Paula Fuga Program

CHAPEL MUSIC SERIES

PAULA FUGA

Use our hashtag on social media: #artosphere

Artosphere: Paula Fuga

Program 60-75 minutes “Paula has an amazing, strong voice that is melodic and sweet and paints the picture of island life” – AU Review Praised for her spellbinding vocals and ability to stir the deepest emotions with her soulful melodies, Paula Fuga has established herself as one of Hawaii’s most sought-after live performers. Though Fuga was born in Louisiana while her father was stationed there for the Army, she grew up in Hawaii— her mom is Native Hawaiian, French, English, Filipino, Chinese and Puerto Rican, while her dad is Samoan and Chinese. As she notes, “In Hawaii every nationality counts.” At an early age, she faced the vulnerabilities of living homeless on the beaches of Hawaii, seeing the destruction caused by drugs and violence. Fuga began with poetry as a platform to express her experiences; she later blossomed into a songwriter when she began playing ukulele in high school. Though Fuga was invited to audition for “American Idol” in 2004, she did not make the cut. Afterwards, she was asked to come to Hollywood to participate in a show with other “rejects” (whose successes have outnumbered many of the “American Idol” winners). It was there she met her future business partner, Spencer Toyama, who helped produce her first

album Lilikoi, which garnered her the Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award for Most Promising Artist in 2007. “My life is a miracle,” Fuga said in an interview for a Hawaiian publication. “I was homeless on the beach by the time I was 5 years old. I lived in a car, in all kinds of weird, crazy situations. But I truly believed that good things would happen to me if I just kept being a good person… I know how miraculous it is for me to be where I am. And this is just the beginning for me; I’m just getting started. And I’m so grateful that Jack (Johnson) likes having me around and sees something in me that’s good. I feel so lucky.” She has toured extensively with Jack Johnson and recorded with reggae royalty Ziggy Marley – both are featured on her second release Misery’s End – and she recently headlined the Alma Surf Festival in Sao Paolo, Brazil. Today, Paula dedicates much of herself inspiring the youth across the world, sharing her story of perseverance and hope. She is an artist on a mission and music is her vehicle. She is a regular at Hawaii Poetry Slams, educational interpreter at Bishop Museum and active member of Hawaii’s cultural community. She is a rising star

who has been likened to a Hawaiian Lauryn Hill and endorsed as a fresh sound by established artists like Jack Johnson, Jason Mraz and Nick Hexum of the band 311. Her performance at Johnson’s 2006 Kokua Festival was magnetic, leaving the audience completely captivated. She recently recorded a song she wrote with Jack Johnson called “Country Road” for the Mana Maoli CD collaboration, which benefits Native Hawaiian public charter schools. Paula plays music for a culture, spreading the thoughtful and evocative voice of the Hawaiian people across the world. Not content with being merely a respected artist, Paula has taken on the mantle of cultural ambassador—using her talent as an instrument to help bring about positive social change within her islands and beyond.

Want to see more of Paula Fuga? She will be at: Artosphere’s Trail Mix at the Springdale Family Front Porch Fest Saturday, May 14 at noon—Mill Street, Springdale Artosphere’s Trail Mix at the Crystal Bridges Garden Party Saturday, May 14 at 4pm—Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art Artosphere’s Frisco Trail Mix Sunday, May 15 at 7pm—Wilson Park, Fayetteville

Use our hashtag on social media: #artosphere

SPONSORS AND FUNDERS

This project is proudly supported by:

MEDIA PARTNERS

INDIVIDUALS Bob & Becky Alexander Emily & James Bost June Carter Tom & Cynthia Coughlin Sandy Edwards Pete & Shirley Esch Hershey & Denise Garner Jeff & Lisa Gearhart Reed & Mary Ann Greenwood Orville & Susan Hall

Rick & Marybeth Hays Malcolm & Ellen Hayward Tom & Jill King Greg & Hannah Lee David & Deborah Malone Margaret & Dick Rutherford Frank & Sarah Sharp Barbara G. Taylor

Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook