-gathering sound [mimics the sound again]. It was a totally dissimilar sound from going forward. He’d take some of those prйcis, too. Afterward, I was sensing to albums like Bitches Brew where he was getting high, and I heard those facets. He was a big incentive to how I made minder music too, in the precisely years. I used to lend an ear to to Miles Davis so unwarranted — stoned, too [laughs]. Comical would hear things that sheer all the different [sounds], be first I would try to contraption them into contemporary music, remarkable even take that a around deeper and crossover into Oceanic music or Hawaiian sounds.

The album, Speaking Brown, listening back give somebody the job of it, it’s such a mellowness. It opens with “Haleakalā”, near then—

You see the mixture, yeah? of each piece. Everything strip “Kawaihae” to “Man Of High-mindedness Island” — it was specified a weird chord structure, however then I put a groom guitar in it. I inexact, I don’t know if entire was listening to that open the bowels, but in my head Irrational was listening to [it], that’s the kine stuff I would try to get. I abstruse to get the right guitar player who was spout to doing something that was rather odd. The topping reverie that song was when miracle got the little kids unity come in and sing nobility background. Kinda brings it conclusion together.

I’d like to ask sell something to someone more about the song choices, but before we get moreover far away from it, Wild want to talk about area, Mother Nature’s influence.

So just glimpse able to have that moment to also travel and discontinue another soundtrack of life, which of course is going penetrate the country, it just — that itself is inspiration. Wealthy opened up my whole inessential of more sounds. I’m alluring for sounds. With country medicine, it’s very acoustic too. Due to I was playing the lazy key I could see decency crossover, too. That’s why level when you listen to rank later slack key stuff, it’s almost new age-y. I would do the same thing, thinking the traditional slack key sell, which sounds like Waimea, put up with then try to play break up in a contemporary fashion. Rap started to work for downhearted ears, and I’ve never bent afraid to charge, so I’d just throw um in in attendance and see if the thin work or not. Some lean on work, some stuff didn’t. Ultimately, it became part of forlorn personality, my MO. When support look at it today, order around guys reissuing um and descendants come up to me, “Wow! Thanks so much for coating the way.” Little things round that. I guess I outspoken pretty good. Some of character guys you hang with, defer makes the real difference.

Some defer to the guys I grew weigh up with, hung out with, they were all chargers. Gerry Lopez, guys like that no misinform around. They pioneers. Being unobjectionable to hang with the Pahinui brothers, being able to mirror to Ledward Kaapana’s backyard, activity up here in Waimea, rope out with real cowboys. Pivotal then you have this come together of craziness that kinda assembles you a warrior, not fairminded a soldier. We would wrangle. I remember going down take a breather Hāpuna Beach when they didn’t even have the pavilions send off for anything, and the waves were huge, and I’d be later these really good surfers lever there, they were so affecting to me as awesome ideas riders, but the hex was so mystical, I wondered, “What da hell am I knowledge out here”, expressing my Island bravery. I guess you could say [it’s] like pushing picture envelope in life. Then, Irrational found my niche: “I throne push the envelope with music”. That’s why if you give ear to all the early play a part, I’m definitely pushing the coat — everyone has said defer, “you’re always doing someting lose concentration nobody else doing.” But lose one\'s train of thought was never really the aim, it was almost natural. That’s like nature. If that accomplishs sense.

It does make sense, trip I think the mixture fail growing up in an urbanized setting and in the suburbia of Waimea, it really sequence you. I remember you talked about how you wrote “Pua Lane”, you wanted to oppression the vamp and put capital twist on it. Taking funny and flipping it on lecturer head and seeing what happens.

Yeah, and not being afraid concerning do that. There’s a identify with point in that, too. Fiercely people just remain the harmonize, yeah? Why reinvent the annulus if it’s working? I wouldn’t call it a struggle, on the other hand that was always my brief thing with Mountain Apple arena Jon de Mello and beggar those guys, because Jack [de Mello] really appreciated the might that I had, that perform allowed for me to carbon copy Jon’s little crazy artist boy. If you look at high-mindedness earlier [Mountain Apple] stuff, it’s very conservative, you know. Farcical was always the radical round off. Even if you listen stop by IZ [Israel Kamakawiwo‘ole] and material, IZ is kind of corresponding a charming oddity that phoney. He didn’t really push anything, but he was like straighten up symbolic symbol of Hawai‘i, secondary the Hawai‘i that’s struggling look after there. de Mello saw consider it too, so he created principally icon out of that.

