Mountain Apple Company CEO Jon de Mello joked with Raiatea Helm, center, and Keola Beamer at Mountain Apple's Kakaako studio on Monday. Helm and Beamer will release their first collaborative effort, "Keola Beamer and Raiatea," next month.BEAMER-HELM CD INSPIRES
THE ATMOSPHERE was light and jovial when I entered the Mountain Apple Co.'s Kakaako offices on Monday. After a short walk through the company's warehouse space, an open door led to a studio where Keola Beamer and Raiatea Helm had just finished up a photo and video shoot in support of their new collaboration, "Keola Beamer and Raiatea."
The album, set for release May 4 in stores and online, was the result of 14 months of work in Honolulu, San Francisco and Beamer's home island of Maui. The project was incredibly personal for both artists, albeit for different reasons.
"I lost my mom about two years ago, and she was also an artistic collaborator, so I was dealing with this huge loss and how to go forward," said Beamer.
"This is a new Raiatea," said Helm. "It's a new journey for me ... (and) I took a risk to get out of the box and try something new."
Beamer and Helm first met in 2008 when one of the coordinators for the annual Lantern Floating Festival asked them to share a stage. The two "clicked," according to Helm, and they decided to start working together. Eventually, months of touring in Japan, China and the continental U.S. led to them deciding to record a full-length album.
"For me, she has a voice I can journey with," said Beamer of Helm's vocal ability. "Words fall short, but there's a quality of light in her voice that I see. ... I sort of thought maybe we could work together and I could paint with that light."
The results of Beamer's "painting" are impressive. "Keola Beamer and Raiatea" spotlights the strengths of both artists -- Beamer's slack key talents are impossible to ignore, his playing blending seamlessly with Helm's silky smooth voice.
Tracks like "Hilo Hanakahi" and "I Kilohi Aku Au" allow both artists to showcase their singing voices in Hawaiian, while "Ina (Imagine)" is a beautiful remake of the John Lennon classic, using both Hawaiian and English lyrics. "You Somebody" and "Days of My Youth," which showcase each artist individually, are other songs worth putting on repeat in your iTunes.
After years of scratching my head at some of the nominees and winners of the Best Hawaiian Music Album category at the Grammy Awards, it seems like a no-brainer to consider this release as a front-runner to win in 2011. Just don't expect Beamer and Helm to jump on that bandwagon anytime soon.
"I'm a Buddhist, so I'm not attached to any of that stuff," said Beamer. "The music is good and we want to get it out there. Whether it has anything to do with the Grammys or not, we don't know."
"We make music to make people happy," added Helm. "Everyone can relate to it."
According to the folks at Mountain Apple, "Keola Beamer and Raiatea" will be available at all Oahu Longs Drugs, Wal-Mart and Borders locations. Beamer and Helm expect to tour extensively on the mainland and in Hawaii this fall in support of the new album; Maui fans will be able to celebrate its release on May 22 at the Maui Theatre.