Chris Kelly has "Rizzen" To The Top Of His Game!

by HuiMusic.com

In early November I had caught wind of a new artist that was eager to move back home and pursue a music career.  At first I was a bit bewildered because of the fact that a good percentage of artists look outwards beyond Hawaii to expand their career and usually move to the mainland.  But it was the support of Hawaii ’s people, lifestyle and music industry that brought Rizzen back home.  

Originally from Kailua , Rizzen was born into a family that had the music DNA (his father and sister tremendous singers).  At the age of 10 he had been relocated with family to Santa Rosa California .   By the time he was in his late teens, he had written his first few songs.  With his influence starting with God and tying it together with early Bob Marley influence; Rizzen was on his way.  Obviously a mutual bond between his personal beliefs, the total artist Bob Marley and his fiancé, he had all the love, support and confidence to make music his life.  

After much planning the artist Rizzen (a.k.a. Chris Kelly) packed up his family and moved back to Hawaii to get the music and the dream in full gear.  After much fact finding and music guidance by Sheri Lewis here in Hawaii , Rizzen hit the ground running and found the “stoke” as well as the hardships of “breaking out”.  

Within the first 2 weeks Rizzen was booked at a major promotion at the Hawaiian Waters adventure park on Oahu and from the end of the first song, Rizzen got the response he was looking for.  He played the biggest stage at the park and he packed them in with his powerful stage performance and personalized style of Contemporary Reggae.  

Soon after Rizzen played that night, he was on everyone’s lips and even CD player.  But not because he released a CD but because he activated a new twist on promotions that he learned here on HuiMusic.com,  I'll release more details about that in May's issue of HuiMusic.com

Soon after he had tightened his group up and assembled some of Hawaii’s top musicians to back his play such as Lance Motogawa at the Key's - Bill Mousser on the drums - Devaughn Couch on the guitar and Chad Pule on lead guitar.  Long time friend Aaron Friedman followed Rizzen to Hawaii to play bass………total dedication man!  

Since he has started his venture here in Hawaii, he has played around 15 gigs at places ranging from festivals to house gigs such as Marleyfest, Anna Banana's, Mai Tai's, Tiares, Detox, and T-Spot.  But that’s just a warm up for his CD release and party!  

In April his debut CD here in Hawaii called “4 Life” will be released and his release party will be on May 12 at Don Ho’s.  Something very cool about the pre-release is that someone has gotten a hold of a crack version of his first single “Ooh Ah” and has been planning it at Mai Tai’s.  Since then there has been requests for Rizzen to return and for CD sales.  

There’s a definite early spin going on out there around Rizzen and his music.  His performance is one that has no comparison and even other artists and bands give mutual love to Rizzen early on.  

Each one of the artists on Hawaii has their own style of vocal performance.  For me Rizzen has a very truthful and sincere ability to make you feel his performance from the CD but even more so in public.  

I have to admit I’m not a cynosure of Reggae but one thing I think I understand about it is that it’s a lifestyle and a belief based around a spiritual release of things worldly and embraces things spiritually that promote human interaction for the “good life” through music.  Rizzen’s music seems to speak loudly of the culture, people and music.  

You can check out some of Rizzen’s music on www.myspace.com/rizzen