‘Ukulele Artist Brittni Paiva Makes a Comeback
Her new album Through the Chaos showcases her songwriting and ‘ukulele chops.
When you think of ‘ukulele music, names like Iz, Taimane and Jake Shimabukuro may come to mind. There’s another deserving a spot on that list: Brittni Paiva, who honors the traditional instrument while taking it somewhere new on her first album in 14 years, Through the Chaos.
Photo: Genine Hirata
The album was co-produced by TheBrewz, and where lyrics would typically be sung over other instrumentation, ‘ukulele music is played instead. “Anyone can interpret a song. Original music is different. It’s the record of what you actually went through,” Paiva says. “This album is the first time I’ve put out a full body of work written from my own life since my last record.”
“Say When” conjures the pop stylings of Imagine Dragons and Carrie Underwood, while “Never Let You Fade” is reminiscent of electronic artist Illenium. Tracks like “I Am” and “To the Moon and Back” are gently uplifting, embodying Paiva’s growth as she’s worked to overcome struggles with mental health and addiction.
Originally from Hilo and now based on O‘ahu, Paiva was named Most Promising Artist at the 2005 Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards. She has played alongside artists such as Carlos Santana, collaborated with Grammy winners and produced music for others. Now she’s stepping into her own again. “Every version of myself I had to grow through is in these songs. That’s why original music isn’t a category to me. It’s the core of what music is for.”
brittnipaiva.com, @iambrittnipaiva
Katrina Valcourt is the executive editor of HONOLULU Magazine.
