Speaking with Rhiana Alana Lewis

Rhiana Alana Lewis is a California singer who moved to the island of Hawaii. After arriving, she found a bright, vibrant music scene where she shared her passions for virtuous instrumental styles and songwriting. With her hits “Don’t Wanna Fall” and “Anxious Attachment Style,” Coog Radio got to sit down and interview the singer-songwriter.

SG: Hello, my name is Sorraya Gonzales. I’m station director of Coog Radio at the University of Houston Would you like to introduce yourself for us? 

REL: Yes, my name is Rihanna Elena Lewis, singer, songwriter, cool person. 

SG: Nice, nice. So thank you so much for chatting with us today, despite all the glitchesa with Zoom and everything. First thing I’d like to ask is, do you currently live in Hawaii? 

REL: I do, yes. 

SG: Okay, can you tell me about the music scene over there?

REL:  Honestly, shockingly, the scene is poppin’ over here. I don’t know if poppin’ Is a good word, but when I first moved here, I’m originally from Los Angeles, and the last thing I was expecting was to come in and see like a scene that was thriving, but there are shows almost every single night.

SG: Oh, wow. 

REL: There’s a myriad of kinds of shows. So not only are there like, you can go to any restaurant, you can go to any place, and you’ll be able to find live music happening, but then you’ll also find tons of live bands, tons of local musicians, DJs, and artists that are hosting shows all the time, including myself. 

SG: Oh, wow. And is it like a variety of genres, or is it just like one specific genre? 

REL: Oh, definitely a variety of genres. 

SG: And there’s a show every night? That’s insane. 

REL: I would say pretty much, at least there’s from open mic nights to comedy nights to low-key, high-key nights. You can guarantee that there’s going to be something, you know, Wednesday through Sunday. Maybe Monday, Tuesday a little bit less, but yeah.

REL: And yeah, there’s so many genres. There’s a punk scene. People love emo here. It’s hilarious. It’s not that it’s like a hilarious genre or anything, but I was not expecting that. If an emo band comes through, even a cover emo band would kill to sell out anywhere here.

SG:  It is funny to think about going to Hawaii to see an emo show. Like, that’s the last thing I would assume would be playing. Right? Still, yeah, that is pretty interesting. What else was I going to ask? So it’s good that the music scene is very lively over there. Is it different than being in Los Angeles, which is known for music and stuff? 

REL: 100%, I would say obviously I’m from Los Angeles and no hate to my home, but at the same time I would say I would consider that growing up in that scene kind of broke my musical heart because it’s so harsh and it’s so saturated and there’s so many musicians that kind of people don’t give a crap about you at all.

REL: You know, you really have to fight to get your name out there. And I tried so many times and I was in so much. I was in so many different bands and each time it’d be ‘you’re only as strong as your weakest member.’ So if you had a weak member that wasn’t going to come to practice, that wasn’t going to support financially, that wasn’t going to do that, like you don’t have the opportunity to really rise to the top. And I kept struggling not only with the scene, but with band members and all that. And so I was like, you know what? Forget it. I’m not playing music anymore. And I started working in homeless services and just playing music for fun. And when I came over here, I was just playing ukulele on the beach because I loved ukulele even before I moved to Hawaii. And the next thing people kept asking me at the beach, they would come up to me and be like, ‘Who are you? Where can I find your music? Where can I listen to you?’ And I would be like, ‘Oh, nowhere. I’m not playing gigs or have anything online.’ And that led me to doing that. And a long answer to the question, essentially, is what’s the difference? Is that people really do want to just go out and see. Is that people really want to just go out and see live music, if not necessarily about like, oh, what’s cool tonight or what’s the coolest possible thing that I could do that, like, hey, I want to actually go listen to this music and I will support you and I’ll listen to your music and it’s just a little bit more feels a little bit more like family.

SG: Yeah, more of a community than like an industry in a sense. 

REL: Exactly. Yes. And there is still that industry side and I’m learning about it, but still, it is more of a community and it’s still up and coming. There’s all the other genres. And over here, like, obviously, reggae and Hawaiian music is all very popular here and there’s other sub-genres. Girl, you wouldn’t believe how popular country is here. People love country music here, too. 

SG: That’s funny. That is really funny. Punk and  country in Hawaii is like something.

REL: It is. There’s like reggae country. There’s actually this girl who’s, you know, pretty popular over here named Peyton Sullivan. And she was, I think she was on Voice. And she has like a combo of music that is like. Reggae or like island vibes meets country music.

