Makana's Coming Release 'Different Game' Develops A Slack-Rock Genre

TOKYO, Japan (Top40 Charts/ JVC Japan) - A slacker is one thing you could never call Makana. But you can call him a slack-rocker. "Different Game," the independently released, high-powered fourth album from the young singer-songwriter-musician, fuses Makana' s slack key guitar virtuosity (a style that sounds like three guitars in one) with elements of rock, folk, bluegrass and blues-all within poignant, original message songs-to create a brand new genre of music. "Different Game" will hit stores April 22nd.
Look for Makana during his west coast tour in May 2008.

Building upon his roots as the keeper of Hawai`i' s slack key flame, Makana takes the centuries-old tradition and blasts it into the 21st century, much in the way that rock bands of the ' 60s and ' 70s updated traditional genres like blues and country music. But although slack key forms the basis of Makana' s music, he' s not stuck in the past. Transcending labels and moving forward has always been his prime motivation. 'I'm constantly expanding my language so I can communicate with everyone,' he says.' It' s really a musical journey, an evolution. My music is about exploring.'

Hailing from the isle of O' ahu, Makana-whose name means ' a gift given freely' -began singing when he was 7 years old, took up ' ukulele at 9 and began learning the ancient art of slack key at 11, studying under the legendary master, Sonny Chillingworth. By 14, he was already performing professionally, and before long playing four nights a week. His reputation as the youngest master of slack key spread like molten volcanic lava throughout the islands. Makana rapidly built up a devoted fan base via his unpredictable, awe-inspiring live performances and his first three albums: "Makana" (1999), "Koi Au" (2002) and "Ki Ho' alu: Journey of Hawaiian Slack Key" (2003).

With each successive year, more and more music fans-both on and outside of the islands-are experiencing the Makana phenomenon. In addition to his own headlining tours, Makana and his band have opened shows for the likes of Sting, Santana, Elvis Costello, Jason Mraz, and Raul Midon and they' ve wowed even those hard-to-please audiences every time out. Makana was nominated for a Grammy in 2006 for his contribution to the album "Hawaiian Slack Key Kings" and won the Best World Music Album award at the Hawai' i Music Awards for his debut album. Makana was also honored with the Artist for Peace Award in 2005.
"Different Game" will be distributed by the Alternative Distribution Alliance, (ADA) a Warner Music Group company.