Southern California reggae band Fortunate Youth is starting 2025 strong with the release of their vibrant new single, “CA Vibes.”
The track is more than just a celebration of West Coast living—it’s a love letter to the band’s extended musical family, the reggae festival scene, and the collaborative spirit that fuels their creativity.
In an exclusive interview with The Pier, frontman Dan Kelly and multi-instrumentalist Corey Draskovich opened up about the energy behind “CA Vibes,” the band’s creative process, and what’s coming next. “CA Vibes,” or “CA Vibes,” takes its name from the beloved Long Beach festival of the same name. But the meaning behind the track goes deeper than any one event. As Dan puts it:
When I first heard the music Corey brought, I was like, “Dude, this is a vibe.” We were vibing in his garage. It felt like a festival. For us, the closest festival is right down the street in Long Beach—Cali Vibes. But the song goes deeper than that. It’s about the vibes: festival vibes, friendship vibes, band vibes. Being in a band in this genre, we get to experience these good vibes and connections. That’s what makes it special.
It’s not just about the sound of a festival—it’s about what festivals represent for the band: unity, familiarity, and good vibes. That sense of collaboration isn’t just internal—it reflects the larger reggae scene, which the band holds close to heart. Corey adds,
“I think the song really captures the community we see and interact with at festivals—fans, other bands, staff. In this scene, there’s just a great sense of community. Dan did a great job of expressing that in the lyrics. It makes us feel at home—what California has always meant to us.”
For Dan, the connection extends beyond the music and into the heart of a community that’s always welcomed them.
“It’s cool to be in a band in this genre that gets to go and experience these vibes because the bands themselves make the vibes. It’s cool to hang out with half the bands.”
At the heart of “CA Vibes” is collaboration—something that Fortunate Youth has always prioritized in their work. It’s a fluid, ego-free process where everyone gets a chance to shine—and that’s part of what makes their music feel so alive.
“The way we make music is just kind of like that. Like, it’s such a collaborative effort from all of us. You know, we’re lucky enough to have all of us play multiple instruments. We got Travis, our percussionist playing bass. We got my brother, Jared playing keyboards. Greg’s crushing the guitar. Our drummer Rev is in the pocket always. And then we got our good horn players, John and Brian,” said Corey. “It’s cool to know that we can work on a song together and let everyone kind of do their thing and just end up with something that we all just love and agree and feel good about.”
That message of connection is something that clearly resonates with fans and fellow artists alike. The reggae genre, more than most, is built on mutual support and love.
“It’s memories. It’s good times that you have. You meet so many new people and those new people become friends and then here comes you know, traditions and time, you know, like if you’ve ever gone camping, you know, or on a cruise ship, you get to know your neighbor,” says Dan. “It gives you that home feeling from seeing that familiar face, that smile, that greeting from a friend you maybe haven’t seen for nine months or a year, but it felt like you saw them yesterday.”
With “CA Vibes” setting the tone for the year, Fortunate Youth is already mapping out their next moves—starting with a round of spring shows in Texas and California.
“We got a few dates in Texas coming up next week,” Corey shares. “And then we actually have some California dates. We’ll be in San Luis Obispo on, I believe, the seventeenth. The eighteenth, we’re in Brentwood. The nineteenth, we’re up at, I think, Felton Music Hall. And then the twentieth, we’re going back to a venue that we all love and haven’t played since we were way younger.”
The band is also hinting at more to come later this year, including festivals and a possible headlining tour.
“We got a handful of festivals we’re doing,” says Corey. “And then I think we’re gearing up… I think we’ve got a headline tour that we’re working in towards the end of summer, early August, late September, beginning of September.”
“CA Vibes” is only the beginning. Fortunate Youth have more new music on the horizon. When asked if fans can expect a new album, the band played it coy—but gave just enough to stir anticipation.
“Yeah, I mean, I mean, yeah, let’s say, yeah, we got a bunch of new music and, you know, it’s on the plan to do so. I don’t know how much information we’re supposed to divulge in this particular area,” Corey teases, “but ‘CA Vibes’ is just the start, let’s say that.”
Dan chimes in, “We got secrets. We got secrets. Stay tuned.”
As Fortunate Youth prepares to unleash more music in 2025, “CA Vibes” stands as a testament to the band’s roots—deeply planted in community, collaboration, and the unshakable bond of shared experience. For fans old and new, it’s a reminder that the reggae family is still going strong—and Fortunate Youth is right at the heart of it.
