Polynesian recording artist George “Fiji” Veikoso is one of the most original and dynamic entertainers the Pacific Rim has produced who continues to be one of the most influential artists in contemporary Island Reggae music. Since leaving his Fijian island homeland and settling in Hawaii at the age of 14, Fiji’s golden voice and expansive musical repertoire have launched him onto the world stage as a pioneer of the Lost Coast Sound.

Welcome to Island Beat Studios!
Here, we’re all about crafting the vibrant, soulful rhythms that bring the islands to life. Whether you’re looking for smooth reggae vibes, tropical house beats, or island-inspired melodies, you’ve come to the right place.

At Island Beat Studios, we blend the heart of island culture with the pulse of modern music to create tracks that speak to the soul. From chill beats to dancefloor anthems, we’ve got the sounds you need to set the vibe.

Browse our tracks, follow our journey, and stay tuned for more fresh island beats coming your way. Let the rhythm move you.

Feel free to hit follow, drop a comment, and connect with us as we share the sounds of the islands with the world.

Stay vibing,
Island Beat Studios

 The story of UB40, and how this group of young friends from Birmingham transcended their working-class origins to become the world’s most successful reggae band is not the stuff of fairytales as might be imagined. The group’s led a charmed life in many respects it’s true, but it’s been a long haul since the days they’d meet up in the bars and clubs around Moseley, and some of them had to scrape by on less than £8 a week unemployment benefit. The choice was simple if you’d left school early. You could either work in one of the local factories, like Robin Campbell did, or scuffle along aimlessly whilst waiting for something else to happen.

By the summer of 1978, something else did happen, and the nucleus of UB40 began rehearsing in a local basement. Robin’s younger brother Ali, Earl Falconer, Brian Travers and James Brown all knew each other from Moseley School of Art, whilst Norman Hassan had been a friend of Ali’s since school. Initially, they thought of themselves as a "jazz-dub-reggae" band, but by the time Robin was persuaded to join and they’d recruited Michael Virtue and Astro – who’d learnt his craft with Birmingham sound-system Duke Alloy – the group had already aligned themselves to left-wing political ideals and forged their own identity, separate from the many punk and Two Tone outfits around at that time. The group had nailed their colours to the mast by naming themselves after an unemployment benefit form. Their political convictions hadn’t been gleaned second hand either, but cemented in place whilst attending marches protesting against the National Front, or rallies organised by Rock Against Racism.

By the time Chrissie Hynde invited them to tour with the Pretenders during the summer of 1980 and their debut single "King b/w Food For Thought" had sailed into the UK Top 5, all the essential elements of UB40 were already in place. Their line-up will remain unchanged for almost thirty years, and they will continue playing a mix of original material and inspired choice of reggae covers in a style that’s instantly accessible with its bright melodies and sweeping horn arrangements – one that’s allied to a formidable rhythm section, capable of holding its own with anything from Jamaica.

UB40’s first album was released the following September, on Graduate Records. Their deal allowed them more creative freedom than if they had signed with a major label. The cover artwork memorably duplicated an unemployment benefit card, with the title "Signing Off" rubber-stamped in red, but it was the music that quickly worked its way into the affections of a young, mainly student crowd with its knowing lyrics, solid reggae rhythms and dubby, instrumental passages, offset by warm horn solos and Jamaican style scatting. There was nothing else like it at the time. As a multi-cultural band from Birmingham, UB40 weren’t drawn into trying to sound "authentic," and there was considerably more depth to their music than that of many punk and 2Tone bands. "I’m a British subject, not proud of it, whilst I carry the burden of shame," they sang on one of the tracks. Accepting the truth of their own situation amidst a sea of other reggae songs proclaiming black heritage gave us a valuable insight into where UB40 were coming from. They were unafraid to stand up and be counted, and British audiences instinctively loved them for it. "Signing Off" duly went to No. 2 in the UK and stayed on the nation’s album charts for 72 weeks.

On September 2nd, 2013, UB40 released their latest album ‘Getting Over The Storm’ on Universal/Virgin Records.

Official #SOJA SoundCloud • New album 'Beauty in the Silence' Out Now!! Listen at http://www.sojamusic.com/

Daniel Rae Costello (17 June 1961 – 22 July 2019) was a Rotuman Fijian guitarist based in Samoa.

Costello recorded 30 albums. He was an accomplished songwriter, composer, arranger, audio engineer, vocalist, musician and producer in the Pacific region.

Akon is a Grammy-nominated Senegalese-American artist, producer, entrepreneur, and actor, known for his impact on the global music scene and the African music movement. His unique style blends Pop, R&B, Hip-Hop, and EDM, earning him a massive online following of over 130 million and worldwide sales of 35 million albums. With five Grammy nominations, 45 Billboard Hot 100 hits, four Diamond records, and more than 300 collaborations with legends like Michael Jackson, David Guetta, Gwen Stefani, Lil Wayne, and Eminem, Akon's influence is unmistakable. 

Akon's list of achievements include being the first artist in history to simultaneously hold the #1 and #2 song on the Billboard Hot 100 twice, a Billboard Music Award for "Artist of the Year. American Music Award for "Favorite R&B Male Artist,"and three World Music Awards. He holds a Guinness World Record as the top-selling artist for ringtones and is the first artist to achieve 1 Billion views on YouTube in history.

Recognized by Forbes in their Celebrity 100 list, Akon was also chosen by Pepsi to create the FIFA World Cup anthem, "Oh Africa." As the founder of the KONVICT empire, which includes labels and management companies, Akon launched superstars like T-Pain and Lady Gaga, generating over $2.5 billion in combined revenue for the music industry. 

Up next for the global hitmaker is the hotly anticipated anthem, “Akon’s Beautiful Day.” Radiating resilience and hope, the song’s message aligns with Akon’s broader mission to inspire millions through his work in Africa, where he champions access to energy and drives digital transformation with projects like 'Akon Power & Lighting Africa.' The track was recently teased on Akon’s Instagram, amassing 5.8M views and counting—further proving that his influence on the industry and his fans will endure for generations. 

Beyond music, Akon is dedicated to humanitarian work. His "Akon Lighting Africa" project has brought solar-powered electricity to 14 countries across Africa, improving the lives of millions.

𝙻𝚊𝚟𝚒𝚗𝚒𝚊 𝙿𝚛𝚒𝚖𝚘 is following