SG: So that is really cool. I’ve heard like a Caribbean mix with rock. It was like Latin Caribbean with rock. That was pretty cool. But like reggae with country. That’s a new one. That’s something I would have to listen to. Is it common for like locals to go to these live events? Or is it also like a tourist attraction as well since Hawaii gets a lot of tourists?

REL: I would say it’s both. But mostly local. And I guess you kind of have to differentiate between what you would consider someone to be local. Which would be a whole like, you know, not necessarily an argument. But somebody local would be considered somebody who was really like born and raised here. Yeah. So somebody else that like for me, I would be a transplant.

REL: So yes, lots of transplants come. Locals I would say aren’t super involved in it. I would say they do stick to a lot of genres. But me just saying anything black and white is just a little bit crazy. Because it’s kind of a little bit of everything. I, for myself personally, I’ve seen support from tourists to transplants to locals. Which has been a super blessing, truly. 

SG: That is nice. That like it brings everyone together in a sense. It’s not really just like one kind of person. So I was curious like how the music scene is over there. Because Hawaii is mostly known for tourism, not so much as music. So it’s nice to hear that there’s also like a scene over there. And being away from like the mainland of the United States, iIs it hard booking gigs? Or does it make it easier since you’re from like a unique location?

REL:  I would say both, so it’s hilarious. I was able to book gigs when I was in LA. And now I’ll try and do it. And I won’t hear back from anybody. But for instance, San Diego was super welcoming. I was able to book things there. I booked my own tour in Australia that I played this year. I’ve played the other islands here as well. And have more shows coming up over there. But when it comes to like the mainland, it’s something I’m still working on. I kind of had to decide what was going to be my focus. Was I going to try and make it here in the industry? And build a name up here?

And then go over? Which is kind of the direction that I’m taking. While slowly stepping out to the mainland. And like, interviews like this. Just being like, okay, let’s get the music out there. Let’s use the internet. 

SG: Yeah. Okay. That’s nice. Also, how was the tour in Australia? I saw that you went to tour there. And I was like, oh my gosh, that’s so interesting. What was that like?

REL: It was one of the best times of my life. For sure. It was some of the best of times. Some of the worst of times. I travel alone. And sometimes that can be really hard mentally. Especially as an emotional being. I think I’m consistently living on the cusp of being super emotional. Being a gift and a curse because of the fact that like my feelings are right there on my sleeve. And that’s how I write so well. But in the same breath, as a person that’s empathetic, I’m able to sense things. And sometimes, I will say sometimes tourism and seeing people treat land like crap. Or just like some experience they’re having bothers me so much. But in the same breath, oh man, the shows that I played. I played something called So Far Sounds. Which is like a global booking agency. They’ve had tons of things. People that are super famous now come through and play their shows. I played one in Brisbane. Yeah. Have you heard of So Far Sounds? 

SG: No, I have not. I don’t know that many Australian artists. That’s why I was mainly curious. Like that’s a good name to learn about.. 

REL: Honestly, So Far Sounds is not from Australia. It’s a global booking agency. So they book shows all over the world. Guaranteed. There’s So Far in Texas. Multiple So Fars. And so there’s one here in Hawaii as well. So they put on shows. And they actually had like Billie Eilish play before she was famous. And even the guy that just won the Tiny Death series, he had played here. So anyways, I played one of those shows. And it was just in someone’s backyard. And it was amazing. Everybody that was at the show was just really enthralled and really paying attention. And listening to my every word and every song, and relating. And everybody wanted my merchandise after. And it was just such a sweet feeling.

Because I play so many restaurants. I play so many cover gigs just as like side income. And it has a way of like kind of killing my soul. Because people don’t see me as an artist. They just see me as like this wallflower, like this person that’s just supposed to blend in and play songs that they want to hear. So going to a show where people want to hear my own songs, and what I think, and what I feel. That’s what I want to do so badly. 

SG: No. Yeah, I understand that. A crowd makes like a show completely different. Like I’ve gone to some concerts where the crowd just wasn’t there. And it really like no matter how good the music is, it really shifts the vibe of the scene. So I completely understand how like playing all those gigs at restaurants and stuff can easily make it feel like, “Oh, like what am I doing?” You know, like having not having an interactive crowd is just as bad as having a bad set. So I can understand that. 

SG: As here in Houston, it’s very common for bands to just tour Texas because Texas is so big. And most people just travel by car because that’s the norm. So I had a friend who went on tour with this one artist. They toured all over the country. But it was all by car, like just long road trips and stuff. So in Hawaii, obviously you can’t do that. So I was just very curious, like, how would that work? Is it maybe just a flight? And then you drive? Do you drive to your locations for gigs? 

