Lance Takamiya

Born and raised in Hawaiʻi, Lance Takamiya is a guitarist and instrumental composer whose music is rooted in slack key tradition and shaped by a deep respect for space, tone, and emotional restraint. His compositions are created as quiet companions — music meant to breathe, to settle the nervous system, and to offer warmth without demand. Drawing from Hawaiian slack key, classical guitar foundations, and a lifelong connection to island landscapes, his sound favors clarity over complexity and stillness over excess. Each piece unfolds patiently, inviting calm reflection and allowing silence to play an equal role. Lance’s music is often chosen for unwinding, early mornings, evening transitions, and spaces where peace matters. Rather than telling a story with words, his guitar speaks through subtle phrasing, gentle bass movement, and emotional balance. Inspired early on by Keola & Kapono Beamer and James Taylor, Lance was mentored in Hawaiian slack key by Ozzie Kotani and studied classical guitar fundamentals under José Ortega. He taught Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar for 15 years through the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Outreach College. His latest release, “Every New Day,” returns to a more melodic style — gently restrained, calm and uplifting. I wanted it to feel like a quiet reminder that each new day brings a little space to begin again — to slow down, reset, and simply enjoy the moment. Warmest Aloha, Lance