Carla Fontanilla

Multi-Instrumentalist, Educator, Singer, Songwriter.

 

Carla Fontanilla hails from Hawaii, the Ukulele State, where at age four she started playing ukulele with her Dad while listening to his favorite Hawaiian and Jazz record albums. He encouraged her to take in what she heard and develop her own stylings so he’d “know it’s you playing.” This inspired Carla’s lifelong exploration of countless songs, artists, genres, instruments and techniques to continually evolve her musical expression on guitar, ukulele and vocals with her bands, Kua’aina and SoLunAire, and as a solo artist.

 

In her ongoing life’s journey through music, Carla has also embraced playing Blues, Rock, Pop, Reggae, Americana, Neo-Soul, mostly Old Country & Alt-Anything (just to be ornery) on her ukuleles and guitars.

 

Carla devotes herself to helping ukulele players develop their musical skills through weekly online ukulele workshops for the Asian Community Center (ACC) and a monthly Jazz & Blues Uke workshop for The Strum Shop. Besides providing private ukulele and guitar lessons, Carla continually partners and collaborates with composers, singers, musicians, poets, Hawaiian Hula and Tahitian dance groups for performances, productions, community events, studio recording and videos.

 

Whether it’s performing, workshopping, teaching, noodling or jamming (her fave), for Carla it’s all about sharing God’s gift of music with everyone!