Download "The Two Towers" mp3 (4.5 MB) This is an original tune I composed on a kind of dare from a friend who wanted to encourage me to stop relying on other composers. It's my first, and I imagine this probably shows. It was written several months after the events on 9/11. I suppose it's an anti-war/anti-terrorism/anti-hard headedness protest song. The tempo and tone reflect this - it drags a bit in the beginning, but your patience may pay off. I sing the verses in character. Some background: The Masai people apparently expressed their sympathy for the U.S. following the tragedy with a gift of ten head of cattle, which they are said to value highly. This is basically an acoustic guitar and vocal tune, but it has additional "soft sample" (Sampletank) drums, synth, bass, and piano.

(3.5 MB) This is a humorous Island-style pidgin english romp written by Johnny Noble and performed by Hilo Hattie and others. I believe this variation is based on Peter Apo's version. I added the final verse for Big Island listeners. The recording is all "audio" with an ipu gourd "drum" I borrowed from my Dad, guitar, and voice - no MIDI instruments or synths.

Pidgin and Hawaiian Lyrics:

hilahila - generally translated as "shame"

A'ala paka - A'ala park (park in Honolulu)

hiamoe - sleep

pipikaula - smoked beef

pilikia - generally translated as "problem", "trouble"

These recordings were made on a Macintosh with MOTU's Digital Performer 3.

Home (I'm the shiny-headed one on the right)