Ukulele, known for relaxing music and as a background accompaniment to a vocalist. Well, no one told this to the amazingly talented teen duo Honoka and Azita, aged 18 and 16 respectively. The Hawaiian duo shredded it up on surf rock classic “Misirlou” in a powerhouse 8.1 million view jam that showed off that you can do anything on uke if you have the talent. Both girls traded lead parts which would leave most guitar heroes in the dust. And the adorable smiles and joyful vibes of their performance made netizens smile.
Azita kicked off the performance with a classy cut of that opening iconic melody while Honoka added a beat on her uke. Azita played a series of blazing lead licks until 1:44, when Honoka began her solo. Both girls have really mastered dynamics and groove, and really bring their own feel to the piece, which makes their jam super satisfying to listen to. The Music Man has to say their chemistry goes beyond the musical, as they really make their duo act entertaining to watch—all while having so much fun.
Honoka and Azita’s duet was captured by Hawaiian production duo HI*Sessions, and it became one of the most popular performances on their YouTube channel. The duo’s energy made a real impression on viewers, who added comments such as “That yanked some water out of my eyes. Mind-blowing!” and “When you look at them it seems like it is so fun, so easy and effortless. Then you grab your uke….”
The talented teens have also scored a number of viral videos on their own channel, Honoka & Azita. Honoka is a keen surfer, so it’s no surprise that a number of their jams feature surf classics. One of their most popular videos features their high-energy cut of “Wipeout.” The performance was captured when Honoka and Azita were just 16 and 14. Their performances are just so much fun – it’s a real joy to watch their passion for playing.
Honoka and Azita were a ukulele duo from Honolulu, Hawaii. Honoka and Azita were born in 1998 and 2000 respectively, and were both students of Jody Kamisato, who subsequently managed the duo. Honoka and Azita were active from 2013 to 2019. Honoka announced their split via a video on their YouTube channel in February 2019, explaining that Azita left the group to pursue medical school. The Music Man readers might be interested to hear that Honoka has continued her musical career as a solo artist. She regularly uploads her original music and covers via her solo YouTube channel, @HonokaKatayama.