Entertainment: Interview with the band I’kona

Planet Tonga interviews Chris Vea of I’kona.

I’kona debut music video “Beautiful Girl” has been entered into a contest on Music Nation. Please visit the site, check out their smashing hit video and vote for them.

Other Side

PT: Give us a background on the band and its members.
Ikona: In June of 2002 Aaron Watene (lead singer) and I (Chris Vea, guitarist) decided to leave the bands that we were playing with to start something new. We called it Neo-Soul Pop Rock. Two years later Aaron’s cousin Haini Wolfgramm joined on the Bass Guitar and Drummer Ryan Williams hopped on board as well.

PT: Can you explain the meaning behind the name “Ikona”.
Ikona: We were originally called Juice but later learned that another band had already had the rights. One day our management asked us to come up with a name that embraced our Polynesian roots. I said I like the name Kona, because you can either refer it to the city in Hawaii or good feeling that you get when you drink a little kava (hahaha!). Aaron said, “My friend’s name is Ikona. I always thought that would be a cool name of a band.” And Ryan explained that Ikona means icon in Spanish. So you can say it’s a cross between all those elements. We tell people that it’s a word we made up that means “good feeling” because so many people tell us that our music has that effect on them.

PT: What type of music do you perform and what made you decide on this genre?
Ikona: If you were to classify us in a record store we would be found in the “Rock” section. As for us, we like to think that we cross many boundaries. I think we are best described as reggae influenced pop rock with a hint of soul. Magazines have described us as G-Love meets Ozomatli. We have figured out how to take the different styles of music that we enjoy and incorporate them into this “genre” we play now.

PT: Do you have an album out? Can you talk about the making of this album? Any special details behind the songs and lyrics? Anything you learned during the making of the album?
Ikona: We have 2 albums out right now and one that is due to be released early next year. We spent a year in the studio recording in Hollywood almost every Sunday night from 11pm-4am. We just shot the music video for one of the songs, “Beautiful Girl” and will be releasing that just before the album drops.

PT:Any special awards or recognitions you like to mention?
Ikona: We played a battle of the band and lost to a heavy metal act. I’ll never do that again! (hahaha!)

PT: What upcoming gigs are you involved in?
Ikona: We recently returned from touring with Blues Traveler and have quite a few gigs pending. I will be posting them on Planet Tonga’s announcement section for people to check out.

PT: What are the future plans for your band?
Ikona: We hope to take it to the top. I’d love to do more touring and see more of the world. I enjoy being on the road with my band. They like to stop and enjoy the scenery. One day I would like to do some shows in Tonga. I would like to see where my dad grew up (I’m sure Aaron and Haini would too).

PT: List your contact information if you want it made public.
Ikona: You can contact me at:info@ikonamusic.com (I check this daily)
www.myspace.com/ikona
www.ikonamusic.com

PT: What is the most memorable gig you done so far?
Ikona: Wow!!! This is a tough one. We’ve played shows with Steel Pulse, Lucky Dube, and so many great bands. But one of my most memorable gig was when we were touring and we played in a bar in Moscow, ID. I think we were the only brown people in a 50 mile radius. When we showed up we noticed it was a biker bar and the bands before us were heavy metal. It was the first time I ever thought to myself, “Man, these guys are going to hate us.” Half way through the first song some of the people were dancing. Bar stools were turned our way and people were bobbing their heads to the music. It was crazy! There were people taking pictures of us and shooting video of us. The last thing I was expecting was for all these metal heads to like us. I guess you just can’t deny the “good feeling”.

PT: Do want to include any special recognitions or thank yous?
Ikona: We have been so blessed to have so many people who believe in us. I write this list in fear that I’m going to forget someone. Jeff Valdez at SiTV, Kona Guitars, Truth Drums, Larry Williams, Steve Harlow, The House of Blues Talent Department (Sean Striegal, Max McAndrew, Howard Beverstien and the rest of them), the people at Planet Tonga of course, our Families, Andrew Chaplin, Bernie Becker, Walter, Sean Healy, seriously, the list goes on and on. You can see the full list on our “thank you” on our CD insert.

PT: Who are your role models or artists you admire?
Ikona: As for role models, my dad is my greatest role model. He raised us in hopes that we would do better for ourselves and would achieve the American Dream. He is one of the main reasons I work so hard to make this band happen. As for artists, there are too many to name.

PT: What advice would you give someone (or a group) wanting to get into the music business?
Ikona: Be prepared to work hard. You are going to be working twice as hard as anyone working a 9 to 5. You need to practice on your own and as a band. You need to promote yourself and network with others. Most importantly, you need to surround yourself with the right people like up and coming artists, managers, promoters, and other people that are successful in the music business. I truly believe that “you are who you hang around with”.

PT: Who or what has been influential or inspirational for your music?
Ikona: I started to play the guitar in the early 90’s when music was in a transitional stage. Grunge was at the end of its run and punk was making its debut. Because music was in a transitional phase, there were different styles that had snuck in, like the Weezer and Rage. At the same time I had an older brother serving a church mission in the West Indies. He started sending me artists like Buju Banton and Lucky Dube, so those styles influenced me as well.

PT: What do you think is a road block that most Polynesian bands run into?
Ikona: I think that labels just don’t know how to market Polynesians. I’ve heard that we should be marketed as a Latin band and others think we should make our music a little more urban. So to answer your question, I think that it’s difficult to classify Polynesians since there are so few of us.

PT: Tell us an embarrasing moment during one of your gigs?
Ikona: Sometimes, during an intro to a song, Aaron will ask me what the first verse of a song is. All I’m thinking is, “You wrote the song, you should know it.” We then have to brainstorm on stage until we figure it out. So if you ever hear an extended intro to one of our songs, it’s probably because we’re trying to figure out how it starts.

PT: Chris, thank you for taking the time to do this interview. We wish you and Ikona the best of luck in your music endeavors.