Hawaii singer-songwriter Paul Izak recently released a new EP recorded live from his farm in the back roads of Waimanalo, Hawaii. The 5-track EP fittingly titled Live and Acoustic at Yogarden features uplifting lyrics, funky rhythms and impressive harmonica riffs performed in an unparalleled setting by a power-house trio, including Sam Ites on drums/percussion and Asaiah Scott aka ‘The MAAD King’ on bass. The EP is currently live on Izak’s YouTube channel and available on all streaming services.
“I’m so excited to finally release this EP originally recorded live from my home in Waimanalo,” said Izak “Now, more than ever it’s important for us to be in the moment and embrace honoring ourselves as individuals in order to live a healthy and sustainable life.”
Izak and his team kicked off the release of his new EP with a special farm-focused event that took place on Earth Day at HB Social Club in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Izak together with his partner Kelly Stern brought to life Yogarden, a 3.5 acre breathtaking piece of land beneath the Ko‘olau Mountains on Oahu’s east side involving yoga, gardening, and music which make up the foundation of the organization. For the last 3 years they have been focusing on cultivating a regenerative and permaculture based organic farm dedicated to tropical fruit tree production, organic vegetable gardens, composting and permaculture. For more information and to shop products from the farm, visit www.yogardenhawaii.com.
Stand out tracks on the new EP include a rare recording of “Rainbow Country,” one of Izak’s oldest songs, as well as “Barefoot Two-Step” featuring Izak’s famous harmonica descants on top of catchy rhythms and passionate vocals.
Singer-songwriter Stef Mariani started an internationally inclusive movement founded in Hawaii that is based on her recent Nā Hōkū Hanohano award-winning album Stay Gold. The Stay Gold Movement, named after the album’s title track, helps people go from feeling shut down to living a life of meaning and purpose by learning and implementing the eight pillars of the Stay Gold Principle.
A multi award winning recording artist, Stef recently released her newest single, “Use My Imagination (no more war)”, inspired by and directed towards those who are sending their loved ones out to war, on April 29, 2022. This song is part of her latest project under the Stay Gold Movement.
“The Stay Gold Principle has helped me out tremendously in so many ways, and [illustrates] how we should showcase the true meaning of Aloha and the true value of community and how we should share that with the world. It helped me to reframe and refocus on those core principles,” said Nicole Caccal, CEO of FORBES Ignite.
Regardless of age, race or sexual orientation Mariani shares with over 1,000 members, from Hawaii to Kenya to Europe how to “Stay Gold” or stay true to themselves in an everchanging world. Mariani has mentored the international group for the last 18 months with dramatic results catching the attention of Huffington Post, Deepak Chopra, and other various national media outlets. She also currently sits on the Forbes Musicians Coalition.
In line with the success of her admirable “Stay Gold” crusade, Stef is scheduled to perform at the Blue Note in Honolulu, Hawaii on April 27 and will release her latest single “Use My Imagination (no more war)” on April 29 through her label Klever Kitty Records. Additionally, Mariani is preparing to release her first book titled, “Stay Gold – Be True to Who You Are in a Changing World” in July 2022 in both physical form and as an audio book complete with a full music production. The memoir includes a detailed explanation of how precisely one can “stay gold” revealing Mariani’s personal story and why she cares.
“It can be really hard to “Stay Gold” — or to stay kind and sincere when faced with difficult trials in life,” says Mariani. “But by doing just one little thing each week, or each day, you can spread a dash of light and a reflection of universal love. I truly believe that.”
In 2011, Mariani left a very controlling religious organization and marriage forcing her to completely shut down in which she found her light was burning dangerously low. Now a Nā Hōkū Hanohano award-winning artist, she’s using her unique life experiences to help people who are shut down due to the pandemic and show them in easy simple steps how to “Stay Gold” and to begin to heal.
“Stay Gold” was the title track to Mariani’s album produced by 3x Grammy and Nā Hōkū Hanohano award-winning Dave Tucciarone. Stay Gold secured her a win for Alternative Album of the Year in 2018, as well as a nomination as Female Vocalist of the Year. After her win, people immediately began asking Mariani what “Stay Gold” meant and in 2020 when she could no longer get on stage to perform because of the pandemic she launched the Stay Gold Movement, which also became a Hawai‘i-based nonprofit aimed at helping artists including Bruddah Waltah and Starr Kalahiki pay their rent while they mentored the public and fed kupuna.
“Stef, she’s so genuine she really loves what she does, and she puts her whole body and soul into it,” said Tucciarone. “It’s a full-body experience for her and it comes from her soul, it comes from within.”
Mariani recently returned from the Grammy Awards on April 3 in which she performed a sold-out show in Las Vegas over Grammy week.