REL: Yes. So I actually just finished a mini tour on Maui. So I played six gigs in three days. It was insanity. So I would say five gigs plus one radio interview. And I played there as well. And yes, I had a fly over there and then rented a car, which I just posted on my TikTok. It’s hilarious because I was basically forced to rent a minivan. It wasn’t my plan. They’re like, oh, are you a musician? So you’re going to need a minivan. I was like, no, I’m one person. I don’t need a minivan. And then I get to the table. They’re like, yeah, you selected dealer’s choice, so you basically have to rent a minivan. I was like, okay. And I’m driving around feeling like such a freaking dork. Like, oh, I’m a soccer mom. Just driving this minivan around. But I –  

SG: Do your shows not require a lot of equipment to have a van?

REL: They don’t. They really don’t. They don’t. No, there’s no reason why I would need a minivan. Granted, I was like, okay, the, the, you could click the button and the doors open on its own. That was convenient. I did have to lug a ton of crap from one island to the other, but yeah.. So this is a sad thing, I am terrified to fly. I hate flying.

And I moved to a place where I have to fly to do anything else. And I just flew home last night from Maui. And there was just a little bit of turbulence. Okay. And it felt like a lot. And I was freaking out to like the flight attendant. I was like, “Sir, sir, can you help?” He’s like, well, can I help you? And I literally want it to be like, can you sit with me? Because I’m so scared. I know. 

SG: Have you tried like chewing gum or any like anxiety medication? 

REL: I’ve tried everything. I literally have tried Valium before. Okay.

SG: Oh my God. 

REL: I know. My friend is like, okay, this should knock you out. No, it did not work. No, it did not. 

SG: When it comes to anxiety, insomnia is so bad. I don’t think people realize how bad insomnia can be when you’re anxious. 

REL: Exactly. I’ll take multiple [pills]. I’ve taken multiple, like sleeping pills, NyQuil, tons of it. And I will not sleep at all. So what I do now for my flight, my fear of flying is I have to put on a song. i really really like and i’ll dance and sing and i look like a maniac i’m sure because i honestly don’t sing quietly and i do dance wildly because i love electronic music too so i’m just like this wild and dancing all crazy singing on a plane but it makes me forget about the turbulence

if i do that enough to make it through so the trust me that 10 hours to australia was – 

SG: My gosh it’s a 10 hour flight from maui to australia? 

RL: Yeah well, i live on oahu but it’s a 10 hour flight which is actually not as bad if i was going to fly from the mainland so 

SG: wow yeah that is a long way to travel for a gig but the good thing is you have music and that helps calm you down a bit because yeah being on an island you have to like mostly travel by plane so it’s like everywhere yeah i didn’t i guess even to go to other islands too you have to book a flight to go on this island and then the next one.

Also, you play an array of instruments like bass ukulele guitar piano what inspired you to learn so many instruments like were you Self-taught, did you take lessons? How did you get into so many? 

RL: That’s a good question I don’t know, I don’t think I’ve ever been asked that question before. I feel like I was just drawn to it. Someone recently asked me, like, why did you become a musician? I was like, I didn’t… I was… I just was one.

I was just always one. I grew up singing, like I grew up with a deep love for it, so um, I just wanted to maybe try to be a musician and I was like, I don’t know, I don’t know, I don’t know… I don’t try and write on different things because when I guitar was my first instrument and we always had like, a really piece of crap piano in my house and so I’d sometimes mess around with that i think yeah i know it’s kind of the second one that i went to just because i think i was messing around on somebody else’s piano or something and just started trying to write on it and the next thing i knew i was writing all the stuff on the piano and then bass was just kind of like well somebody asked me to play bass for something because i could play guitar and now i’ve been playing bass for a long time especially in church bands because i play in the worship team at my church and nobody plays bass so that i’m always asked to play bass so i’ve been doing that for years same with percussion um cajon like i learned how to play that when I was in Europe, actually. I’ve never played [it] before, but somebody just had it and I was like, ‘Okay, I’ll just try’ and I just had that natural rhythm and I tapped dance for a little bit too, so it was like I knew I had some so I started messing around and then I was like, “Okay, I could play this too.” And then, lastly, ukulele – I wanted to travel and I was doing a road trip in 2015 and so I was like, ‘Hey,” to my friends, “I didn’t want to bring a guitar, can I borrow your ukulele?” And boom, I fell in love.

Like that’s one of the easiest instruments to write on and just take with you, so yeah, I played ukulele. When I was younger, and it’s just so much fun because it’s so much fun and it’s so much fun and it’s so much fun, so simple it’s very like straight to the point with chords and everything, 

SG: so yes it’s funny how that became like your last instrument and not like yeah most people that’s either their beginning or like second instrument um oh you’re good I guess with piano though if you learn the fundamentals on piano you know every instrument because piano is like the fundamental of music so once you learn that yeah yeah 

RL: I said about every instrument if you learn how if you can coordinate one you can do the rest it’s all about getting.

