I've been playing music professionally since 1998, based out of O'ahu, Hawai'i. I started in a 4-piece band, Kanalo, singing and playing drums, doing r&b/hiphop/pop/reggae inspired music. In 2002, my best friend, Zaysha, and I started an acoustic duo, Simple Souls. We took all the songs we enjoyed playing in our other band and learned how to play on acoustic instruments... Zaysha jumped on guitar, and I jumped on congas. Eventually, Zaysha switched to an acoustic/electric guitar and I switched to djembe and cajon. In 2009, we were introduced to another artist that played played r&b music but wasn't gigging, because she didn't know there were other people playing the same kind of music she was. Zaysha suggested that I manage her. That started my career in artist development and management (Soul Tree Music Factory LLC). Eventually, I took the same concept to get my new artist gigs, to build relationships with venues and get other musicians that deserved to be heard, gigs as well. In the process of finding new artists to manage or book, I started a company (2022), Gate Ki LLC, with two other amazing besties, and moved all of the services to this team. This new move allowed more focus on our artists and time to develop better relationships with other members of our music community... and for me to focus on my ultimate goal of starting a record label and be more involved in music publishing, so we can find more ways to get music from Hawai'i heard around the world. As we've been growing and learning and researching way to get more reach while being sustainable, my business partner, Quinn Miyashiro (also a huge fan of Alicia Keys), discovered sheisthemusic.org. I have a new burst of energy in this quest to rebuild our music community, through connecting and reconnecting with it's professional and aspiring members, encouraging artists to put out their best, and get all of our music out there to the world.