Carand Burnet — Guitar

Ian DeCelli — Bass

Evan Farinholt — Drums

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Kioea (pronounced key-o-e-ah) is an instrumental band based in Maine and the New Hampshire Seacoast Region.  Founded in 2019 by bandleader and guitarist Carand Burnet (pronounced care-and burn-it), Kioea is supported by Ian DeCelli on bass and Evan Farinholt on drums.  The trio blends surf rock, psychedelic music, and global influences to craft expansive instrumentals.  Kioea’s debut EP and forthcoming album, Stand Tall, have been featured as “New & Notable” releases by Bandcamp.  They have performed at 3S Artspace, The Music Hall in Portsmouth, NH, The Thing in the Spring Music Festival in Keene, NH, and have been featured on WMUR’s Summer Concert Series.

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“Dazzling guitar work forms the centerpiece of the new EP from Kioea, featuring exploratory songs that hold a tight grip.”

– J. Edward Keyes, Bandcamp

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Press

Album Review: Maine’s Kioea — Reviving the Sound of Surf Guitar / The Arts Fuse

Kioea :: S/T / Aquarium Drunkard

Kioea – “Black Sand Beach”

Kioea brings its psychedelic surf rock to Loading Dock Series at 3S

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Expanded Bio

Founded in 2019 by electric guitarist Carand Burnet (she/her), Kioea is named after an extinct Hawaiian bird whose name means “Stand Tall.” Kioea (pronounced key-o-e-ah) blends surf rock with characteristics of psychedelia and global influences. Kioea is supported by Ian DeCelli on bass and Evan Farinholt on drums. The trio’s performances feature complex guitar solos combined with surf rock’s energetic speed. Kioea has performed at venues, including The Music Hall in Portsmouth, NH, 3S Artspace, and was featured on WMUR’s Summer Concert Series. Kioea’s debut EP was released in May 2022.

Burnet’s artistic practice begins when she records guitar chords into a loop pedal or cassette machine and makes a backing track. Burnet plays the track and overlays notes. Her goal is to create a guitar melody acting like the voice singing each song. When satisfied with the structure, Burnet brings the composition to her band members. Together they work out the dynamics and groove.

Burnet hopes that her music can empower other musicians coming from non-traditional backgrounds. A 2018 study by Fender shows that half of the new guitar purchases are by women, yet women in music remain underrepresented. On the 2021 Billboard 100, 23% of musicians were women, and 3% were producers (USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative). Women and nonconforming musicians account for less than 25% of songs streamed online (Playlisting Favorites: Is Spotify Gender-Biased? Study).

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Music Releases

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Upcoming Performances