Into that mindset of being like having that hand coordination with your mind and letting go, and not having that inhibition. Yeah, um, but with ukulele, I taught my sister how to play music, my little sister, and I told her, ‘Ukulele is a gateway instrument’ because it’s so… you just strum it open and it sounds nice. 

SG:  yeah I just asked the multiple instruments because it’s very common for like musicians to just kind of pick one and specialize in it like they know other ones but there’s always just like that one, but you seem to have like a good variety so that’s mainly why I asked, I only know like another person who’s like that, but most of the other like musicians I’ve met kind of just stay with like one maybe two, so it’s nice to see that you just have a passion for all instruments and all music, so nice. Also, earlier this year you released a single don’t want to fall and got featured on NPR Tiny Desk, tell me what that felt like seeing my song on like this social media? 

RL: Okay, so insanely enough. Right before I went to Australia, I was like, ‘Okay, and I’m gonna enter this contest, and I just did everything.’ And, if I’m very honest, I wasn’t expecting much to happen from it, but I just…

I was in prayer about it, I was like, ‘All right, God, do your thing, if you want.’ And, I was at work, and someone that I didn’t even follow from that I used to work with in California years ago directly messaged me and said, ‘Congrats,’ and I’m like, ‘What are you talking about?’ And I look at what she had shared, and it was NPR saying that I was featured as desk of the day. And, I’m at work sitting there like what i opened it up i am freaking out and my co-workers are like whats going on rihanna whats going on im just sitting there at my desk crying like oh my god oh my god and im like i was featured on NPR and these little punks are like ‘whats NPR?’  and I was like okay oh my god get the hell out of here.  i’m like oh my god but  i cried i was i was so thankful i was shocked

i I wasnt expecting that to happen at all and i think personally thats a dream come true for me 

SG: yeah no NPR is a really big deal for a musician so to like have that like you know like that recognition is just a lot I just think it’s funny you found out through a DM and not, like, your agent or something like that. Like, I just think that’s kind of funny. But it is, like, congratulations. Like, that’s a really big deal. 

RL: Thank you. 

SG: What drove you to inspire that song that you submitted? Like, why that song specifically?

RL: Well, so I was playing in all these different bands before. I’ve been doing so many things. I’ve never really done solo. And I went through this really tough season here.

When I first moved to Hawaii, like, I didn’t have any friends, any family. I moved here not having anybody. Oh, wow. And, yeah. And I started to write. I started to write a series of songs. And the first one hasn’t been released yet because it’s only, like, a one-minute, 30-second song. It’s, like, an intro one that will, when I release the actual album. So this song is the second one in line for that album. And it was just very much what I was feeling at that moment. I was dating someone. And, girl, I’m chronically single. Chronically, bro. All I do is I’ve been chasing my dreams. I’ve been chasing my career. Athleticism. There’s all these different things. So I don’t really focus on dating. I just never really have.

So, anyways, I started dating someone. And I just remember being in the other room while he was, like, working on work stuff. And just really being, like, I might get, what kind of feelings am I having for this person? I really don’t want to fall. I don’t want to be vulnerable. I don’t want to let myself fall into this completely. Because I’m so. I’m scared of getting hurt. And this is probably why I’m chronically single, bro. Like, this is literally why. 

SG: No, I’m the same way. I’m the same way. I love having independence. So to not have that is, like, what? Like, it just. I completely understand. 

RL: Yeah. I don’t want to answer to anybody. Exactly. 

SG: My sister is the opposite. She’s been in long-term relationships since, like, high school. And she’s graduated from college. So, like, she’s just fine. But as for me, no. Like, I get it. Like, chasing your dreams and a career. It’s definitely that. That’s what’s important to you. Focus on that. Yeah. But did that moment, like, drive inspiration for the song? Like, you just realizing, like, I don’t want to be, like, dependent or attached on this person. 

RL: Yeah. Exactly. And so I just remember being in the other room, like, writing this song, like, low-key, singing it all quietly. And the way that it would make me feel alive, it kind of, like, shows my trauma a little bit to the way that I detached myself. When I wrote it, you know. Because I picked that. I picked that moment to be, like, do I really want to fall for this person or no? And the priority was no. You know, the idea was. There’s a line in the song. It’s like, he says, can I see you? And I say, sure. But most of me was, like, the whole entire time I was fighting it. The whole entire time I didn’t want it. And if I’m honest, like, it did not end well. And the rest of the album will talk about what happened with that. But most of the time I was trying to get out of it. Yeah. You know, most of the time I was trying not to fall. Yeah. And, you know, I think parts of me did. But I think a lot of ‑‑ I have abandonment issues. I have, you know, anxiety attachment styles and stuff.

