Title: Gaysians

Gender: Female

Location: Los Angeles, CA

Here's a 65 second video of a 3-legged cat we rescued…

MAKENA stars in MTV Logo's ”L.A. Women's Fest,” a concert documentary filmed live on location in Hollywood.  (check local listings; Logo is available in 18 million homes across the USA)

We're an acoustic partnership in music and life. Both born and raised in Hawaii (Siena: Oahu, Toast: Big Island) but living in Los Angeles County now. Generally we're vegans; we're always animal lovers, and we're pretty good at singing and making music together to help relax and soothe the nerves…it's what we do (see “bio” below) Love farmer's markets and organic farmers. We do a podcast called Girl Meets Girl, talking about being gay, being full-time indie musicians, Asian American, growing up in Hawaii, day-to-day spirituality, and whatever else comes up. And probably like you, we're on a constant quest to simultaneously embrace the present, fulfill our potential, and create a better world for all.

Here's our “bio” – which of course, like all bios – is a work in progress:
MAKENA (pronounced mah-keh-nah) is the acoustic partnership of two girls born and raised in Hawaii, who took a chance on “the mainland” 5 years ago, and are now beginning to see it pay off.

Their homemade recordings and growing name caught the attention of a Grammy-winning record label (Best Hawaiian Album, 2006 and 2007), which signed them to a deal in mid-2006; their first album with the label is self-titled. As a featured act at L.A. Women's Fest in Hollywood, their national TV debut aired on Logo, the latest MTV network, on Thursday, Jan. 25, 2007 at 8:00 p.m. Pacific (check local listings; Logo is available in 18 million homes across the USA). And MAKENA was also one of five acts from around the nation chosen for The '06 Emerging Artist Showcase presented by Olivia, the premier vacation company for women.

MAKENA means “abundance” in Hawaiian, and it's the reason Siena Lee & Toast Tajiri chose it as their name. Nurturing an outlook and energy that is optimistic, yet realistic, compassionate and respectful of humanity's collective deeper wisdom, is their main hallmark in both music and on their podcast.  The Girl Meets Girl podcast is where Siena & Toast have fun talking about their experiences and lessons learned as indie music artists, helping animals, being Asian-Pacific-Islanders, and the occasional rant or amusing observation on social/cultural issues.

Concerts4Cats is their labor of love helping abandoned adult cats in need of medical care.

Siena & Toast focus on gentle harmonies in their music and relationship. MAKENA is sponsored by Sam Ash Music and Luna Guitars.  Visit them at www.MAKENAmusic.com.

And here's the working copy of a description of the self-titled CD:
MAKENA's self-titled debut on DHC Records is superb music to work and play by. Fresh and new without being distracting, relaxing without being sleepy, peaceful without being New Age: five originals showcase MAKENA's range, from the bright folk-rock “Good Enough” (theme song for their podcast) to the reflective, exquisite melody of “You.” MAKENA also offers their version of two classics from the '70s singer-songwriter era: the adult “It's Too Late” and childlike “House at Pooh Corner”, the latter with a bridge in Hawaiian which translates as “the song of the youth.” Two other tracks were co-written by their Grammy-winning producer, Daniel Ho, who also plays requinto guitar and acoustic bass. A pair of mid-tempo Hawaiian songs close the collection. A portion of proceeds goes to www.Concerts4Cats.com, MAKENA's labor of love helping abandoned adult cats in need of medical care. Hear an overview of all tracks at www.MAKENAmusic.com

Member Since: Friday, June 23 2006

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