“Understanding the order of time is important to anyone hoping to manifest a dream,” says Valerie June. “There is a time to push, and a time to gently tend the garden.”

Since the release of her 2013 breakout Pushin’ Against A Stone, June has been patiently at work in the garden of song, nurturing seedlings with love and care into the lush bloom that is her stunning new album, The Order Of Time. Some songs grew from seeds planted more than a decade ago, others blossomed overnight when she least expected them to, but every track bears the influence of time. See, time has been on June’s mind a lot lately. It’s the only constant in life, even though it’s constantly changing. It’s the healer of all wounds, the killer of all men. It’s at once infinite and finite, ever flowing with twists and turns and brutal, churning rapids that give way to serene stretches of placid tranquility. Fight against the current and it will knock you flat on your ass. Learn to read it, to speak its language, and it will carry you exactly where you’re meant to be.

OKeh short history: 

OKeh was founded by Otto K. E. Heinemann when he set up his own recording studio and gramophone record pressing plant in New York City in September 1918. Heinemann formed the name of the record label "OKeh", from his initials.  OKeh began by issuing popular songs, dance numbers, and vaudeville skits similar to the fare of other labels, but Heineman also wished to experiment with music for audiences neglected by the larger record companies. OKeh produced lines of recordings in German, Czech, Polish, Swedish, and Yiddish for the USA's immigrant communities. In 1920, Ralph Peer's recordings by African-American blues singer Mamie Smith were a surprise smash hit for Okeh. The company perceived the significant, little-tapped market for blues and jazz by African American artists. Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington and Bix Beiderbecke are only a few names of jazz greats that have recorded for the label. By 1926 Columbia Records bought the label and kept it running into the 60's with jazz and R&B recordings. 

In 1994, Sony Music reactivated the OKeh label as a new-age Blues label. Okeh's first new signings included Keb' Mo, Popa Chubby, and Little Axe. By 2000, the Okeh label was again retired, but in 2013 it will see its re-launch as a jazz label once again.

Yo, this is Symbolic Records — the first-ever record label to officially hit the scene in the Maldives. We started back in 2013, built from nothing but raw passion, hard work, and a dream to put Maldivian hip-hop on the map.

When we kicked off, hip-hop and rap were our core — and they still run deep in everything we do. But over the years, we’ve grown beyond that. We’ve evolved, opened up to other genres, and kept pushing original sounds while staying true to that real street energy that defines us.

From day one, we’ve been about original music and local talent. We don’t follow trends — we set them. Every beat, every bar, every track we drop is about representing who we are and where we come from.

Over the past 12 years, we’ve fought through every challenge to build something real — a foundation for a true music industry in the Maldives. By October 2025, we’ve released 11 albums, 3 EPs, over 60 singles, and produced 40+ music videos — each one a piece of our story.

Our current roster is stacked with talent: Pest, Bey, Edil, Maatu, Rydey, Limits, Toy, Zya, Panda, Naiden, Nallu, Haisham Naseer, and Ayya — backed by powerhouse producers Sanchu, Reaper, Demon, and Hpt.

We also got our inactive artists, who’ve all played a part in shaping what Symbolic is today: Ledow, Prhyme, Jahulu, Arey, Emp, Teddy, and Fatestep.

Our former artists — Tro, Zips, Shifu, and Bullet — were part of the grind at different stages. Not every story ends the same, but every chapter helped shape who we are today.

Most importantly, we carry the legacy of our fallen brother, rambustaninmymind (d. 24.03.2018) — his spirit still echoes in every track we make. Rest in power.

Symbolic Records has collaborated with a wide range of artists — from mainstream acts to street rappers and even traditional music groups — breaking barriers and bringing cultures together through music.

Symbolic ain’t just a label — it’s a movement. We live and breathe this culture, repping the grind, the art, and the identity.

In just 12 years, we’ve built a loyal army of fans — the Rathaa Kalhuge Lashkaru — thousands of real ones who’ve stood with us since day one. Together, we’ve built the largest organic following in the Maldives — no shortcuts, no gimmicks, just pure energy and love for the culture.

We’re Symbolic Records — born from the streets, built for the culture, and still just getting started.

ORIGINALLY FROM AUSTRALIA’S MORNINGTON PENINSULA, TONES AND I JOURNEYED TO BYRON BAY IN EARLY 2018 TO TAKE A CHANCE AT BUSKING. ON THE FIRST DAY SHE HAD CROWDS SPILLING ONTO THE STREET. TONES QUIT HER RETAIL JOB AND DECIDED TO MAKE BYRON HER NEW HOME WHERE SHE LIVED OUT OF HER VAN FOR THE YEAR.

TONES IS HAVING A MASSIVE BREAKOUT YEAR THAT STARTED WITH HER DEBUT SINGLE ‘JOHNNY RUN AWAY’ RELEASING IN MARCH. WITH SUPPORT FROM TRIPLE J UNEARTHED AND UNPRECEDENTED BUZZ FROM TRIPLE J, IT WAS NUMBER ONE MOST PLAYED FOR 2 WEEKS STRAIGHT. SHORTLY AFTER IT WAS PICKED UP BY RADIO STATIONS AROUND THE WORLD, ACHIEVED ARIA CERTIFIED PLATINUM STATUS AND CLIMBED TO #12 ON THE ARIA SINGLES CHART.

THE SECOND RELEASE 'DANCE MONKEY' WAS A HUGE FOLLOW UP RECEIVING HIGH ROTATION ON TRIPLE J, RECEIVING OVER 65 MILLION STREAMS A MONTH, #1 ON THE ARIA SINGLES CHART FOR 3X WEEKS, #1 ON SHAZAM, SPOTIFY, APPLE MUSIC CHARTS AND HAS HIT ARIA CERTIFIED PLATINUM STATUS. COLLECTIVELY BOTH SINGLES HAVE RACKED UP TENS OF MILLIONS OF STREAMS AND ARE GETTING OVER 3 MILLION STREAMS A DAY. RECENTLY TONES BROKE RECORDS FOR THE BIGGEST CROWD OF AN OPENING ACT EVER AT SPLENDOUR IN THE GRASS WITH 20,000 PUNTERS COMING TO WATCH HER MIDDAY SET. TONES’ EP TOUR SOLD OUT IN DAYS AND SHE IS TAKING HER LIVE PERFORMANCE GLOBAL WITH A UK/EU TOUR ANNOUNCED FOR NOVEMBER WITH LONDON ALREADY SOLD OUT.

TONES AND I RECENTLY DROPPED HER THIRD SINGLE FOR THE YEAR, ‘NEVER SEEN THE RAIN’, WITH A WORLD PREMIERE ON TRIPLE J GAINING RAVED REVIEWS. THE SONG HIGHLIGHTS HER HUGELY IMPRESSIVE VOCAL ABILITY AND UNIQUE TALENT FOR SONGWRITING.

TONES AND I’S DEBUT EP ‘THE KIDS ARE COMING’ IS AVAILABLE NOW WORLDWIDE.

Management & bookings:
Mônica
+55 11 99934-2775
monicasimoescom@gmail.com

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