August brought some serious heat to the American reggae scene, with new tracks that blend those classic vibes with a fresh, California twist.
The latest releases are all about laid-back rhythms and real talk, perfect for kicking back or cruising down the coast. If you’re into reggae with a little edge, these tunes are definitely worth a listen. Here’s a look at the tracks that have been turning heads this month.
The Elovaters w/ The Black Seeds – ‘Roll Up’ (Single)
Massachusetts reggae-rock/alternative/alt-pop rising stars The Elovaters team up with New Zealand’s own The Black Seeds for this new version of their song ‘Roll Up‘. The song was a fan favorite of their latest album ‘Endless Summer’, and here they’ve reworked it for a new release ahead of their November tour in Australia and New Zealand with The Original Wailers. They just ended a run with Dirty Heads and Slightly Stoopid on their 24-date amphitheater summer tour, which started on July 11th, and will follow this up with their own 17 date headlining tour starting on October 3rd, followed by their Australia & New Zealand tour with The Original Wailers in November.
Shwayze w/ Common Kings & Kes – ‘West Coast’ (Single)
Malibu alternative/indie pop/alt-rap sensation Shwayze (known best for hit songs ‘Corona & Lime‘ and ‘Buzzin’) teams up with Polynesian reggae heavyweights Common Kings and Trinidad & Tobago’s premier artist Kes for this pop smash ‘West Coast’. This is the fifth single from Shwayze off his upcoming album ‘Shwaycation’, dropping September 13th on Ineffable Records. Over the last year Shwayze has dove headfirst into his acting career, landing recurring roles on the shows Abbot Elementary and Lincoln Lawyer. He’ll be taking off for the 21-date headlining Permanent Shwaycation Tour starting in October in promotion of the album.
Johnny Cosmic – ‘What A Trip’ (Album)
Johnny Cosmic, who rose to prominence in his role working with Stick Figure on production and performing in the live band, for which he is still a member, delivers his new reggae infused album ‘What A Trip’. The album includes features from Collie Buddz, The Movement, The Elovaters, Shwayze, Surfer Girl, KBong, and KnowledgeBorn07. Johnny Cosmic recently wrapped up a tour supporting The Movement along as part of the duo KBong & Johnny Cosmic, and in October the pair will be taking off for a 14 date headlining tour.
Hector Roots Lewis – ‘Peace of Mind’ (Single)
Jamaican artist Hector Roots Lewis delivers this feel good / conscious modern roots reggae song ‘Peace of Mind’, produced by Johnny Cosmic (Stick Figure, SOJA, The Movement). Hector is well known amongst Chronixx fans, as he is a star player in Chronixx’s backing band Zinfence Redemption. With Chronixx, Hector has performed in front of 70,000+ person crowds worldwide. Hector has also been touring as the lead singer of Tribal Seeds for the past two years, while their previous lead singer is on rest. In addition, he recently landed his first role in a feature film, gaining lots of recognition for the role of Carlton “Carly” Barrett, longtime drummer for Bob Marley and the Wailers, in the One Love movie.
Unified Highway w/ The Grouch & Eligh – ‘The Curse’ (Single)
American reggae / electronic fusion group Unified Highway (lead singer Eric Rachmany of Rebelution, producer Amp Live formerly of Zion I) team up with The Grouch & Eligh (of the legendary hip-hop group Living Legends) to deliver their new single ‘The Curse’. An alternative hip-hop track infused with reggae, electronic, and indie pop influences. They previously released their double single ‘Pay No Mind / Taking My Time’, which was a joint release with American reggae heavyweights Rebelution, as well as their cover of Cake’s ‘Never There’.
Fia – ‘Never Give Up’ (Album)
One of Hawaii’s fastest rising reggae stars, Fia, delivers his debut album ‘Never Give Up’. The island reggae driven album blends together influences from dancehall, pop, and R&B, and includes features from The Green, Chante, and Mahkess. He’ll be supporting Common Kings on their tour starting in October.