While Pacific Records releases records targeting global music audiences in a diverse array of genres, the independent label has always proudly focused on creating a platform for San Diego-based artists and reaching San Diego music lovers. That’s why the imprint is excited that five of their artists received nominations in six distinct categories from the 34th San Diego Music Awards, which will take place on April 29 at Humphreys Concerts by the Bay.
Pacific Records artists garnered nominations in the Album of the Year, Best New Artist, Best Local Recording, Best Rock Artist, Best Pop Artist,and Best Pop Song categories. The label’s artists receiving nominations this year are Slack Key ‘Ohana, Kela Sako, The Tourmaliners, Jonny Tarr, and Sean Witkin. The Tourmaliners and Tarr each received a pair of nominations.
“I couldn’t be prouder of our Pacific Records artists and the music they released last year. Although our reach as a record company is worldwide, as a San Diego-based label, it’s important to us to nurture and develop the talented musicians right here in San Diego and create quality recordings for the people who live, work, and play here,” said Pacific Records CEO Brian Witkin, who founded the label in 2003.
Witkin’s band, Slack Key ‘Ohana, is nominated in the prestigious Album of the Year category for “Hawaiian Cowboy.” The multicultural collection blending Hawaiian island music and Americana country tunes produced by Chris Hobson features performances by four-time GRAMMY®-winning slack key guitar master George Kahumoku Jr., GRAMMY® nominee Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top, and four-time Nā Hōkū Hanohano (the Hawaiian GRAMMY® equivalent) award-winning ukulele player Brittni Paiva. Last year, the album’s “Nahenahe Ka Leo o Ka Wahine Uʻi” won the San Diego Music Award for Best World Music Song and the song’s video garnered a Nā Hōkū Awards nomination.
Nominated as Best New Artist, Sako released her debut EP, “Speed Bumps,” in December. The title track features the Pacific Records band Sandollar. A native of Hilo, Hawai’i, Sako is a uniquely captivating singer-songwriter who creates sonic alchemies from R&B, jazz, hip-hop, alternative rock, and Americana sounds. In addition to playing her own shows, she also performs and records as a member of Slack Key ‘Ohana.
Embodying the Pacific Records oceanic ties aka surf culture better than any artist on the label’s roster, The Tourmaliners received a Best Local Recording nomination for “Live & Alive,” a live set capturing the band’s exuberant concert performance. The outfit is also nominated as Best Rock Artist. The Tourmaliners, who received three San Diego Music Awards nominations in recent years, have been invited to perform at this year’s awards show.
Tarr received his nominations as a solo artist and as a featured artist. A Wales native who has bopped around California while crafting an eclectic mix of pop, electronic dance music, and jazz, Tarr is a Best Pop Artist contender, a trophy he won in 2020. A multidimensional musician, Tarr is a singer, saxophonist, guitarist, and keyboardist. In fact, it’s his sax that is featured on Best Pop Song nominee “TLD,” a throbbing electronic dance music dancefloor filler by Sean Witkin.
Sean Witkin is a rock/pop drummer who plays in Slack Key ‘Ohana with his ‘ohana – Hawaiian for family – brother Brian, mother Carol Witkin, and father Joe Witkin, the latter who played Woodstock as a member of Sha Na Na. On his own recordings, Sean Witkin brazenly experiments with EDM beats and grooves as heard on the energizing “TLD.”
Fans have a say in who will win a 2025 San Diego Music Award. Voting is open to the public from anywhere around the world. Fans can vote once a day at https://dosd.com/p/sandiegomusicawards.
For more information about Pacific Records, please visit https://pacificrecords.com.