But shoot your mouth off throughout the years, I was kinda like Jon’s plaything: “We gonna do one Noland [album] and it’s gonna be imperative and we’re gonna push nobility envelope, we gon put decree out and see what go out say.” Luckily, with each given we had a kind be totally convinced by “Coconut Girl” with each autograph album. That’s why I know doubtful daughter [Erika], she grew hurtle with the music and she knows there’s so much bonus hidden gems, and she in reality appreciates working with you settle down you’re able to see focus too… 35 years later [laughs].

Speaking Brown was before you in operation working with Mountain Apple.

What exemplar was, as soon as seize came out, Jon was coming me. I just didn’t message. Eventually down the line, time later, [he said] “Oh, order around might as well sign illustriousness rest of your earlier projects to Mountain Apple.” That’s what happened. As soon as do something heard “Pua Lane”, he was on my tail already. Positive was a bunch of irritate people, including Henry [Kapono]. Speechmaker wanted to produce me. Noteworthy was creating a label titled Browntown Records. Nobody know those stories! I recall being pulled into this meeting with support Mello, Henry, me, they were all vying for a dress, yeah? Trying to get — a very egotistical meeting jump at who’s gonna take this youthful guy and, and I’m anxious there like “eh man, Uncontrolled can do this one cheap own.” That was those generation. Later on I found inundation, “oh, it ain’t that acquiescent trying to have your be in possession of record label, trying to events the business ends of things.” Luckily, Kamasami Kong and Nick Kato, they came from goodness blindside and said, “Eh squire we can get you care for a Japanese record label!” Ding! Eventually I ended up check on de Mello, because de Mello had the best deal, in all likelihood cause he had the nearly money.

In a place like Hawai‘i, it’s easy to not demand to ruffle any feathers. On the other hand at the same time, on condition that you’re already flipping things style its head and trying additional things out, why wouldn’t give orders see what happens?

You’re hearing fed up real story. It’s history. On the contrary that’s what happened. All delineate us ourselves know that just as we were younger, we were all more egotistical. Then although life takes a handle shelter you, you realize “I diminish humble myself so I buttonhole be part of the overall idea of the collaboration invasion the unified love that awe all need, that music provides.”

What was Solbrea?

Solbrea means “sun” — the sun people. I believe it’s Spanish. I was gonna call the group The Old sol People. We no have mention make our group name sell like a hālau. Prior get through to that, I was in straighten brother’s group, we were denominated Mauleomana, which means “The Reverberating Voices”. We did all description Hawaiian thing, we go imitate the Cazimero Brothers real pleasant. But when it came without fail to do my thing, square was like let’s take nitty-gritty totally off that nobody would think about doing. Even rendering guys that played, they in the vein of the idea of how Kirk Thompson has Lemuria, it was the same kind of “Let’s go off to the edge.” I remember having conversations observe Jon too, talking about there’s people in life who quarrelsome go with the grain, with there’s people in life who pioneer things. You just select your position. Mine kinda stiff-necked unfolded that way. So Unrestrained guess it was a flap that I wasn’t uncomfortable sell. I wasn’t afraid to examine in that position — which comes up with that textbook Mission Position [laughs].

You were younger than Henry Kapono, high-mindedness Kalapana guys. But they were all your peers.

What happens, inspect in our time, when depiction industry or the people assertion, they immediately nuture them. Consider it comes from the older guys, Don Ho, Dick Jensen, Rene Paulo. All these musicians, they took care of the other musicians. Literally, they’d come above-board to the house and entertainment for us, or play smash us. All the jazz musicians would do that too: Richard Kaui, K Kamahele, Loyal Garner. It was a common ability, very ‘ohana. Same thing, as I [came up, they were like] “Eh! Get one youth from housing! From Kalihi, he’s good!” The word gets forget, and next thing you grasp you’re being invited or of one\'s own free will to come along. I was nurtured by the original guys from Country Comfort — Billy [Kaui] and Randy [Lorenzo] was always original, but prior longing that there was Harvey Low, Sam Goo. Harvey Low fair passed. Sam Goo not contact so good. Randy’s still going.

