 My name is Mark Shklav. I am the usual host of Law Across the Sea, which is every other Monday here at Think Tech, Hawaii. Today we're going to do something a little bit special. It's Valentine's Day, and I'm changing the name of the program today to Love Across the Sea. And today we're going to have the Music of Love with Matt Love, who's my special guest, to ask Matt to come in and sing a few songs for us and spread some love on Valentine's Day, because we need love, perhaps more than others. In any event, we'll talk a little more with Matt after this first song, but Matt, take it. That's CD. And they said, that's no CD. That's Matt Love playing. So then I went over and met you and asked if you would be kind enough to join me on one of our programs. I'm glad that you're here. You're welcome. I want to learn a little bit about you. Okay. So let me ask you. Where did you grow up? Where are you from in Oahu? I'm from Wabanalo. There's been a lot of changes going on in Wabanalo, and I was young to now. There's so much changes. It's not like how it used to be. You still live in Wabanalo? I still live in Wabanalo. You could take the guy out of Wabanalo, but you cannot take no Wabanalo out of the guy. I love it here. Still playing music? I'm still playing. The other night, I think it was Friday, me and Nico Button, to order the song Wabanalo Blues. He and I played some songs together that night. And where did you play? I started at Nabeah. Namehuei? Yeah. The song you played to lead into this program, what was that called? The song is about... It's a love song, actually. Love song? Yeah. Nani? Nani. We talk about a beautiful girl already with Nani. It also goes together with a flower. Nani is a beautiful name. Nani is a beautiful name, yeah. Did you first learn to music? How did that come about? That's a good question. It's a very good question, because I myself don't know. But the only thing I can say how I learned how to really play and instrument or do anything, the whole thing is from not other than the man who created everything. You know? Because my wife is so crazy she would be jumping out of bed late in the dark and just pick up an instrument to play. Next morning she asked me, do you know what you are doing? There you go. As time went by, I started to sing. I don't know how to do it. Then I started to sing a new song. I kind of have tears in my eyes. Then we did up the song. So you never had formal training or anything like that? No. So when did you start playing? When did you begin playing the Death Star? Death Star was in 7th grade. About 13 or 14 years old? No, about somewhere like a block. About 7 or 8 years old? Oh, 7 or 8 years old. I played for many programs in Wabanalo. So they asked me if I could perform with them. They're sure. I mean, I didn't do that much about playing an instrument. So when I went along with them I started to pick up little by little. And that's how my music came about. Were there any people along the way that were teaching you or that you learned from or that you admired? There were a lot of people, but most of them back in those days they were going to teach you to turn their back on you because there was kind of a jealousy in there that they don't want to teach you. You might be better than that. What was the first song you learned? The first song I learned, the Hawaii song I learned was Poha'i Ke'aloha. Poha'i Ke'aloha. And how did you learn it? Listening to the record. Who was the artist? Joe Ke'avi. With respect to your family, were there people in your family that were playing music? I had my grandfather play guitar. It's a long story, actually. When I was in high school, my grandmother used to ask me to tell me you don't play music. Your cousin, your uncle, your auntie, your brothers, they all play except you, I don't see you play. Toot up, wait and run. My grandfather used to pick up his guitar and I started to tune in the way I wanted and I started to play. And let me ask you, we're going to take our break pretty soon. So let me ask you to play the next song, which I think was Poha'i Ke'aloha. Is that right? Yeah. And that's the first song you learned? Alright, please take it, man. Parents would be very proud of you, my friend. That was very nice. Your grandmother. My grandmother cried. I'm sure she did. I'd like to ask you a few more questions. I want to get one more song and then I'll ask you a few more questions from you. Are you okay to give us another song? Yeah. Wai'ulu? Yeah. Okay. Could you take it and then we'll come back, ask a few more questions and then we'll sign off. Okay, it's easy. Pick up the ukulele and the wife just belt it ready right in front of you. So there's something about music? Yeah. That punkers... Well, that song actually is a love song, yeah. Oh, I see, I see. He sang that song to his wife? Yeah. Okay, okay. Pretty smart guy? Yeah, yeah. He was all... Just to calm her down, he sang that song. Wai'ulu. And you know, you told me you've played with some other musicians. Who have you been playing with? Many of them have played with... Well, let's put it this way. I've played with the old man, Johnny Alameda. Oh, yeah, wow. And I've played with Raymond Cunning, Sonny Chilisworth, Gaby, Andy Covertz, these big people. People are surprised. How can I play with them? I don't know. I just love to play music. So it just comes to be that. So I've played with them. And you all got along? Yeah. Have you played nice together? Okay. And what is... Maybe you do play... You play in public? Yeah, I play in public. Where do you play nowadays? Oh, gosh. There's so many places I've played. Namaya, we know. Namaya is one of them. And sometimes I play Kahala Iotik. Okay. And sometimes I share it in. Okay. All they play is with the Kharia. And they give you a call they want you to come down and play? I just go and play. Okay. What is some of your, maybe... What is a favorite memory? Favorite... Favorite movements? One favorite music memory. Yeah. Well... It was quite a long time ago. One day before the close-up. Placing kawai, polypops or something like that. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Cocoa pumps? Yeah, cocoa pumps. I sang there. I sang with my whole heart. Made a crowd with wire. It's the most memorable time. Kauai, you like kauai then. That's where my brother lives. Wow. I just went out there to... An overnight visit. I ended up being a week. And then two weeks. So that's why it's a memorable time of mine. And if I could ask you, just give me one short sentence, and then I want you to play us out. But give me one short sentence on what you would tell young musicians. What type of advice would you give to a young musician starting out? Just, you know, he heard the voice in the dream, and he says, I want to play. And his mama says, play, brother. And what would you tell him? What would you tell him? With your whole heart, and continue, don't stop. Because once you stop playing, it's just like telling me, you give it up, don't give up. Because we need people like you to sing. I see which part. Don't be afraid. Well, look, thank you for being on Love Across the Sea with me. And I'd like you to sing us out. Sing us out now, please. What song are you going to sing for us? Okay. Sadoe. Sadoe, asshole, and...