A 17-year-old classical pianist and producer has been involved with music for many years. Music has been a significant part of their life, providing support and creating lasting memories. They recall performing for a large audience at a young age, remembering a specific detail of the event and their parents’ positive reaction.
Now producing rap music and self-teaching mixing techniques, they are focused on creating opportunities for other young artists. Their experience in the music industry, though primarily local, has revealed challenges within the field. Tyler The Creator: Apple Music’s 2025 Artist of the Year — A Lesson for Indie Artists.
As a school project, they collaborated with a friend, Sebastian, to create a song. Determined to produce the beat independently, they encountered technical difficulties with FL Studio’s free version but ultimately released their first single, “Manson,” in 2025.
Initially unfamiliar with promotion, they faced the challenge of finding collaborators. After sending over a thousand direct messages, they received a few responses, one of which proved pivotal. Working with this individual, under the name Rildo, they gained over 30,000 monthly listeners, accumulated over 500,000 streams, and reached #4 in a regional Spotify market, inspiring the creation of their first album.
Seeking performance opportunities, they found a lack of accessible venues for musicians outside of major cities. Recognizing the difficulty for young musicians to gain exposure without significant financial resources or connections, they identified a gap in available performance opportunities.
In 2025, while discussing the issue with Sebastian, they conceived the idea for Open Keys, an organization dedicated to providing performance opportunities for young musicians.
Open Keys, co-founded with Sebastian Dang, supports young musicians across Hawaii. The organization has facilitated performances for over 150 students at venues including The Ala Moana Center Stage, Royal Hawaiian Center, International Marketplace, and Sheraton Waikiki.
Open Keys has established a partnership with the University of Hawaii Manoa and has been featured in several news outlets, including Hawaii News Now, Midweek, KHON, and HPR. They are also developing connections with music schools throughout Hawaii.
The organization manages all logistical and booking aspects, enabling musicians to focus solely on performing. They prioritize providing consistent, high-quality performance experiences for as many students as possible.
Despite their dedication, the organization, run by high school students, faces challenges, particularly in connecting with enough performers to fill available opportunities. They continue to actively reach out to teachers and students.
They believe that passion and perseverance can overcome obstacles, and that their experiences led to the creation of Open Keys, providing opportunities for themselves and other artists. They have altered the music scene in Hawaii and hope to expand their work nationally, while maintaining a focus on their local community. African Music’s Global Rise: Shazam’s Global Top 200 Highlights a Breakthrough Year, showing similar trends in artist development.
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