As seen in Guitar Girl Magazine Guitar Girl Magazine Special Edition – I Belong – July 2023
Aloha! My name is Noelani Manami, and I’m a Hawai’i-born poet, producer, and songwriter based in Atlanta. I’ve been playing guitar for almost 20 years now. I have so many musical influences it’s so hard to pick! But if I had to narrow it down, it’d be Flyleaf and Frank Ocean music style-wise and Dickey Betts for guitar inspiration. I’m currently working on my debut EP, comprised of songs I have written in the last month. It’s been a painful journey, but turning pain into art is one of the bravest and most beautiful things we, as artists, can do.
What is your definition of tone, and how has it changed over the years?
Tone, for me, is a color, an expression, a sharing of your soul that can be as subtle or sophisticated as you want. I’m a part-time chef now, and that’s helped to influence how I view my tone; I craft my tone like I craft my dishes. I treat every effect and parameter of ingredients, spices, and seasonings to prepare the most satisfying meal: the dish’s flavor (tone). Depending on the “dish,” sometimes I keep it simple and light; other times I go heavy with the seasonings. I love some spicy sounds, lol!
Which guitars, amps, and pedals are you currently using and why?
I’ve played my faithful PRS SE Custom 24 for ten years, and she’s never let me down. I could talk endlessly for pedals, and it would take too much space even to list my board setups, but my go-to is a combination of my Fulltone OCD, Keeley 4 Knob Compressor, Electro-Harmonix Memory Boy, and Hardwire RV7. I’m a sucker for analog sounds. Every pedal I own, except two, are all analog. I usually like my tone to taste like Birria: hefty, warm, rich, and spicy. The fat and sparkling resonance I get from this setup is so satisfying.
What about strings?
I like the Elixir Nanoweb .10 -.46 gauge. I prefer a little bite and like to dig into my strings when I play. These last me pretty well for mediums.
Are there specific recording techniques you prefer in the studio?
I like to mic the neck and have an extra room mic and amp mic. I love the organic sounds of sliding down frets, hands grazing over strings, and picks nicking the body. I move a lot while playing too, and that’s part of the passion I want to come across in recordings.
How do you keep your sound consistent onstage?
A LOT of practice. I’ll spend hours leading up to a show dialing in my tone, memorizing pedal combinations, and just getting comfortable to stand on one leg to press everything. All my practice over the years has brought me to a place where I’m so connected with my guitar and board that getting them to sound a certain way is second nature.
What does your practice consist of?
I used to practice for five to six hours every single day. I was head over heels in love! I couldn’t get enough, and time would just disappear from me. Now I’m busy adulting, working two jobs outside of music to pay my bills, so I’m down to 20 minutes daily. But those 20 minutes keep me consistent, and if I have a show, I’ll prioritize my practice and use my off days to get three to four hours in, so I’m always ready to go.
What is your advice for young artists who hope to work in the music industry?
Remember, every note you play in practice now adds to your foundation for a fantastic future later. Every opportunity you can practice, take it! You can always learn something, even if it’s jamming to music you usually don’t like or listen to. And keep putting yourself out there! Opportunities don’t come from isolation; they come from connection. Some people will reject you, and some will cut you off for trying, but my mantra is: Love always, feel everything. The right connections at the right time will always happen. You’ll do great things if you don’t give up.
