Movies and music have naturally complemented each other ever since sound was introduced to the silver screen nearly 90 years ago.
Whether you’re watching a tear-jerking romance movie or action-packed thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat, music usually plays some role in the experience, said Melissa Mojo from Kauai Island Singers’ Showcase.
“There’s just so many movies in which the song is so iconic and just defines the movie like ‘Moon River’ from Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” Mojo said. “There’s just certain songs that you think of and then you just go back to the movie.”
It’s a concept that the musical ensemble is incorporating into their next performance, called “Songs from the Silver Screen,” which is slated for Sunday at The Mahiko Lounge at Gaylord’s Restaurant (Kilohana Plantation) in Lihue.
“We’ve got a very eclectic bunch of people, so all of the songs came out of genres that they’re most comfortable singing, and it all seems to work together,” Mojo said. “We’re doing it because we really love to sing and we want to get better and we want to get more experience performing — we’re all just really dedicated to our craft and our art. In working with these musicians, it’s like the bar gets raised after every single concert. We stretch our abilities with every performance and concert.”
Nine KISS performers will perform a total of 19 songs, including “Taking a Chance on Love,” which appeared in the 1943 musical “Cabin in the Sky,” and “All of the Stars,” which was featured in the 2014 movie “The Fault in Our Stars.”
The free event will feature singers Mojo, Erik Hagen, S. Kamal Salibi, Mike Kobayashi, Fran Nestel, Trishana Star, Diana Leone, Barbara Pendragon and Karen Tilley. Hank Curtis on the grand piano and Mike Latif on upright bass will be providing the instrumental accompaniments to each song.
“It’s pretty international,” Mojo said. “We’ve have 75 years of music in the movies from 1943 to present — every decade is represented.”
The KISS performances will begin at 3 p.m., and The Mahiko Lounge will be offering Hollywood-themed drinks — alcoholic or non-alcoholic — that align with the spirit of the event.
“It’s a beautiful location and we’ve got great musicians — grand piano and upright bass — and talented singers,” Mojo said. “We’re also using a sound system from Fat Tuesday Records’ recording studio — they’re lending us their amazing, professional sound equipment, so we’re very happy about that.”
If inclement weather develops, the performance will be rescheduled for Oct. 26.
Info: Mojo, 822-0545
