Taimane Gardner is probably the most well-known female ukulele artist worldwide.
Born in Honolulu, Taimane (which means “diamond” in Samoan) is of Samoan, German, Irish, French and Swedish descent.
At the age of 13, she was discovered by Don Ho and studied under Jake Shimabukuro.
She is known for performing with a five string Kamaka ukulele and the majority of the time, performing barefoot. She has an elegance and grace when performing that you feel captivated to watch and be amazed by her incorporation of flamenco into her ukulele playing.
Her fifth album “Elemental” is the culmination of honing her amazing skill, incorporating experiences from her travel to other countries and is a music artist that seeks out creativity and inspiration.
Where many in Hawaii tend to stay traditional, both Taimane and Jake Shimabukuro are Hawaiian natives that have a thirst for even bigger and know that there is a bigger world out there where they can express their style of music.
With “Elemental”, the album begins with “Water”, a solo song which Taimane plays with amazing speed until it slows down to a beautiful melody. Taimane has said the song was inspired by the different types of variables of water and hopes people can hear that through the music. Great song!
The second track is a song which Taimane has said inspired her during a trip to Cuba. It’s an amazing, sexy song and I absolutely love the creativity that went into the creation of this song.
The third track “Air” has the feel of a mellow surf-track, being in a spot where no one is inhabiting and just enjoying the scenery alone. It’s that calming and also beautifully performed.
The fourth track is “Mother (Earth)” and is a vocal track showcasing Taimane’s singing vocals and a more collaborative track with her musician friends. Everything comes together very well and a calming song.
The fifth track is “Hades (Pluto)” and is another beautiful performed songs with the ukulele and another collaborative effort and not sure if that is Jonathan Heraux on cajon (who often performs percussions live with Taimane) but percussions really are awesome on this track. Overall, a wonderful track!
The sixth track is “Ether” is a heavenly track with the background vocals and violin in unison with Taimane’s ukulele playing. Taimane has said that the song was created after she had a dream. Beautiful track!
The final track on this album is “Atlantis” and a perfect final track showcasing Taimane’s wonderful ukulele performing and the heavenly background vocals. The most experimental track on this album with the instrumental choices but a wonderful song to end the album.
Overall, “Elemental” is a magnificent album from Taimane. Released in 2018 and worked on for three years, this is the best album from Taimane thus far. From maturity and creative freedom to push new boundaries, this is a must buy album for Taimane music fans!
