“IF I KNEW THEN WHAT I KNOW NOW”
Conner Snow (self-published)
Expatriate islander Conner Snow — born and raised on Maui, based in Los Angeles since 2014 — introduces himself as a self-taught singer/songwriter/recording artist with this collection of nine first-time recorded originals.
Snow’s bio cites Jake Shimabukuro as his first inspiration — Snow currently plays ukulele, guitar and piano — and names John Legend, Bruno Mars, John Mayer and Justin Timberlake as his foremost inspirations as a singer and recording artist.
The influence of Hawaii-born mega-star Mars is particularly notable in Snow’s success in smoothly blending elements of synth-pop, modern soul, urban/pop, and hints of Afro-Caribbean reggae rhythms in his music.
As a lyricist, Snow explores a variety of topics. “Fame” describes the experience of being successful but feeling unfulfilled. With “Going Down,” he speaks for everyone who’s been treading water in a relationship and misses the sense of shared security and commitment.
“Trace of You” is a requiem for a relationship that no longer exits; Snow sings in a delicate falsetto to convey the pain and emotional fragility of being unable to find “a sense of closure,” and dreading yet still seeking “a trace of you.” Anyone living through the almost-too-much-to-bear pain of a broken heart will find their feelings captured in Snow’s work here.
A complete contrast is found in “Queen,” which Snow tells his listener that she shouldn’t “settle for less than the highest heights. … “Your kingdom will come, I promise you.”
The song offers affirmation and encourages self-empowerment, but doesn’t sugarcoat reality. “They’ll tell you to wear tighter skirts,” he sings, “but then don’t you flirt, or else you’re an easy girl.”
“Queen” would be an excellent choice as the theme of a public service campaign directed at girls and young women in Hawaii.
Yet another song, “Runaway,” shows Snow’s skill as a storyteller. The lyrics describe the plight of a man and “a girl” whose love is “made forbidden by the world” and “defies the law of the land.” Snow keeps the details opaque. Is the issue one of different races? Different ethnicities? Different religions?
Maybe he’ll write a sequel for his next project.
Several other songs express the straightforward sentiments of a lucky man in love. The last two songs — “Can’t Get Enough” and “Diamond” — are closest to Mars’ work in terms of mainstream pop chart potential. Snow’s work deserves a national audience.
Visit connersnow.com/epk.
As a footnote: Snow released this nine-song calling card as a download-only project without fanfare last October; one song got some play on a neighbor island radio station in November. He makes his Oahu debut with a free show at 7 p.m. April 13 at Workplay in Kakaako. For details visit workplayhi.com.
