Makana (musician)
Encyclopedia
Makana, born Matthew Swalinkavich, is an American slack-key guitar
player and singer. He has been called "Hawaii's Guitar Hero" and "the greatest living [slack-key guitar] player". He has contributed songs to two Grammy-nominated albums.
On November 12, 2011, Makana, who had performed previously at the White House, turned a gig performing at an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
dinner in Honolulu, attended by President Barack Obama
and the leaders of 18 other nations, into a political protest by opening his suit jacket to reveal a t-shirt reading "Occupy With Aloha" and singing his song, "We Are the Many," for 45 minutes, in support of the Occupy movement
.
Slack-key guitar
Slack-key guitar is a fingerstyle genre of guitar music that originated in Hawaii. Its name refers to its characteristic open tunings: the English term is a translation of the Hawaiian kī hōalu, which means "loosen the [tuning] key"...
player and singer. He has been called "Hawaii's Guitar Hero" and "the greatest living [slack-key guitar] player". He has contributed songs to two Grammy-nominated albums.
On November 12, 2011, Makana, who had performed previously at the White House, turned a gig performing at an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation is a forum for 21 Pacific Rim countries that seeks to promote free trade and economic cooperation throughout the Asia-Pacific region...
dinner in Honolulu, attended by President Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
and the leaders of 18 other nations, into a political protest by opening his suit jacket to reveal a t-shirt reading "Occupy With Aloha" and singing his song, "We Are the Many," for 45 minutes, in support of the Occupy movement
Occupy movement
The Occupy movement is an international protest movement which is primarily directed against economic and social inequality. The first Occupy protest to be widely covered was Occupy Wall Street in New York City, taking place on September 17, 2011...
.
Discography
- Koi Au (2002)
- Ki Ho'Alu: Journey of Hawaiian Slack Key (2003)
- Different Game (2006)
- The Instrumental World of Makana: Venus and the Sky Turns to Clay (2009)
- Venus and the Sky Turns to Clay: "is rooted in slack key but explores multiple moods while showcasing a dazzling technique. Although there are 15 numbered cuts on the album, the total musical effect is of a single tone poem surging and receding with waves of passion. Makana was excited to learn recently through his blog that Venus was being played for cancer patients by some oncologists to help patients receiving chemotherapy infusions to relax."