artist / producer / vibe

https://lostboyjay.komi.io/

Two decades. They've gone by in a blur, filled with soundchecks, encores, album releases, and sold-out shows stretching from the California coastline to the UK mainland. Along the way, Pepper has sharpened its own "Kona dub-rock" sound — a blend of reggae, alternative rock, island rhythms, and punky spirit — while al-so building a community of fans and likeminded bands.

That communal spirit runs throughout the band's eighth studio album, Local Mo-tion. After sharing shows for years with their heroes and peers, Pepper's three members — vocalist/guitarist Kaleo Wassman, vocalist/bassist Bret Bollinger, and drummer Yesod Williams — are no longer merely artists; they're ambassa-dors of a scene, bringing people together under an umbrella of positive-minded music and collaboration. Appropriately, they share the spotlight with some of their longtime friends on Local Motion, whose songs feature appearances by Stick Fig-ure, E.N Young, Micah Brown, Iration, The Green, Tribal Seeds, and Reel Big Fish's Billy Kottage. A celebration of artistic synergy, brotherhood, and modern reggae music, Local Motion is Pepper's most collaborative record to date, shining a light not only upon the three bandmates themselves, but also upon the wide community they've helped build. 

"We're part of a community of bands who have the same mindset," says Wassman. "They're our peers. They're our friends. We all exist on the same plane, and that's why we called this album Local Motion, because this is our local scene. It's where we fit in."

Before Pepper began building a community in its adopted hometown of Southern California, the group held its very first rehearsal in 1997 in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. All three members were natives of the Big Island, and together, they made a sound that nodded to their tropical roots while also moving forward into new territory. After earning a local fanbase in Hawaii, they moved to the mainland, where Pepper quickly became a popular live act. Pepper's diverse music allowed the group to tour the country with a wide variety of bands, including reggae icons (The Wailers), punk bands (Pennywise), reggae-rockers (311, Slightly Stoopid), and hip-hop leg-ends (Snoop Dogg). Meanwhile, the band's admiration for DIY-minded groups like NOFX inspired Pepper to launch its own label, LAW Records, which gave the trio complete control over its own music. It also allowed the band to sign other acts, which expanded Pepper's circle even further. 

"When we moved to California, we were playing small clubs," remembers Bol-linger, who now plays outdoor amphitheaters, indoor theaters, festivals, and other high-capacity venues with his bandmates. "We felt like we were one of the only bands carrying the flag for this genre in America. These days, it's different. We're seeing some real movement within the reggae scene. This sound has become an established part of American music, and we're grateful for the other bands who are flying the flag, too. Everything is connecting. The energy is right. Incorporating those bands into our new record was the perfect alignment of where we need to be."

"In a world of social chaos," adds Yes Williams, "we wanted a ‘return to commu-nity,' that community being the reggae-rock community. We continue to flourish and grow due to the synergy of likeminded bands and fans. Without each other, we are nothing, fom where the music comes from to where it goes. This record is fil-tered through the community, a true Local Motion that we are lucky enough to be a part of."

I'm a 9 year old DJ from the NJ/NY area and not only am I a creative monster I'm a straight A student!

🎶📣 "Endless Summer (Deluxe)" Out Now: https://ineffable.to/endlesssummerdeluxe

#theelovaters #elovatersMIA #theelovatersMIA #newmusic

DEFY DUB is the dub version of The Elovaters' 2018 album DEFY GRAVITY, which debuted at #1 in the Billboard Reggae chart and marked the beginning of an incredible rise in the American reggae scene. DEFY DUB features dub mixes from Johnny Cosmic featuring Kbong, Gaudi (Steel Pulse, Lee "Scratch" Perry), E.N Young, Dub Fader (10 ft. Ganja Plant), and Victor Rice. Enjoy DEFY DUB with headphones and immerse yourself in a sonic landscape of enchanting vocals in outer space. 

The Elovaters DOUBLE VISION EP, released May 29, 2020, is their second collaboration with A-list producer Danny Kalb and the followup to their 2018 album, Defy Gravity (Rootfire Cooperative) which debuted at #1 in the Billboard Reggae chart and was voted people’s choice Album Of The Year by Surf Roots TV & Radio. The new EP Double Vision features guest collaborations from some of the band’s heroes, Bret Bollinger of Pepper, Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad, Daniel DeLacruz and Andy Geib (Slightly Stoopid), and Billy Kottage (The Interrupters, Reel Big Fish). 

This five-song collection is a taste of the band’s burgeoning sound which showcases the soaring voice of singer/songwriter Jackson Wetherbee, along with John Alves (lead guitar), Nick Asta (drums), Matt Link (bass), Derrick Cabral (percussion), and Greg Nectow (keys). Recorded at The Noise Floor (Dover, NH) the EP introduces hints of R&B in songs like “Nostalgia,” warm harmonies in “Won’t Be The Last Time,” and a fan favorite called “Poison Cup,” which the band has performed for years but never recorded. The first single “Fast And Slow” was released in March 2020 and quickly added to regular rotation on SiriusXM’s No Shoes Radio, curated by country music star Kenny Chesney.

One of the fastest-growing bands in the American reggae scene, 2018 and 2019 saw The Elovaters perform at marquee events such as Cali Roots, Levitate Music Festival, Reggae Rise Up Florida and Utah, One Love Cali Reggae Fest. Their hometown shows in Boston have sold out months in advance and they’ve sold out club shows in San Diego, Phoenix, Denver, Orlando and more. Their song “Boston” was played during the Red Sox World Series Parade, and “People Go” was featured in CBS’s Hawaii Five-0.

User 807400869 is following