"Vacationer" written and recorded by Micah Garrido
Drums by Nico Bluffin 
Mixed by Alternatone Mixing Company

MODERN SOUNDS IN ISLAND AND POPULAR MUSIC out May 2016

LINKS:
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instagram: https://www.instagram.com/micahmanaitai/
youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4oMcnOc4o8
bandcamp: https://micahmanaitai.bandcamp.com/

lyrics:
grant me enough ignorance
to enjoy myself 
and how dare you call me out 
no, I don’t need your help
you know me, it take death and all
just to change my mind 
and even then, the status quo 
is just what I like   

cause I am just a vacationer 
fake for the photos and nothing more 
flash! and I’ll have instant authenticity 
culture in a collection 
that you can’t take away from me

but the beaches are decent
and the food’s alright 
but everyone speaks to me in 
stereotype
voila! violence 
colonial care is 
simply the finest
so I best just 
shut my mouth 
and close my divining eyelids

you can’t stay here forever
you can’t stay here forever

cause I am just a vacationer 
fake for the photos and nothing more 
flash! and I’ll have instant authenticity 
culture in a collection 
that you can’t take away from me
maybe I will assimilate  
take what I want just for safety’s sake 
and you better not get up in my way
or else I’ll say 
you’re the one who discriminates

Vacationer

featuring Danny Capparella on violin

Let's put on a play
Painted palm trees for the purlieu  
and water so clear 
you’ll hardly believe it’s blue 
And no we won't use real sand 
That’d irritate our sorry skin 
Our cares wash away 
like soft ocean waves 
and we’ll never think this was
too good to be true 
 
Let’s put on a play
We'll fold a fool’s gold city block 
With all the streetlights on 
so that we both feel safe 
entertain and converse, beginning to end 
if I tune out first who do I offend?
so come away
we’ll never say this was 
too good to be true 

Let’s put on a play 
I’ve brought all of me to you
with a smile so fair 
you’ll hardly believe I’m blue

Too Good To Be True

molokai’s simple spiral 
and orchid’s chorus 
kahili’s summer cycle 
and forgiving hibiscus  

centering 
setting breeze 
wash me clean 
for better things
sew me closed 
open cuts 
wet my clothes 
and then recede

make me forget the
desolate resonance
hurting still
nothing ever
happened since

molokai’s simple spiral 
is nothing in your absence 

Wash

audio sample recorded at Tagachang Beach in Yoña, Guam 
featuring strings arranged by Brandon Green 
Lainey Johnston and Daniel Waruingi on violin
Jesus Flores on viola
Justin Choi on cello

be there
be there
I can’t wait to be where
the tide doesn’t drown me 
the winds curl around me
perhaps you’ll be there 
be there
I hope to be where you are when the oceans calm 

say when 
say when 
what will you say when 
we both finally 
stand on the same side of the sea 
be there
be there 
I can’t wait to be where you are when the oceans calm 

so sing me beyond the waves
thought I’ll not know where to go 
and pray with me I don’t feel at home in high tide’s throw

Be There / High Tide

featuring Nico Bluffin on drums 

Well I been becoming more aware   
as I get older
Am I ritual residual 
to what end am I Al Caiola? 
and my hauli hair 
stifled back by the white in there 
appropriate dissociate and 
wash away self-hate with full disclosure

I swear my skin gets darker 
I swear I speak my mother tongue 
sa ti gof tungoc i tano’hu
and you don’t know just where I’m from 

you’re too late
you’ll never be like us
it’s okay
no need to remind us

I swear my skin gets darker 
I swear I speak my mother tongue 
sa ti gof tungoc i tano’hu 
and you don’t know just where I’m from 

Bleached

featuring Nico Bluffin on drums

all I need to feel in my hand 
all I need to feel in between my lungs 
lunging gasping grasp for holy breath  
I rest easy 
in the blessed untold 

if it exists, I am solemn unspoke 
nomenclature and omens pulled from my tongue 
and the holy smoke choking my only hopes 
slowly roped from my sorely throat   

if love does touch me
I’m dulled to its soothing lull 
laid still by the fatigue 
and the faint failed lowly  call
or catastrophic apathy’s consumed me whole 

Rezo

I thought I could do better on these songs so I re recorded them top to bottom and, idk I think they sound better.

Decolonize Me (B Side)

Låhi Amerikanu (A Side)

Inner Voices

She Calls Me The Moon

you’re sweet
sit you down, I’ll get you something to eat
caught you ayuyu’ and I raise it for weeks
want to be near, you bring the best out of me
so just stay here in the kitchen
and to show you love, I’ll listen, nene 

maila, kirida neni ya ta akuentusi
Sangani yu’ hafa un lili’e-
Sa’ kada biahi anggen gaige hao
Hunggan gaige i guinaiya
Pues nihi ta fan hita (ta fan hita neni)

mannge’ hao!
mannge’ hao!
I don’t know how you got into my life 
But it’s the best thing for me
mannge’ hao
gof mannge’ hao
i mås ya-hu na taotao hao, magåhet gui 

you’re sweet
I could kiss you from your head to your feet
me and your mama couldn’t be more pleased with you
cause your affection is our delicacy
so just let me hold you tightly 
and to show you love, I’ll sing good night, nene 

hunggan, hulo para papa’ bai chiku hao
Hafa un lili’e hu nanå’i hao-
Ya puedi ha’ mohon un diha siempre
Un lili’e hafa hu lili’e
Bai fanu’i hao nu guahu

written by Micah Manaitai & Andrew Gumataotao
with help from Daniel Cespedes

Micah Garrido - vox, ukulele, keys, electric guitar, bass
Rob Aragón - acoustic guitar
Jarren Heidelberg - drums
Mike Placencia - congas 
Ryan Wixen - trumpet

featuring the voices of Mike Garrido & Juan Estaquio Garrido
engineered by Micah Garrido, Felipe Navarro Delgadillo & Sammy Hinrichsen
mixed by Alternatone Mixing Company
mastered by Fluid Mastering

photos provided by Liz Borja Calvo
cover design Macarena Blando Demarco

micahmanaitai

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