{"id":96273,"date":"2020-10-21T12:09:38","date_gmt":"2020-10-21T22:09:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hawaii.carpentermediagroup.com\/midweekpro\/?p=96273"},"modified":"2020-10-21T12:09:38","modified_gmt":"2020-10-21T22:09:38","slug":"ana-vee","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hawaii.carpentermediagroup.com\/midweekpro\/ana-vee\/","title":{"rendered":"The Music in Vee"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"

PHOTO COURTESY TAYLOR STOFFERS<\/p><\/div>\n

Ana Vee burst upon the music scene last year with \u201cHawai\u2018i,\u201d a song that caught the attention of pop star Janet Jackson. Now, the once-shy songstress is ready for a bold encore.<\/em><\/p>\n

Singer\/songwriter Ana Vee has been part of the island music scene for only a couple of years, but she’s already rocking it with scores of musical achievements to her name.<\/p>\n

Her big break came when she released her third song last year, Hawai\u2018i<\/em>, which won an Island Music Award for Song of the Year. The catchy tune and lyrics made it an instant ear-worm. Even pop icon Janet Jackson couldn’t resist singing along, which she posted a video of on social media.<\/p>\n

\u201cBy far the highlight of my career is getting to perform on stage at a sold-out arena at the Blaisdell with Janet Jackson,\u201d shares Vee. \u201cHer team reached out to me and asked if I would be open to duetting Hawai\u2018i<\/em> with Janet Jackson and I said, yes, of course.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"

Ana Vee performs in Kona. PHOTO COURTESY LOGAN SATO<\/p><\/div>\n

Not a bad gig, especially considering it was just her second time performing on a stage on O\u2018ahu. Her first was the night before at a MayJah RayJah event at Aloha Tower Marketplace.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was just amazing \u2026\u201d recalls Vee. \u201cI wish I could go back and relive that night.\u201d<\/p>\n

Born Analee Viena-Lota, the singer grew up in \u2018Aiea and graduated from Kamehameha Schools before going to California State University, Northridge on a basketball scholarship. She earned a degree in tourism and travel management, with plans to move back home and work in Hawai\u2018i’s largest industry, but landed in radio instead.<\/p>\n

She became an on-air personality for 102.7 Da Bomb, and then joined the morning crew on 93.1 Da P\u0101\u2018ina (now HI93) with Kaleo Pilanca and Big Teeze. A self-described shy girl, Vee admits it was a surprising change of career path, though a kismet one.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Ana Vee (standing, third from left) with her family, including (standing, from left) mom Namahana Lota, stepdad Shane Oliveira, brother Blake Viena, aunt Kaina Jacobs, cousin Madee Akee-Lota, and (seated) grandparents Abe and Ulu Lota.
<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cI kind of just fell into it,\u201d she explains. \u201cMy background, as an athlete, I’m always up for a challenge and pushing myself in different directions, and exploring and seeing what else I can do or how far I can take it. The radio thing kind of just happened, and it was like, whoa, this is kind of cool. I guess I have a voice.\u201d<\/p>\n

With a taste of the entertainment business, Vee decided to break out of her shell even more and moved to Los Angeles to try acting. She enrolled in an acting school, and ended up helping write and direct a short film that made it into the Los Angeles Film Festival. But it’s music that was in the stars for her.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Vee with Janet Jackson after the pop icon’s sold-out performance. PHOTO COURTESY SOLAIMAN FAZEL<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cFrom acting, I ended up meeting a lot of music people, and I started to realize that I love songwriting and I can kind of sing, and that’s kind of where it started,\u201d she says. \u201c(Around that time), my grandfather was getting rid of his guitar, and I have fond memories with him and the guitar, so I ended up asking him if I can have it. He was like, do you know how to play? (I said) no, but I’m gonna learn. I watched You-Tube videos \u2026 and started singing songs and writing my own songs.<\/p>\n