I had a lot of things happen to me growing up that led me to really guard my heart. So even though that song – it’s funny. Someone a long time ago told me that I should work on writing happy, sad songs. You know? And I think that this one is that. It seems like it’s a happy song. But it’s actually really sad. It’s actually showing how scared I am to be vulnerable with somebody and how I don’t really trust. 

SG: Yeah. I guess, yeah, it does. The beat is so, like, uplifting that I don’t even realize, you know, like, oh, this song is, like, a very vulnerable piece of music. But I’m very happy you shared that. Because I was just so… I love learning the reasonings for songs. I love when artists, like, attach a story to it. So I really admire that. 

As you announce you have a new album coming up, any other messages to your fans that you want to share? 

RL: I’m just really excited to share my story and my journey. I think something that’s been really hard for me, like I said in this previous song, is being vulnerable. And it’s, like, I won’t be vulnerable to one person. But I will be vulnerable to my fans in the sense of, I want to share my stories of the different heartaches and heartbreaks I’ve had growing up, just from childhood to adulthood. Yeah. I want to share my story so that people know that there’s others that are experiencing what they’ve felt, too, and to articulate it.

I was talking to my friend last night and he was telling me, you know, you’re an emotional person. And I was, like, offended at first. But then I was, like, you know what? A lot of people are emotional. But I get to be that voice. I get to silence people that are not expressing how they’re feeling. So this album that’s coming up is actually going to be a two-part album. And it’s all about the series and stories that happened in my life and how I processed it. And just, you know, I want you to process with me. I want people to process with me. And I want them to know they’re not alone in what they’re experiencing. And I want to see that I’m not alone, either.

I want to see people resonate with it so that I know, yeah, I’m not the only one that went through this. I’m not crazy. I’m not alone. That’s ‑‑ I want to say that’s a good thing. 

SG: That’s a good goal to have. Just spread your message to people and hope they can cope, you know, like, cope with your music how you cope by writing music. I think that’s a really good balance to have for your family. So very, very nice. 

Any advice for other aspiring musicians in both Hawaii or just, you know, around the United States? 

RL: Yes. I would say don’t write music for anyone else. Like, yes, I know I’m saying I want to help people. But, like, remind yourself that it’s about sharing your story, your version of it, and your vision.

So turn off your mind. And as you’re writing songs, don’t think about what people would think about it. Don’t wonder about what people would think about what you would have to say. Just shed your inhibition and just put it out there. And if you’re struggling with writer’s block or you’re struggling, go somewhere beautiful. Go outside. I don’t even care. Grab your ukulele. Grab a piano. Grab whatever. I know you can take a portable piano. I’ve done it. And go be inspired somewhere. Go find something that inspires you and write. And I think most importantly, in any extreme emotion, whether that be sadness or happiness, use that. That is a superpower. If you can feel, if you feel extreme feelings, don’t think of it as something that’s negative.

It’s actually a superpower to be able to hone that in and make something beautiful out of it. 

SG: That is very sound advice, especially for other college students who aspire to be musicians. That’s very good for them to hear, you know, like take those emotions that you experience because college is a roller coaster. So it’s very important to take those emotions and turn them into art. And what I do like about like my generation specifically, they’re really good at that. But at the same time, like everybody can post what they want. So it’s very hard to pinpoint an artist or someone who’s just doing it for a profit. So, yeah. 

RL: Yeah, I think the genuine people, the genuine people will shine for me, like I believe in God and, you know, no hate on what everyone else’s feelings are or whatever. But for me, that’s where I just have faith in that feeling like I know that the gift that I’ve been given or what I’m good at, I believe that it’s part of my destiny. And if that’s your destiny, then it’ll happen for you, I think. And you just can’t give up and don’t let anyone know exactly. The people that are for profit, you just can’t let them bother you and don’t look at other people and compare or worry about it. That’s not going to help you in any way. I think it’ll be obvious if it’s your destiny or not. OK, well,

SG:  thank you so much for sitting down with me for this interview. I’ll keep you posted on when the article is online and everything, so you can share it to your fans. But thank you so much for taking your time today. Good radio. Enjoyed having this interview with you. 

RL: Oh, thank you so much. I appreciate you. I’ll let you know when I’m in Texas because I’m sure I’ll be headed out there either this year or next year. 

SG: Sounds good. Thank you!

RL: All right. Thank you. Aloha!