Brittni Paiva, a 23-year-old female ukulele player hailing from Hawaii, is the preeminent female player. Brittni, a Hilo native, is affectionately known as the “ukulele darling”. She is a multi-award winning, multi-instrumentalist with a prodigious gift who is wholeheartedly embraced by a global audience. Brittni produced her award-winning debut album at the age of 15 Brittni x 3 was her debut album, and won the Na Hoku Hanohano Award of the Hawaii Academy of Recording Arts in 2005 for Most Promising Artist of Year. Brittni is the artist behind everything you hear on this album. The 14-track CD’s title reflects her lyrical skills on the ukulele, slack keys guitar and bass. Hear was released the following year. Her second album, Hear, won the Hawaii Music Awards Ukulele Album Of The Year’ in 2006. The CD was nominated for the Na Hoku Hanohano Award as Best Instrumental Album and Favorite Entertainer. The 12-track album features a ukulele and slack-key guitar, and includes jazz, Hawaiian and Peruvian music. Brittni is her third self-produced album. It won the Hawaii Music Awards’ Ukulele Album Of The Year award in 2007. Brittni was also nominated for two Na Hoku Hanohano Awards. This CD was symbolic of her coming-of-age CD. At 18, Brittni was unstoppable in performing music from all over the globe and transcending musical boundaries on a 4-string instrument. Four Strings: the Fire Within is her fourth album. She co-produced it with Charles Michael Brotman (Hawaii’s first Grammy Award winner). Johannes Linstead, a well-known Latin guitarist from Toronto, is the featured guitarist on “Hour of the Lamps”. The timeless and universally loved “Somewhere Over The Rainbow”, which was rediscovered worldwide popularity by the late Israel Kamakawiwole, is also featured. However, the lyrical instrumentation remains unmistakably Brittni. Along with a host of originals and covers, Carlos Santana’s song “Europa”, is featured. This track was created to spark a global audience’s passion for Brittni. The world listens to Brittni and tunes in to hear her influence on classical music, world music, and current cover songs. Brittni’s performance is praised by her audience wherever she appears. The 22-year-old woman transforms into an outstanding performer on stage. Houston, Texas fans traveled from Houston to California to witness her perform. They left a message in her extensive online guestbook. Brittni is a talented musician and we look forward to hearing more from her.” A fan commented, “I loved Brittni’s rendition of Europa, which brought tears to my eyes. Beautifully performed. You are a great player. Brittni’s life has been blessed and unique. Brittni grew up as the oldest of two siblings with a rich cultural heritage. Her family history includes Portuguese, Japanese, Japanese and Hawaiian. Brittni was home-schooled by her parents. She says that it was the best decision she made. It instilled self-confidence and allowed Brittni to become her true self. Students can excel in subjects they naturally love without having to deal with peer pressures or unavoidable negative behavior. Homeschooling is a structured, curriculum-based program that allows them to focus on the important things. Brittni’s mother said that if it wasn’t for the ukulele Brittni could have been a doctor. Brittni could easily navigate through any medical journal or factual book on any topic. She is a curious person with an insatiable curiosity. Brittni was able to dedicate many hours of her day to music practice through homeschooling. Brittni seems to have been successful because she spent as much as four to six hours each morning practicing. She found practice a fun and enjoyable way to explore the ukulele, which she carried with her almost everywhere. Brittni’s mother reflects on those days and says that there were times when she had to redirect Brittni to other tasks, such as schoolwork, chores, or even playing outside. Brittni, though very humble, is determined to accomplish what she loves with fearless abandon. Brittni has a full-time job as a musician, composer, and recording artist. Brittni is currently enrolled in an online Master’s certificate program through Berklee College. When she started her musical journey, she was just four years old. She learned classical piano using the Suzuki method. This unique method focuses on early childhood development and cognition. It starts with ear training and then introduces theory and notation as the child begins to learn how to read. This allows the child to understand the connections between music and written language. Isaac Takayama, her maternal grandfather introduced her to the traditional Hawaiian 4-string ukulele seven years later. The literal translation of the word “ukulele” is “jumping flea”, which native Hawaiians used to describe the fast-fire fingering required to play the instrument at its best. Brittni has been inspired by the ukulele since that day. Brittni and her beloved ukulele make a great match. Both come from the same family. The origins of the ukulele are in Portugal. They were “imported” to Hawaii in 1921 by Portuguese immigrants. They are both small and humble, but they can be very powerful if delivered correctly. Brittni and ukulele have gained notoriety in many circles. They are not limited to America’s stereotypical perceptions that existed during the Tinpan Alley and Jazz eras. George Harrison, the Beatles’ guitarist, was a keen ukulele player. This contributed to the instrument’s popularity rise towards the end of 20th century. Brittni Paiva, who is greatly contributing to the instrument’s worldwide popularity in the 21st Century, is helping to increase its appeal. Brittni has received requests, radio play, comments and requests from around the globe, including Spain, France and Israel. Brittni plays a variety of instruments, including guitar, electric bass and piano, but she also loves the ukulele. She puts as much soul into it as she does skill. Jon Woodhouse, editor at the Maui Beat, wrote that Eddie Kamae, a master ukulele player, recognized her extraordinary gift. He declared, “Brittni’s different.” You can see it in her eyes and the way that she plays her music. It’s her soul.” Gregg Porter, Northwest Hawaii Times reviewer, wrote that there is only so much you can learn outside of her natural abilities. Brittni is a natural singer and has excellent pitch and hearing. This can be seen in her clean playing on the ukulele, guitar or bass. It can be difficult to tell which instrument she is using due to her technical skill and intricate playing. She brings a rich lyrical voice to the `ukulele whether she is playing her own world-tinged compositions, something as seductive as Carlos Santana’s Samba Pa Ti, or as classically revered as Johann Pachelbel’s, Canon in D. from http://brittnipaiva.com
