Slackmenco was first recorded and released as part of the album Ripe. It is one of Makana’s most diverse albums, brimming with acoustic surf music, slack key, symphonic epics, folk, rock, pop, Mediterranean, Appalachian and traditional Hawaiian sounds. It celebrates his collective musical journey and reflects his exciting live performances, showcasing a new side of Makana as a powerful composer. Songs include “Nectarine,” a sexy love ballad that always goes over big at his live shows, his long-loved cover of Zeppelin’s “Going to California,” a tribute to slack key master Gabby Pahinui in “Hi’ilawe,” a groundbreaking guitar duet “Slackmenco” with renowned Maui guitar master Jeff Peterson, the heart-wrenchingly beautiful ballad “Tears” and Makana’s anthemic protest song “We Are the Many,” among others.

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*Digitally published for the Hawaiʻi Symphony Sheraton Starlight Series on July 9-11, 2021.