Kila de Mello and Brandon Apeles. (Star-Advertiser photo by Gary Chun)
BY GARY CHUN / gchun@staradvertiser.com
Despite their age, Kila de Mello and Brandon Apeles have a collective knowledge of the local music industry that belie their relative youth.
De Mello, 28, is hoping to build on the legacy her father Jon and grandfather created and developed at the Mountain Apple Company. Apeles, 31, has already established himself as manager/promoter of promising acts, with the help of the compilation calling card and Na Hoku Hanohano nominee “Alternative HI” (distributed by MAC and produced with producer/engineer Shawn Livingston Moseley).
Now, the street-savvy duo have joined forces to actively search for new local talent during their spare time.
After being abroad in Southern California and Florida for three years, de Mello returned to Hawaii two months ago to get back in the family business.
“During my time away, I kept in touch with Brandon, who I met when he was playing bass for Mailani Makainai.”
The successful release of “Alternative HI” and subsequent showcase at the Hawaii Theatre in September 2012 helped embolden Apeles to not only continue to help acts like Erika Elona, Johnny Helm, Mano Kane, Sing the Body and Mike Love (the latter two winning Hoku awards at Saturday’s ceremony), but to also work with de Mello to build on that stable of artists.
Apeles’ reputation is such that he helps promoter BAMP Project find local acts to play at their concerts, and he’s the new music programmer for the Honolulu Museum of Art’s Doris Duke Theatre.
“It’s a slow and steady process,” said de Mello, “but I see a bright future ahead of us. Brandon and I feel so passionate about the music of Hawaii — all of the different kinds music of Hawaii — that we hope to continue to find new talent along the way.”
Both she and Apeles hope to see the fruits of their labor develop into something they can reveal to the public later this summer.
In the meantime, Apeles has made bookings for the Doris Duke Theatre, building on previous programmer Schuyler Tsuda’s “Secret Sound Showcase” (held in conjunction with the museum’s “ARTafterDARK” the last Friday of every month) and “Last Saturday Roots in Jazz” shows.
For June, he’s made the “Showcase” lineup of Sing the Body, Sunway and Illicit, and on the jazz side, Canadian saxophonist Colin Stetson, who’s played with such notable acts Arcade Fire, Bon Iver and Feist. Apeles is also starting a “Music of Hawaii” series in August, to be held the third Wednesday of every month. It kicks off with Weldon Kekauoha, just named Male Vocalist of the Year at the Na Hoku Hanohano Awards. The series continues with Nathan Aweau, Dennis Kamakahi, Moseley and Stephen Inglis, and Mike Love and Paula Fuga.
If you think you can help with de Mello and Apeles’ talent search, get in touch with them at kamokila@mountainapplecompany.com and branapeles@gmail.com.
DeShannon Higa’s Subtonic Orchestra in performance at the Doris Duke Theatre at the Honolulu Museum of Art on Saturday, May 25. (Star-Advertiser photo by Gary Chun)
AND IN THE next several months, Apeles should seriously consider rebooking jazz trumpeter-composer DeShannon Higa’s Subtonic Orchestra. The eight-piece band’s performance Saturday, May 25, at the museum’s theater was one of the best nights of music I’ve had in recent memory, and one that should be restaged for a larger audience.
Ever since returning home from a stint in New York, Higa has been one of the bright lights on the local jazz scene, and his dream of showcasing his sophisticated and appealing compositions and arrangements became a reality at the concert. He surrounded himself with some of the best in the business, like fellow horn players Curtis Abe (trombone), Larry Cook and Reggie Padilla (saxes), and the eclectic music performed got a well-deserved standing ovation.
Music this rich in appeal deserves to be heard, and I eagerly await more from Higa in the future.
———
Gary Chun is a features reporter at the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Email him at gchun@staradvertiser.com and follow him on Twitter.