Channeling both Hawaiian lushness and a bluesy acknowledgement of escaping personal strife, “Slack Key Blues” is a memorable new track from Slack Key ‘Ohana and Rand Anderson. The harmonious, serenely magnetic vocals of Hawaiian native Kela Sako complements the grooving guitars and fluttering ukulele work, resulting in a wholly endearing production. The track’s creative process arose after Anderson, a lap steel guitar player, overheard a visitor to Hawaii complaining about the island’s sights — affirming that Hawaii isn’t always for everyone. Brian Witkin wrote the music on the track, while Anderson contributed the lyrics.
Swaying guitar twangs immediately conjure an island-set tranquility, bolstered by the “quit my job yesterday,” free-spirited lyrical admissions. “Everything is gonna be okay,” the warming vocals let out, embracing the blue ocean and sweet sound of music in embracing the “slack key blues.” The vocals fade momentarily around mid-point, allowing the gorgeous guitar work to stretch its legs out and emphasize a tender, affecting lushness. “Like a rainbow in the sky,” their re-emergence exudes, echoing the temporary state of blissfulness in letting go of troubles for a tropical paradise, while also treasuring that personal peace is always a one-way ticket away.
“While I have loved Hawaiian music my entire life, I grew up playing blues guitar,” Witkin says. “I got into playing slack key guitar much later in my music career and this song is a blend of my passions for both blues and slack key guitar.”
Anderson elaborates more on the track’s initial inspiration:
“I was watching Island News, and they were interviewing some guy who lost his job. He had bought a one-way plane ticket to Hawai’i. I had heard that some states actually send homeless people to the island on a one-way ticket. Most people get here and stay because they would rather be homeless in paradise. The Waianae reference in the song is about the homeless encampments on the westside of Oahu, which seems to be the roughest part of the island.”
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The track is also featured in the genre-based, best-of Spotify compilation Emerging Indie Folk.
We discovered this release via MusoSoup.
