It's been less than half a year since Kalia Vandever released Another View, but today the trombonist and composer is back with news of another album, their first for International Anthem. Mana is scheduled for release in June, and it represents a change for Vandever in more than just record label. It marks the first time they've written lyrics and sung on an album.
Vandever has made the rounds within the pop and rock sphere, including stints in the backing bands for Harry Styles and Japanese Breakfast. They also performed solo while opening for the folk singer-songwriter Haley Heynderickx on tour, which led to an epiphany about the audience. "I was considering that they might gravitate more toward words, so I thought I could try these songs that I had been developing, that maybe I was feeling a little nervous to share."
We don't yet hear Vandever's voice on opening track "Hubbard Road," out today. It's a showcase for their deft trombone playing and compositional prowess. Throughout Mana, Vandever runs their instrument through various effects pedals and pairs it with piano parts inspired by the late Ryuichi Sakamoto. As they explain in a note to Bandcamp followers, it's an especially personal release:
The heart of Mana explores my personal connection to Hawaiian mythology, ancestry, and how it relates to my musical expression — a meeting of my familial and professional life that represents a sort of closing of a circle. Mana in Hawaiian means “foundational, supernatural, or divine power and strength,” and in modern culture, mana can be felt, cultivated, and strengthened as you grow closer to your inner self, native land, and ancestral power. I carry the stories, wisdom, and care of my ancestors as I navigate grief, love, community, and exploration, and feel my sense of mana deepening when I play for them.
Hear "Hubbard Road" below.
TRACKLIST:
01 "Hubbard Road"
02 "Murmuray"
03 "Waiting"
04 "Tough Play"
05 "In The Folds"
06 "Your Fault"
07 "Holding"
Mana is out 6/12 on International Anthem. Pre-order it here.