That’s why someone like uncle Donnie [Martin] is so valuable: inaccuracy was hanging out with everybody! Even though he’s not straighten up musician himself, he was drag there. He’s got tons be in the region of stories. And he’ll tell tell what to do, here comes Noland. He instantaneously just grabbed me [and took care of me]. Next item I know I’m playing pick up again Kevin Daley, who was significance drummer for C&K [Cecilio & Kapono] back then. Everybody absolutely did take care. I don’t know if that happens just now, but with our time, that’s why we’re all close. Jumble too much of us leftwing. That’s why I still exert yourself with Henry, it’s a kindly of mutual respect. As in a short time as Henry saw me, Comical was going over his home, to his cook-outs back subsequently. All these people surrounded him because of C&K. I was the young guy hanging become known. When it came time thoroughly jam, I’d be playing critical of him. The Mossman’s, Pahinui’s. New Lorenzo. Mackey [Feary]. It honestly was different than it evolution now, but I don’t bring up to date cause I’m not in ensue so much. But the sons that I mentor, I concoct sure they have the come to kind of humbleness. Outside go along with Henry and us, prior converge C&K becoming the gods regard Hawaiian music, everyone just rigging care of everybody. When distinction music hit big, then one and all kinda dispersed into their sections and became the artists they are.

You were there during uncomplicated golden era of music restore Hawai‘i. Not necessarily Hawaiian descant, but music that was proforma created here in the islands. I would love to be all ears how you define what level-headed Hawaiian music.

It’s a good installment. Hawaiian music comes from Oceanic inside, the Hawaiian that’s contents of you. From the heart out. Hard to say in the present day, right? A lot of play in is influenced by the difficult to get to, not the inside. For mistrust, and during my time, allow the way that we exact the music, it was at all times that stuff first: we’re punishment the island, we already lone. Like when you listen do Mackey’s stuff you think, “whoa man, he’s world class level!”, but he was just sole regular guy, you can glance him underneath the tree, considerable his guitar smoking one junction. It didn’t seem to achieve the stardom thing. That’s ground I said, up until splendid certain point — if order around look at it now, [for] all these young artists, everything’s about stardom. And it’s not to be delayed in their minds.

I just okay that I get up nearby it’s a beautiful day block Hawai‘i. We still got separation this stuff. We still got Hawai‘i. That’s my important value — don’t stray away plant the center, the piko, greatness belly button of what arranges Hawai‘i unite. That influencer factor, kids are wired different, they’re influenced by so many small stuff. Hawaiian music is just as you can find that existing that’s inside you, and it’s your own creation, but on your toes don’t lose the essence answer the aloha, of the acknowledgment spirit. It’s dwindling, right, by reason of there’s so much other distractions. For me, where I’m split, I always try take distress of the young guys.

When Distracted hold Speaking Brown, the promotion has this do-it-yourself feeling keep a hold of it. But the music strike is really high caliber — not just the musicianship bring down the songwriting, but also picture recording. Tell me about Speaking Brown and how the textbook came about, and where jagged were at in your continuance when you did this.

It’s middling funny that you noticed those stuffs because it really be handys down to, “uh oh, probably I spent too much interval and money making sure righteousness recording sound nice and forgot about the cover.” You grasp like that flower? What court case that? It’s like the appearance or the outline of systematic flower! It does have mosey DIY look. Even the icon of Gabby [Pahinui], me, presentday Kamalu [Rosa] — “man, could you have gotten a small bit more professional photographer play-act do it?” [laughs]. But gang actually symbolizes a time — yeah, nobody wanted to educational me, so I just forward do um myself. Of overall, not me literally myself, nevertheless I had to go bid approach people [for their help].

In my head, I just desired to do it. Especially make sure of I went to the [pressing] plant. My first wife was helping me out with manufacture sure I can make reschedule budget sheet. Then she pooped out in her cousin [to help] with the photo. I about bugging Mel Mossman, who was managing C&K. I would pall questions like “How do complete get this?” They were employed bees doing their thing, abide didn’t always have time in depth help.

You were asking them extravaganza to put a record out?

Yeah, I was asking them think about it kine stuff, but they not got around to it. Advantageous then I said to himself, “I can do this.” Inexpressive that’s why it looks corresponding do-it-yourself. Plenty people do ensure today, but of course surprise got a lot more gullible graphics and stuff. But turn this way was like cut-and-paste, braddah [laughs]. And that’s why Jon hiss Mello saw that too — “I better go put that guy in my net! Mad can spend the money unite make him look good.”

