StarBulletin.com

Maui singer Jenkins' career gets boost from iTunes


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POSTED: Friday, June 12, 2009

Maui's Anuhea Jenkins appears to be on the right path with her burgeoning music career, thanks to a push from Apple's iTunes Music Store and faithful fans who know how to utilize social media on the Internet.

; Jenkins' self-titled debut CD has been available for weeks, but thanks to the efforts of WorldSound Entertainment, she was named an “;iTunes Featured Artist”; and prominently displayed on the iTunes front page.

“;Anuhea”; peaked at No. 8 on the iTunes pop chart last month, ranking higher than releases by Jason Mraz, Kelly Clarkson, Katy Perry and Pink. One track off the album, “;Right Love Wrong Time,”; was even offered as a free download last month, with more than 700,000 people taking the time to sample the tune.

In addition to opening for Amos Lee last month and agreeing to perform alongside former Big Island-based band Pepper in August, Jenkins was recently profiled by Japanese television show “;Surf Lani.”; Her music is also expected to be featured in the upcoming season of “;The Hills”; on MTV.

The promotional work won't stop anytime soon, however. Jenkins is scheduled to leave Honolulu in the next few days for the mainland, where she'll headline her own official showcase performance Wednesday at the Mint in Los Angeles ...

CONGRATS TO Holunape and Pali, the big winners at Tuesday's Na Hoku Hanohano Awards. Seeing Holunape take home Group of the Year honors and Pali recognized for best Island Music Album of the Year made sense; so did Rebel Souljahz walking away with the award for Reggae Album of the Year and Amy Hanaiali'i Gilliom winning Contemporary Album of the Year. But A Touch of Gold—mainly known as a cover band—winning Hip-Hop/R&B Album of the Year? And Kalapana taking home Rock Album of the Year over much more deserving submissions from Pimpbot and Upstanding Youth? Something is seriously wrong with this picture ...

CLUB NEWS: Flash Hansen and Matty Hazelgrove are doing their part to stimulate the economy, getting rid of the cover charge at “;Supper Club”; and making it a weekly event at Aria in the Century Center on Saturdays. It's a nice space, with DJ Rayne as the resident DJ and $6 Grey Goose all night ... After less than three months at the Living Room, “;Acid Wash Wednesdays”; is making the move back to Chinatown. Promoter Mike Licata will rename the party “;Gen-X Sessions”; and introduce more music from the '90s when it reopens next week at SoHo Mixed Media Bar. He said the post-2 a.m. mindset at the Living Room made it hard to build a crowd earlier in the evening ... Next Wednesday also marks the debut of “;Zen-Sation,”; a new networking happy hour hosted by photographer Russell Tanoue. He's partnered with Island Fire Productions and the Hawaii Dental Association's Dental Samaritans for an early evening of drinks and pupu in an environment conducive to making new business connections. Doors open at Bonsai Japanese Restaurant and Lounge at 4 p.m. Wednesday; this event will repeat every first and third Wednesday of the month at Restaurant Row ...

WEEKEND PICKS: San Francisco's DJ Mei Lwun returns to Honolulu for the first time in more than two years to headline “;HOME”; at Diamond Head Grill tonight. The party will also serve as a fundraiser for go-go dancer Jackie Gerringer, who will represent Hawaii at the national NPC USA fitness championships, and a birthday party for fellow go-go dancer/makeup artist Kecia Littman ... Following a false start in May, mainland-based DunkXchange.com arrives in Honolulu this weekend for an afternoon of sneaker swapping at 831 Queen St. All ages are welcome, although you have to pony up $11 for the opportunity to trade. Doors open at 7 p.m. ... The Vertical Junkies and Aloha Army continue to impress with what is turning out to be the biggest island music party of the summer. This week's “;Surf Shack Saturdays”; features live sets by O-Shen, with a $5 cover charge for locals and $3 drink specials all night ...