Kela Sako’s “Speed Bumps” album now available for pre-order ahead of National Anthem performance at Pechenga Arena December 27th.
SAN DIEGO (Thursday, December 12th 2024): Pacific Records Recording artist Kela Sako’s album “Speed Bumps” is now available for pre-order ahead of her National Anthem performance at Pechanga Arena for the San Diego Gull’s Pacific Islander Night on December 27th, her debut album with Pacific Records will be released the same day. Produced by Patricio A. Pickslay and co-produced by Brian Witkin, the new album “Speed Bumps” consists of five unique tracks with roots that run deep in the traditions of jazz, hip-hop, reggae and R&B. The title track “Speed Bumps” also features notable beach rock artist Sandollar, also signed to Pacific Records. A native of Hilo, Hawai’i, Kela Sako is a passionate and dynamic musician, lyricist, and vocalist whose work blends intricate, personal storytelling with a deep sense of vulnerability and spirituality. Her new EP consists of five tracks:
The album begins with the upbeat track ‘Beautiful’ – a song about the growth Kela has experienced as an artist and person in general. The song contains an earworm chant and elements harkening back to the days of Sublime in the 1990’s and hip hop sounds with moments of MC style vocals in the verses. Kela says, “I wrote this song when I was 17 so it’s truly my baby. The most “beautiful” part is the evolution – a timeless song displaying the growth I’ve experienced as an artist and vocalist, with the lyrics still holding true in my life now. A simple yet powerful message, life is beautiful – the light, the dark, the highs & lows – and we each have the power to make it so. Beauty comes from within like a light that shines outwards to the world. Never let anyone steal that light from within you, create your path don’t follow one, and find the good in all of it. You are beautiful. Don’t be afraid to say that out loud.”
‘Beautiful’ also features Brian Witkin, Ovation Guitars artist and founder of Slack Key ‘Ohana, a Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award (Hawaiian Grammy®)-nominated band that Kela is also a member of.
The second song on the album, “Promise to Return” is a moody love song that tells an intricate story about falling in love. Kela shares “If anything in life is a windy, uphill, treacherous yet thrilling road – its falling in love. This piece is about the person you want to be with but know simply that you can’t. It doesn’t mean you don’t love them, it means you’re not afraid to let them go, that you’re whole all on your own and can find a way to get back up again.”
Next, “Who Are You” is a song with beachy reggae vibes about falling into a relationship before knowing who a person truly is. “The song is so personal because I learn to love someone and all of their flaws too quickly for comfort; before I know whether they love me for me and all of my flaws. So then down the line you’re asking yourself, what have I done & who is this person?” says Kela.
‘Speed Bumps’, the title track of the album, is a deep composition with a theme of getting in your own way. Kela shares: “Line by line, this song tells my story in a very vulnerable way. On the other hand, this song tells all of our stories. Our own worst enemy is absolutely ourselves. We get in our own way with fear, anger, holding on to the past, never forgiving those who have hurt us. So then when a rock falls on our path, we’re unable to get around it. We slow down until finally we come to a stop and settle for what we’ve been given, forgetting how vast the universe is and that we each have a place in it and that place is ours for the taking. That’s who I’m singing to. For me, if I’m not uncomfortable at some points of my journey, that means I’m not growing.”
The album closes with a lifting ballad titled ‘Change’ which is a social commentary about the state of the world. Kela shares, “‘Change’ is my most reflective and honest songs from the project. Sometimes the world seems so superficial. Sometimes my thoughts & feelings get so convoluted and confusing. Sometimes I feel that life is going so fast, I wonder if I will be able to keep up with it. When someone is hurting, I want to heal them. When someone has no place to sleep, I wish I can give them a bed. When I feel sad from the weight of the world, I see me when I was a little girl, and I feel so bad that I can’t make us both feel better. There is no magic cure for any of the negative things that happen, so it is imperative that we strive to find the good in everything. Life is short, but life is long, too. We can all change the world, baby step by baby step, by never allowing ourselves to stop dreaming like our inner child always has, and always, above all else, by believing in ourselves. You have to believe in yourself.”
Kela’s sound is influenced by legends like Billie Holiday, Nat King Cole, Amy Winehouse, Sade, and Erykah Badu as well as her Hawaiian roots. She began singing and writing music at the age of 9, drawing from both her personal experiences and a global perspective. Her music reflects her inner world—each lyric, each note, a testament to the raw emotions and spirituality that shape her art.
Kela has performed at some of the most iconic venues in Southern California, including Doll Hut, Winstons OB, Music Box, and The Belly Up. She has also graced the stage at the Pechanga Arena singing the national anthem and performing inside the Stella Artois Lounge. She has opened for Hawaiian music legend Henry Kapono and performed alongside Kaleo Philips with Slack Key Ohana.
Her music is not just a career, but a way of life. “Every song I write, I live by,” she says. From her Hawaiian heritage to her California journey—spanning San Francisco, Sacramento, Santa Barbara, Long Beach, and now San Diego — Kela remains focused on reaching for the top. Above all, she believes in the power of persistence. “No matter what, you have to keep going for it and go for it all the way.”
Album pre-order link: https://ffm.to/p5k35dx
Artist Website: https://lovekela.com
