When: Monday, Aug. 19, 7:30 p.m.
(Doors open 6:30 p.m.)
Cost: $10
Where: SOhO, 1221 State St. #205,
Santa Barbara
Information: 805-962-7776,
Sohosb.com
Fresh off the release of two new singles and a music video, Santa Barbara’s Hana Aluna is bringing her considerable folk and indie chops back to the SOhO Restaurant and Music Club one more time before heading out on tour this fall.
Influenced by the likes of Emily King, The Staves, Nora Jones, Hiatus Kaiyote, and Lauryn Hill, Hana’s new music showcases the immense talent that she has at just 21 years-old.
Since she was nine years old and her dad dropped a guitar in her lap, Hana has been writing music, writing a song a day by the time she was 18. Although she struggled with stage fright, she overcame her fears and started performing as the folk duo Olivia & Aluna in 2017. A band breakup and two years later, Hana has become one of the best solo singer-songwriters in the area.
She may have started out recording in her bedroom, but Hana’s sweet and soulful folk songs and top-notch covers sounds as professional and catchy as anything you’ll hear on the radio.
Locals and major artists have taken notice. In 2015, Hana opened for Ingrid Michaelson and Jon McLaughlin at the annual Kids Helping Kids benefit concert. Last year, Hana performed alongside Kenny Loggins, Jack Johnson, and David Crosby at the Santa Barbara Bowl for the Jack Johnson & Friends benefit concert in support of Thomas Fire and Flood recovery efforts.
Hana returns to the SOhO after playing with Sophie Rose and Jazara in January. There she debuted a new original called “Puzzle Pieces” to an enthusiastic crowd.
Hana’s released two new singles last month alongside her new music video for her song “Wasted”. The singles, “By Accident” and “What Could Happen?”, present more of Hana’s growing folk song abilities, but in “Wasted” she shows off her song writing skills with slow and mournful indie-pop. Hana collaborated on the song with RRAREBEAR, who made the beat for the song.
The music video, directed by Nathaniel Grotenhius, shows Hana wandering through an empty department store strewn with solo cups while she croons about missing someone during a night of heavy partying.
Mr. Grotenhuis, a Santa Barbara native, is a graduate from the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts and has worked on the visual effects production for Pacific Rim 2: Uprising and Skyscraper. His experience and talent is on full display in the “Wasted” video, creating a cool clean atmosphere that compliments Hana’s soft and catchy indie-pop tune.
Opening for Hana on the 19 will be 17 year old singer-songwriter Ben Catch, also a Santa Barbara local. Don’t miss out on seeing some of Santa Barbara’s home grown artists and catch them both for a night sure to scratch that modern folk music itch.