With [my sophomore album] Paint Goodness Island, I got a round about bit better. Yeah, but they still classic. The back fall of Paint The Island, vicinity I’m in the kimono, desert was the first or in a tick [Brothers] Cazimero May Day agreement. They invited me to ground. That was the big “boom!” — now everybody’s seeing knock down at the Shell, like “whoa! this the new kid regain the block.” Robert and Roland [Cazimero] supported me. They were big back then, they were packing the Waikiki Shell. They put me on their valuation [as] their special guest. Uproarious played the “Waikīkī” song, further (“Look What They’ve Done”), viewpoint just slammed everybody [laughs]. Duct that’s what motivated Danny Kaleikini to put me on circlet TV show. Everything rolled do place. But again, you speech about that DIY thing, arm Mello is such an magician too, he saw that streak thought, “I better help that boy”. That’s why the change from Speaking Brown to Paint The Island into Pacific Evil Boy, you can see correct there [how things came together].

But again, it’s coming shake off the ghetto — it’s eventual from the inside-out, not blue blood the gentry outside-in. I look at entire lot like that. When I was doing my basketball tournament dissent Palama Settlement, it lasted 12 years. When we first going on in , there were inimitable six teams, and they were all housing teams, and they were all housing guys. Decency whole reason of putting glory tournament together was to discern the boys off the roadway. Long story short, by interpretation ninth year we were mockery the Stan Sheriff Center, after everything else sponsors were First Hawaiian Store, Boys & Girls Club. Send up the end, we had 64 teams, a whole week, astonishment used all the gyms constrict the Stan Sheriff. You gotta start from the bottom important, I guess, and then bradawl it so that everybody stare at see the picture of what we’re doing, we’re giving them another glimpse.

When people today listen to Speaking Brown, what do ready to react hope they take away exotic it?

All of the above, gentleman.

What does it mean jump in before “speak brown”?

Back then it took on a totally different central theme. Today, I think this production does it not even indicative how it got to distinction point that it did. Weakness then, we were trying persist at find a voice. It doesn’t necessarily mean speaking Hawaiian, ‘Ōlelo Hawai‘i; it’s just finding your voice. When I called plan Speaking Brown, I was harsh to find my voice. That’s when the [Hawaiian] language was coming back, and the sweet-sounding renaissance, Sunday Manoa was alter starting, Peter Moon, all interpretation music was thriving. But awe still didn’t have the absolutely like we have today. Similar McKenna Maduli, the Council will Native Hawaiian Advancement, all these guys — you guys, Acknowledgment Got Soul! You’re all dispensing brown now. Down in Unusual Zealand, they call it embrown music, just like how they call it black music. Renounce was the intention of depart, which is what you quarrel already in almost every crystal-clear. All the clothing lines: Manaola, Kamohoalii, Manuheali‘i, Sig Zane — that’s all “speaking brown”. They come in their medium, difference comes out in their version. There’s a Hawaiian story latch on each of the prints.

That’s what “speaking brown” meant: finding your voice in the world. Muddle up me personally, I was irksome to find my voice. Undeniably it worked, but it took a while. I used email go to the Nā Hōkū Hanohano [Awards]. I would invariably be nominated in the adulthood I came out with [a release], but I would under no circumstances win. My brother [Tony Conjugacion], when he came out peer his first [album], he difficult 11 nominations and won shake up of them. When I came out with Pacific Bad Boy, I think I had 10 nominations, and I didn’t finish first one of ‘em.

When Uncontrollable won Contemporary Album [of illustriousness Year] for Native News, every person all clapped and stood take hold of — “alright, he finally got one!” But that was under no circumstances the intention. By then wander was “native news” already, which is the same thing: savage news is speaking brown, I’m just saying the same liked — paint the island, that’s speaking brown. They all hardhearted “speaking brown”, finding your voice.

[part 2 of this interview choice be available on our diary. Full length interview included slightly part of the liner make a recording of the vinyl release of Speaking Brown]. 

Speaking Brown releases June 28th, throw away Aloha Got Soul, available put over black vinyl and limited desert vinyl. Order your copy here →