LaniGrooves aka Iwalani Venerable is an American Songwriter in the fullest meaning of the phrase. She pulls together different traditions and styles to create her own unique blend of funky indie rock, rhythm & blues, hip hop and rap. I have seen Lani play with as many as 9 players jamming out. In the studio on October 12, she had with her her regular drummer the understated class act Evan Bayless and the quiet and unassuming bass player Manny “Manteka” San Gabriel. Rafielo Baez played hand percussion and Von “Skywalka” Collins joined Lani on vocals in “No Other Life.” Lani lays down a fine patina over all of her songs — a relaxed groove that remains; even in the most challenging themes and lyrics, there’s an open invitation to unwind in her world.

Lani sang 5 songs, Lonely Girl, When I Wake Up, How Long, No Other Life, and Eagle Eye. There’s a recurring theme in her songs: finding the courage to come out of hiding and go for the life you are destined to live. Her poetry and her music trace her own journey so it’s at once personal and universal. Every one of the songs she sang had a rap breakout in the bridge where her strong foundation of poetry just poured out.

Lani says she was deeply influenced by Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes. Comparing the two, however, the influence is primarily in the range of tools they both use for artistic expression and a broader vision of their relationship to life. Lani was a poet first and it’s clear Left Eye’s rap resonated with her.

In several of Lani’s songs like How Long and Eagle Eye, her chord progressions combined with the quiet but insistent rock beat, her syncopated melodies and her poetic lyrics, remind me of what I really love about Patti Smith. Patti was a poet first and coming at music from that direction creates an entirely different vibe. And maybe that’s the source of Lani’s unique sound that resonates for me.

She has chosen great back-up players. They are solid, and it’s obvious that Evan is an accomplished drummer. He matched Lani, phrase and mood, with great sensitivity. Very controlled with great subtlety. Similarly with Manny a good match, locking in easily with Evan and keeping the song rooted, but not a lot of showmanship. The opposite really. And Rafielo the same as well, quietly matching the song with a variety of hand percussion focusing primarily on the conga. Her work with Von was complimentary as well. He rapped the bridge on No Other Life and did some nice call and response with Lani.

Spending anytime with Lani, you come away with the impression that she is a beautiful person inside and out and that she is not done by any means. Check her myspace page and also catch her on blip and our myspace page.