Anuhea - Island Mele
posted: 4/23/2009 - 
By John Berger
POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Apr 23, 2009
Until relatively recently most local pop artists didn't have the talent, material or production values to make it outside Hawaii. Even here, often as not, if a local pop artist got play on a mainstream radio station in Honolulu, it was probably because someone at their record label had a major "in" with a power broker there.
Anuhea Jenkins is the latest local pop artist who doesn't need "connections" to get airplay or reach the national pop charts. She sounds like several successful young pop divas -- and that's a good thing. Her sound -- smoky, introspective vocals and smooth R&B rhythms predominate -- is already proven pop material.
Equally important, Anuhea is a witty and insightful writer. Her command of catchy phrasing and vivid lyric images puts familiar but ever-popular subjects (unfaithful boyfriends, unrequited love, the challenge of breaking the rules and pursuing a man) in fresh perspective.
"Slow Down" describes the situation of being a 19-year old "queen in the making" and fighting the frustration that comes with limitations. "Fly," softer and sweeter than the others, is an inspirational message of hope.
And then there's "Barista by Day." Think of it as the equivalent of "Private Dancer" for coffee servers, and you'll never look at them the same way again.
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