Lilikoi

Everybody look out,this singers career will only skyrocket. I first heard her voice while listening to KAPA radio station on the Big Island.Her voice gave me chicken skin. I knew she had something. I can't wait for more.

WOW!!! What can I write about Paula Fuga that does her any justice? She is N'Dea meets Lauren channeling Roberta Flack backed by a sick combo that sounds like the Funk Brothers meets Sly & Robbie with a healthy dose of the I-Threes. There are so many layers to her songs, the delicate guitars, the percussions, the soulful piano and jazz organ, although, you almost miss it because her voice is so compelling. This girl is a STAR!!! (Incidentally, she was passed up by Simon, Randy and Paula... the talented need not apply)

Her music is magical and intoxicating because its easy going grooves are contrasted so beatifully by the power of her sultry voice. The album is a collection of genres: she starts with a tortured a capella tune a la "Killing Me Softly" then slinks into a tight reggae cut that would feel at home on one of Peter or a Bob's albums, then its onto a breathy R&B torch number that puts Gladys and Aretha to shame. Yes, she's that good. She's Eva Cassidy good. She seamlessly slips from folk, to blues to reggae.

What's more incredible is Paula Fuga is just a regular person with (as of 2005)a boring job in some lousy Hawaiian tourist trap. She is largely unknown outside of Hawaii and the only reason I know about her is a friend from the Pacific Rim turned me onto her album over Thanksgiving. Want more? Check out her duet with Jack Johnson on Paula Fuga's My Space page.

I LOVE the title track. Love it! But the rest of the album isn't so great. I feel that she's got a ton of talent and potential but needs more cohesion and polish. She needs to develop her own style. But her voice is powerful and gorgeous and I'll buy the next album.

I discovered Paula Fuga's music listening to the local Hawaiian station during my vacation to the Big Island. Ms. Fuga's power house voice explodes with soulful and expressive reggae/R&B quality combined with a mixture of modern and Hawaiian lyrics makes for an incredible first album. My fave song is lilikoi! Check out this incredible woman.

This is a simply a great CD - great lyrics, great vocals, great music- a modern Hawaiian classic.