PFC Artist Spotlight | Taimane
In a vast world brimming with genuine talent, Taimane Gardner is among the most remarkable and awe-inspiring performers to take on the ukulele, breathing life and energy into her music that can only be described as a true force of nature.
Beginnings
Receiving her name from the Samoan word for "Diamond," Taimane is a Pacific Islander herself, born in Honolulu, Hawai'i to a Samoan mother and European-American father. In tune with her name and heritage, Taimane cannot help but shine in the spotlight, pursuing her passion for music and expression of sound to its fullest extent throughout her 15 year career. By the age of 5, Taimane was learning and practicing the foundations of the ukulele, but soon found herself reaching far beyond the instrument's traditional capabilities by introducing a wide range of genre's and play-styles that were fueled by her inner rockstar. As her talents grew, this young and inspired musician soon caught the attention of many well known ukulele masters, and at the age of 13, she was invited to join Don Ho as part of his show at the Waikiki Beachcomber. Through this opportunity, her investment in her music soon became intertwined with a new passion for performance, and just as her technical abilities would grow, so too would her powerful stage presence become an impressive facet to her music.
"With the fierceness of a rocker, and the grace of a dancer, Taimane and her music are wowing ever-larger audiences."
Career
From Bach to rock, flamenco infernos to tribal hymns, Taimane focuses her songwriting and performances on bringing feelings and visions to life. Sharing her music with fans across the world, Taimane continues to tour extensively throughout the Hawaiian Islands, still finding time to play shows in Australia, Germany, Japan, France, China, and mainland U.S. among other locations abroad. Three years after her first show with Don Ho, Taimane would debut her first album, Loco Princess, and has since completed four additional album's, the most recent of which, Elemental, released in 2018.
On Elemental she celebrates the energy of each element with songs entitled water, fire, air, earth, and ether. Recognizing her connection to the strength and beauty of nature, she possesses a unique ability to translate the objects our environment into audible energy, with soft finger-plucking to mimic the repetitive sounds of flowing water or dark and densely rhythmic strumming to simulate the violent storms of Mercury. Coupled with this enigmatic approach to the ukulele, Taimane can also be found shredding through covers of AC/DC, System of a Down, and "Stairway To Heaven" by Led Zeppelin.
Here is Taimane performing "Bodysurfing" at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California:
The vibrantly expressive nature of Taimane's ukulele is in many ways a response to the limitations that were put on her as a young girl with a big dream. She wanted to disprove the assumptions of how a true ukulele virtuoso looked and sounded, and in doing so, she has expanded the possibilities of the instrument for a new generation of musicians to learn from. Yet, as a renowned composer, performer, and masterful musician, Taimane's impression of her music is much more lighthearted.
"The ukulele, although maybe underestimated, can definitely blow some minds"
-Taimane, TEDxMaui
Run In With PFC
In August of last year, Taimane and the PFC team first met at a BBQ at Mark Johnson's house prior to her performance at The Mint later that night. Upon meeting, both parties found an immediate connection, and spent the evening eating, talking, singing and playing together until Taimane had to leave for her show. In the months following this introduction, we were able to coordinate two Live Outside performances with Taimane and her fellow musicians, Jasmine "Jazzy" Skurtu (guitar), Windy Weather (violin), and Jonathan Heraux (percussion).
Here is their performance of "The Moon," filmed in Kualoa Ranch, Oahu:
Looking Forward
Taimane also has a history of playing with other PFC favorites, Jack Johnson, John Cruz, Paula Fuga, and Lopaka Colon Jr., all featured in our Songs Across Hawai'i series. While truly dedicated to her local Hawaiian community, Taimane's talents have certainly not gone unnoticed, as she is currently on the Grammy ballot seeking a nomination for Best World Music Album. Heading into the future, Taimane will be releasing two new music videos later this year from her Elemental album, as well as a new song about her love of Yoga. She will also be writing and recording three songs for an indie feature-film being shot in Hawai'i in 2019, and is preparing for tour dates in the U.S., Israel, and Europe for the coming year. To learn more about her upcoming projects, please visit her website here.
One Love,
Playing For Change
