Palisades-News-May-6-2015-

Page 20 Palisades News May 6, 2015Dawuni Branches Out with New AlbumBy LAURIE ROSENTHALStaff WriterIn a world filled with darkness, PalisadianRocky Dawuni brings the light.The Ghanaian world music/Africanreggae/Afro-Beat musician brims with enthusiasmabout life, and believes in smilingat all people. His latest album, Branches ofthe Same Tree, is Dawuni’s contributiontowards making the world a better place.“Everybody wants peace, everybodywants fairness, everybody wants justice,”he says.Dawuni’s love of music began at aroundthe age of five. As a child, he was exposedto a mixture of local traditional music, reggaelegend Bob Marley, Nigerian icon FelaKuti and Western pop music, includingStevie Wonder, The Jacksons, Earth, Wind& Fire, Kool & the Gang, the Bee Gees andElton John.His late father, Koytau, was a cook in thearmy (and was in Israel and Egypt duringthe 1973 Yom Kippur War), and Dawunilooked forward to when the soldiers wouldreturn to base from abroad, bringingAmerican popular music that wasn’treadily available locally.“I knew all the soldiers who had thebest record collections,” he says. “I wouldgo to their homes on the weekends andjust chill behind their windows, hang outand hear them play their records.” Thismusical education gave Dawuni a broadworldview, which helped inform his ownEstablished May 2007Massage • Acupuncture • Organic FacialsThank-you, Pacific Palisades,for 8 Wonderful Years! We Love You!— Toni & Stephanie20% OFF Massages & Facials!(Mention this ad. Offer Good Thru May 2015)16704 Bollinger Drive, Pacific Palisades310-454-5855 • OasisPalisades.comPacific Palisades, Brentwood,Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, VeniceCalBRE#01437780The Agency(424) 400-5921www.TheAgencyRE.comRocky Dawuni’s latest album, Branches ofthe Same Tree, merges the sounds of NewOrleans, the Caribbean and Africa.Photo: Robert Kozekmusical style later on.Though Dawuni did not come from aparticularly musical household, his innatemusical gifts were evident from a youngage. “I was attracted to melodies,” he says,and to this day has a natural ability to figureout the structure of songs. He tookpleasure in making up his own songs andsinging them to his friends, including hisfirst one, “Children in the Streets,” whichATRIUMHAIR SALONIs Eager to Serve YouFree Toy w/ Kid’s Cuts“We Treat You Better!”Walk-Ins Welcome • Senior Discount_______________________________Tues-Sat 9-5860 Via de la Paz 424.272.9267Ninkey DaltonYour Local Neighborhood Agentwas never recorded.Dawuni admits he always has a melodyin his head, and when he writes songs hebegins with the melody and builds fromthere. “Ultimately, life’s inspiration is theunderlying force that really helps me withmy songwriting,” Dawuni says. Everythinginspires him, including people, experiencesand nature, and he hears everything in lifein a musical way. “Everything around usmoves to a beat.”He plays guitar, but jokes that he leavesthe music to musicians who really knowwhat they are doing.The Afro-Roots feel of Branches mergesthe varied sounds of Africa, New Orleansand the Caribbean. From the opening notesof “Shine a Light,” the music and lyrics arecaptivating. The album title comes from thetune “Children of Abraham,” Dawuni’splea for peace in the Middle East.There are also two Bob Marley songs:the well-known “Get Up, Stand Up,” andthe never-released “Butterfly,” an unfinishedlove song that Dawuni completed.Branches has a timeless feel, in the samevein as many Marley songs, which soundcontemporary today even though they werewritten and recorded decades ago. Thealbum “pretty much encapsulates the conceptof global citizenry,” Dawuni says, andfocuses on love and empowerment.PPO 14191ACO 6002C10 899092ALARMSInteractive alarms are now standard and keep you incontrol. We install and maintain integrated alarmsystems to protect your home and family. 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He clearly loves people and issympathetic to their struggles, whether theyare first-world issues or those of the developingworld. “My music is for everybodyand to be of service,” he says. Justice andequality are important to him, and he is contentto be a voice for those without one, andto be a bridge between differing viewpoints.Dawuni continues to lend his supportto many causes, including women’s issues,Rwandan peace initiatives and refugeecamps, the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstovesstarted by Hillary Clinton and waterinitiatives in his native Ghana. 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