'Altar Native' is a musical odyssey echoing a spiritual journey made by the artist over a six year period to each of the Hawaiian Islands. The culmination of this was a concept performance of the slack key songs Cummings composed for each of those islands presented by Hawai'i Public Radio on September 1st 2007 at the Atherton Performance Arts Center in Honolulu. She was accompanied by Cindy Combs, Joe Lohmeier and Anela Lauren. It was recorded and engineered by Shawn Livingston Moseley. The name 'Altar Native' reflects the artist's intention to put Native consciousness back on the Altar for a more harmonious way of being as an alternative to our presently unsustainable paradigm based on monetary rather than human values and to celebrate the unextinguishable spirit of Aloha. The following video is of one of the songs performed that night called 'DaKine'.
The following photographs were taken by Cummings along her journey to the eight Hawaiian Islands. They fall in accord with how the songs fall in sequence on the CD:
KAUA’I
‘Dakine’ was written on her dear friend Cindy Combs’ back porch, where she would often find safe haven during a turbulent homeless period. The song is a bald statement on the conditions with which she and so many other hard working people grapple and her simultaneous devotion to and awareness of the omni-present state of grace or spirit of Aloha she refers to here as…’Dakine’.
HAWAI’I (Big Island)
'City of Refuge’ (Pu’uhonua O Honaunau on the Big Island) was Millicent’s first formal pilgrimage on the islands. This song expresses the pain of loss in the severance of a twelve year marriage as well as her long hair, shaved in relation to it on the Hamakua coast in 2001. The Big Island immediately confronted Millicent with the more terrifying aspects of the Goddess Pele and inspired this prayer to the Goddess for the strength to endure the pain of death in order to manifest new life.
Photo by Gerry Silver
NI’IHAU
‘Forbidden Isle’ is an unrequited love song written in 2006 and a tribute to the people from that island, many of whom she met while living on the west side of Kaua’i. The pearl has long been a metaphor in many of her songs and poems, symbolizing the purity of the Divine and the ability to transmute a toxin or obstacle into something of great value and beauty.
O’AHU
‘Paniolo Song’ was written in the spirit of true Independence on the Fourth of July 2007 at her new windward home at the base of Kaliuwa’a Valley. It marked the first song of a new chapter in the artist’s spiritual and artistic life. Though the lyrics are set in the 1800’s from the perspective of a male Paniolo, the song is very much autobiographical in nature while simultaneously reflecting a more collective theme …the desire to be free.
LANA’I
‘Lana’i song’ was the most recent of all the songs to be added to this collection written three weeks before the performance during a 24 hour whirlwind visit to the island in order to complete the project. It was written in Pu’uhele Bay under the brilliant stars that shimmer over the sleepy little island in honor of its undying beauty and the spirit of Aloha residing in both the land and the people.
MAUI
‘Maui Wowie’ was written in part to meet a challenge given to the artist by a colleague to write a funny song, as most of Cummings’ work is serious by nature. Political satire seemed the best approach in dealing with the sensitive issue in regards to the criminalization of the use of marijuana while legal prescription and other chemical drugs, toxins and pollutants, as well as alcohol have been proven to be so much more harmful and even lethal.
MOLOKA’I
‘Moloka’i Blues’ was written on the Westside of Moloka’i after kanikapila with some of the island's extraordinary musicians, having just come out of a month long stay in an extreemly remote area on the north shore where Millicent was engaged in helping to restore ancient lo’i and learn how to plant and harvest kalo. After many such journeys, her respect and Aloha for that island and the people there grew to immeasurable proportions.
KAUA'I
‘Ponoville’ was born in Kilauea at a retreat on the ancient lo’i that overlooked the breath-taking river valley as it empties out into the Great Pacific Ocean. It communicates not only her purpose in that retreat but also her Aloha for the people, particularly the children who were present with whom she spent the first twelve days of 2007 and for whom the song was composed.
KAHO'OLAWE
‘Culture of Fear’ was composed on the heels of a life changing pilgrimage to Kaho’olawe in the fall of 2006. The song is a painful lament aimed at the heart of what the artist feels is responsible for the destabilization of Hawaiian Sovereignty and all indigenous cultures due to a destructive and outworn yet ongoing, colonialist paradigm based on economic progress rather than human values. Millicent is seen here at the barracks while working on Kaho'olawe with a picture of the two jailed heroes on the door, George Helm and Kimo Mitchell to whom the song is dedicated.
KAUA'I
‘United We’ll Stand’ was composed in Koke’e at a YWCA camp Millicent co-created for eighteen young women the week before her Second Annual ‘Wahine Fest’ 07. The chorus of this song was the motto for that festival, the verses expressing her tender commitment to protecting Kaua’i even as she was soon to leave her ‘home’ and relocate to her yet to be discovered 'home' on O’ahu.
Influences
For this project...the Folk music I grew up with, the traditional and non-traditional Kihoalu music of Hawai'i, the Hawaiian people and the land itself. Special thanks to: Cindy Combs on guitar, ukulele and back up vocals www.myspace.com/slackkeylady.....
Joe Lohmeier on the cello and Anela Lauren on Celtic Harp www.kauaianela.com..... Shawn Livingston Moseley, pianist, composer, record producer, sound engineer and founder of Aumakua Records, dedicated to protecting the artists of Hawai’i www.aumakuarecords.com..... Rogerio Araujo, director, filmmaker and musician who filmed the event www.myspace.com/garagecinema..... Hawai’i Public Radio for their immeasurably important work in supporting the arts, www.hawaiipublicradio.org..... Ron Jacobs, www.whodaguyhawaii.com.....Evan Tector of the Forward Foundation www.forwardfoundation.org..... Kevin Hughes and Char Dyer of Treble in Paradise
TREAT THE EARTH WELL: IT WAS NOT GIVEN TO YOU BY YOUR PARENTS...IT WAS LOANED TO YOU BY YOUR CHILDREN. WE DO NOT INHERIT THE EARTH FROM OUR ANCESTORS...WE BORROW IT FROM OUR CHILDREN. -ANCIENT INDIAN PROVERB
To see the most recent article written in the Midweek about Cummings visit: http://www.midweek.com/content/columns/musicmontage_article/millicent_cummings/
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'American Dream', a series of collages by Millicent Cummings
Aloha. Thank you for dropping in to hear my music and checking out my page. I used to live on Oahu and miss the Islands very much. Mahalo. Tagooven Tograyock. Aaron White
Hi Millicent and Maikai! Thank you for supporting No Nukes Music in Hawaii. I will cherish the memories of your musical pregnancy. I can't wait to see your baby boy! Aloha, Audrey
Aloha Millicentral, ALTAR NATIVE is the perfect title for your June release. Having been there for you and with you physically and in spirit during the seminal phases of all the songs, their manifestation, and coming to fruition, I can say that I am very proud of your accomplshment. The concept and intention of creating songs for each island, your being a native to your heart's altar, combined with the resultant recording have proven beyond a doubt that you are a concious composer, with your heart on your sleeve. The union of strength and vulnerability will touch many other hearts, I'm sure, and I am honored to 'ride' your tunes. KE AKUA PU! CC