\u201cSocially, nobody knows me as a singer. Growing up, if you talk to anyone in my family, I would barely speak. I think radio and acting helped me be a little more comfortable with being vulnerable. So, in 2018, I put out my first single called One Time<\/em>, and once you put something out there, you can’t stop, so that was it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her first project, Written<\/em>, was nominated for EP of the Year at the recent N\u0101 H\u014dk\u016b Hanohano Awards, and she’s now working on her next EP to be released early next year.<\/p>\n

\"\"

A young Ana Vee (right) with her mom, Namahana Lota.<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cMy goal is to continue to play and write music that inspires individuals,\u201d she says. \u201cI want to work with Janet Jackson again. I’m a big writer, so I really want to try to get placements, as far as writing credits, for some big artists, and I want to win a Grammy. That’s the dream.\u201d<\/p>\n

Among her musical influences are Lauryn Hill, Erykah Badu, Bob Marley, the Jacksons and Bruddah Iz. But music was also a big part of life at home, as her mom, Namahana Lota, has had some hit songs herself. \u201cEven though I grew up around it, I was not that kid that would stand up and sing for everyone,\u201d she says. \u201cI would just be in the corner smiling \u2026 cheering my mom. I’ve always appreciated music, but at the time I never thought it would be possible for me to be a singer or an artist. My childhood was basketball. I was always at the park, at the gym, anywhere with a basketball. So, when basketball was done, I was like, well, you know what, I’m going to try singing \u2014 and I’m glad I did.<\/p>\n

\u201cI hope that my journey inspires the dreamers. If you have a dream and you’re passionate about something, don’t be afraid \u2014 just go for it. Don’t let failure determine or stop you from what it is you want to do, and don’t worry about what other people say. It’s your journey. Just continue to be the best that you can be and continue to move forward. My favorite quote that I love is, \u2018Preparation meets opportunity.’\u201d<\/p>\n

In the end, her philosophy is simple. \u201cMy mom always says just be true to who I am and always remember God. Say your prayers, say your blessings and just be you.\u201d<\/p>\n

These days, Vee splits her time between Hawai\u2018i and LA, where she is now. She plans to return home next month, when you’ll find her at the beach, eating her favorite island foods and spending time with loved ones.<\/p>\n

\u201cI love l\u016b\u2018au stew from Papa Ole’s Kitchen, or if someone wants to cook it for me,\u201d she shares. \u201cAnd I always make sure I make Sun-day dinners at my big mama’s (grandma’s) house in Honowai. It’s a family tradition.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Ana Vee burst upon the music scene last year with \u201cHawai\u2018i,\u201d a song that caught the attention of pop star..<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":32,"featured_media":96279,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[47],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-96273","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cover-story"],"yoast_head":"\nThe Music in Vee - MidWeek<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/hawaii.carpentermediagroup.com\/midweekpro\/ana-vee\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The Music in Vee - MidWeek\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Ana Vee burst upon the music scene last year with \u201cHawai\u2018i,\u201d a song that caught the attention of pop star..\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/hawaii.carpentermediagroup.com\/midweekpro\/ana-vee\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"MidWeek\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2020-10-21T22:09:38+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/hawaii.carpentermediagroup.com\/midweekpro\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2020\/10\/ana-vee.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"800\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"754\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"David Bock\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"David Bock\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/hawaii.carpentermediagroup.com\\\/midweekpro\\\/ana-vee\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/hawaii.carpentermediagroup.com\\\/midweekpro\\\/ana-vee\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"David Bock\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/hawaii.carpentermediagroup.com\\\/midweekpro\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/63c05e6fb4a9d89089862be7c6984c8a\"},\"headline\":\"The Music in Vee\",\"datePublished\":\"2020-10-21T22:09:38+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/hawaii.carpentermediagroup.com\\\/midweekpro\\\/ana-vee\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1143,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/hawaii.carpentermediagroup.com\\\/midweekpro\\\/ana-vee\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/hawaii.carpentermediagroup.com\\\/midweekpro\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/12\\\/2020\\\/10\\\/ana-vee.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"MW Cover Story\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/hawaii.carpentermediagroup.com\\\/midweekpro\\\/ana-vee\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/hawaii.carpentermediagroup.com\\\/midweekpro\\\/ana-vee\\\/\",\"name\":\"The Music in Vee - 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