“What Music Means to Me”

Ron Artis II & Thunderstorm Artis

(no label)

Introspective acoustic music — guitar and voice, primarily, with occasional harmonica and percussion — predominates on this musical calling card by brothers Ron and Thunderstorm Artis. They come from a large musical family — their father, the late Ron Artis, was a musician and artist, and several of their nine siblings have performed as members of the Ron Artis Family Band. Original music suits Ron II and Thunderstorm. The stripped-down acoustic troubadour format makes them a self-contained unit.

The duo’s insightful lyrics build on the tradition of the singer/folk-song writers of the 1960s. “A Family Like Mine” and “What Music Means to Me” are almost certainly autobiographical. Others offer observations on how to live a positive life. The swinging, up-tempo rhythm of “Be a Little Light” makes it a bright burst of energy amid the laid-back ballads. Hip-hop-style spoken-word poetry percolates elsewhere. Visit RonArtisII.com.

“Touch the Sky”

Eden Kai

(Eden Kai EK068)

From the first moments of the first song, it’s clear that Eden Kai has something unusual to offer the local music scene. Kai is a strong and aggressive guitarist who uses the hollow body of his acoustic guitar as a percussive instrument. His stripped-down one-man/two-instrument sound sets him apart from ki hoalu players and pop artists alike. The songs — all 14 are originals — display his talents as a composer, guitarist and percussionist.

Indeed, while originals are always the fullest measure of an artist’s creativity, it would be interesting to see how Kai would rearrange some pop standards and oldies to fit his style.

The album would be a stronger calling card if it included information about the songs. For instance, who inspired him to write the song titled “She Saw Me Dance,” and what experiences does “Robots in Factory” immortalize?

Visit edenkai.com.