My Life in Music
Ruban Nielson
The Unknown Mortal Orchestra maestro on the music that stalks his subconscious: “It’d give me crazy dreams”
INTERVIEW: SAM RICHARDS
PHOTO: AMANDA HUGENQUIST.
GEORGE HELM
The Music Of George Helm – A True Hawaiian GOLD COIN, 1977
My mum is Hawaiian. She was a famous hula dancer and made Hawaiian music with my uncles when she was younger. I grew up around that to some degree, even though I was in New Zealand as a kid. This is one of many Hawaiian music albums I really love. It’s a beautiful example of the raw, authentic style of this era. The guitar evokes the warm wind and the beach, while the soaring Hawaiian falsetto voice evokes the passion and pain of the Hawaiian experience. Nothing like it. I think about moving there a lot, but I’m not sure I could handle the chill pace. One day, maybe.