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Still the Hawaiian Queen of Soul

Paula Fuga’s latest album already earning praise

Already receiving wide acclaim, including a laudatory review in Forbes, Paula Fuga's new record, "Rain on Sunday," presents an artist who has matured into her role as the Hawaiian Queen of Soul.

"I've been listening to it for months and it's so amazing," Jack Johnson said in a promotional video.

Her first full length studio album since her "Lilikoi" debut in 2006, "Rain on Sunday" is a timeless work so rich and resplendent with memorable songs that it will be hard to ignore at the 2022 Na Hoku Hanohano Awards.

Fuga, though, exudes grace and humility when speaking about the collection.

"I'm just so grateful that I could finally release it to the world, so that it can deliver all its magic to people," Fuga said. "I envisioned people healing from the music and having something that helps them process their thoughts and emotions. That's what music does for me."

A 12-song collection, the album kicks off on an upbeat note with "Just a Little Bit." With its infectious reggae groove and inspirational lyrics about staying positive and overcoming challenges, it could have graced a Bob Marley album.

"There was no other way that I imagined my album opening," she said. "It had to be that song. I have two little nieces and they were in the middle of how children get stuck in the middle when parents have issues. So with my nieces I just wanted to encourage them, and make them feel better, and know that this difficult time would eventually pass. All they needed to do was just hold on a little bit longer."

Songs come to her in a variety of ways she explained. " 'Just a Little Bit' came like a whisper on the wind, as if I picked a leaf blowing in the wind, and took it as my own."

The remarkable, gospel-flavored ballad "Too Hot Mama" traces its inspiration to her early childhood. " 'Too Hot Mama' has a real cool story," she noted. "I was hot and making my way through a crowd of people. They just wanted to say hello, and I was like, 'Oh my God, is this ever going to end. I need to take a shower.' At the same time I was like, 'Calm yourself down, chill out, be nice.'

"As I made my way through the crowd I got this melody, and I thought about the story my mom told me of when I was a baby my grandfather tied a stroller to an avocado tree, and he would rock me to sleep under the avocado tree. I must have been crying and screaming so loud to put your kid under this tree all night. I was happy as a lamb sleeping out there in the breeze. I began thinking what would I have said if I could speak -- well guarantee I'd say too hot mama. Too hot mama."

Another highlight, the jazzy/soulful "You Got This Girl," offers empowering advice to three women she knows.

"There are three different stories," she explained. "One is a teenage girl going through depression, a second was a mother stuck in an abusive relationship and the other one was another female stuck in a negative work relationship. I wanted to encourage these wahines, because they are amazing, strong women.

"If I can make it from where I started, homeless on the beach rummaging through trash for food, all the way to the White House having dinner with the president of the United States of America, they can do it too. There's really no excuse. I achieved my dreams and supported my every need with my music."

The wonderful title track, where she plays 'ukulele and sings about encouraging us to spend more time in nature, came one day when she had a bit of a tiff with her husband.

"I was frustrated because my husband didn't want to listen to the rain," she said. "He had the TV on and I was like, 'Hey, turn off the TV.' He was like 'Why?' 'So we can listen to the rain.' He's like, 'You're crazy.' I looked at him like who the hell is this guy I married, he doesn't even want to listen to the rain. How could this be? I sulked for a couple of minutes, and while I was sulking the melody came along with the words -- 'Listen to the rain, on a Sunday morning, Let it fall, let it wash away.' It was a beautiful song and it came so easily."

With piano backing by Mike Grande, Fuga's ravishing song "Hoapili" spotlights her as an emotive ballad singer. "It's a song about friendship," she said. "It was really beautiful because I could feel his (Mike Grande's) heart in it. Mike Love (the producer) said it was the most vulnerable song that I've ever written."

Featuring original songs except for Sade's "Lovers Rock" -- "I'm a Sade fan, I grew up listening to her music" --and George "Boogie" Kalama's "Hokule'a Star of Gladness" about the star that guided the pioneering voyaging canoe, the album was produced by Fuga and Mike Love, with guests including Johnson, Ben Harper on lap steel guitar, the reggae group Natural Vibrations, and singer J Boog.

Recorded live in the studio, all the songs were compiled before the pandemic hit Hawaii, except for a moving duet with Johnson on "If Ever," which was released as the first single and performed live to the nation on "Good Morning America."

Co-composed by the two musicians, it addressed the loss of their fathers. "Even though it was about our fathers, personally I feel in the writing and recording and singing of the song we considered how hard the last year had been for a lot of people, with a lot of loss, a lot of heartache and heartbreak and sorrow," she said. "We understood the impact it would have because of the rough year that we all had. It's been streamed more than three million times and it's touching so many peoples' lives and healing so many hearts."

Grateful that "Rain on Sunday" has been released on Johnson's own Brushfire Records label, she reported she can now focus more "on my art and creativity, and creating new opportunities for my fans to enjoy my music. I can focus on the heart and soul it all. I feel so blessed that my life is so full of magic."

* Touring in support of the album, Fuga will perform on Maui this Friday at the Wailea Kitchen at 8:30 p.m. She will also play Saturday at 4 and 8 p.m. at da Playground (both Playground shows are sold out).