Common Kings | |
|---|---|
 Common Kings performing in Boston in 2022 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Orange County, California, United States |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 2011–present |
| Labels |
|
| Members |
|
| Website | commonkings |
Common Kings are an American, Hawaiian, and Samoan reggae rock/pop band from Orange County, California. The band's debut album, Lost in Paradise, was nominated for a Grammy Award.
Born in the South Pacific and raised in Orange County, California the members of Common Kings which consists of 'Jr. King' (Sasualei Maliga) on lead vocals, 'Mata' (Taumata Grey) on guitar, 'Uncle Lui' (Ivan Kirimaua) on bass, and 'Big Rome' (Jerome Taito) on drums, formed after forging a bond from a jam session at Ivan's house. [1]
Originally from Hawaii with Samoan roots, Sasualei Maliga, who has a three-octave range voice, met drummer Jerome Taito (from Tonga), bassist Ivan Kirimaua (from Fiji/Kirimaua) and guitarist Taumata Grey (from Samoa) when they were growing up in the Orange County towns of Costa Mesa, Garden Grove, and Irvine, all through a close-knit O.C. Pacific-Islander community. The four met in 2002 during a barbecue at Kirimaua's beachfront house in Newport Beach, California.
They formed the band while studying at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, California, and began recording songs in 2011.
The band name pays tribute to their proud heritage and the love for their home lands of Fiji, Hawaii, Samoa, and Tonga where their ancestry comes from royalty. So all members have ruling-class bloodlines. [2] But they remind us that they're just "everyday guys" from Orange County, California living out their humble dreams. Common Kings developed a style of reggae with hints of rock and an island sound. Their songs feature an array of "head-rocking beats, feel good vibes, and emotional fever." [3]
After releasing two EPs in 2013; #Weontour Soundtrack on July 20 and Summer Anthems on August 13 (both of which were top ten hits on the Billboard Reggae Albums chart), [1] [4] [5] Singles, "Alcoholic" and "Wade in Your Water" from Summer Anthems were the first to hit Hawaiian radio.
Since their rise in popularity with the masses, Common Kings' songs have garnered the attention of pop music superstars. They have toured with Bruno Mars, CeeLo, Fifth Harmony, and Meghan Trainor, who was so impressed by the band that she helped write some songs off the Summer Anthems EP like "24/7", "Sickness" and "Your Turn".
Common Kings toured Australia and New Zealand as a support act on Justin Timberlake's 'The 20/20 Experience World Tour' in 2014. [2]
The band signed to Island Empire Records, who issued the EP Hits & Mrs. on October 9, 2015 peaked at #2 on the Billboard Top Reggae Albums chart. [1] [4] The band teamed up with Meghan Trainor again for their single, "Before You Go". She co-wrote the song and was featured singing on it.
Their debut album Lost in Paradise, released on February 3, 2017, received a Grammy Award nomination in the Best Reggae Album category, [6] and topped the Billboard Top Reggae Albums chart.
The band's fourth EP, One Day, which was released on August 10, 2018 on Mensch House Records reached #2 on the Billboard charts for Top Reggae Albums. [4]
Common Kings was featured as one of many reggae bands on Collie Buddz riddim album, Cali Roots Riddim 2020 with their single, "There I Go", which was produced by Buddz and mixed by Stick Figure's touring guitarist, producer Johnny Cosmic.
In 2021, Common Kings was one of several reggae and punk bands on The House That Bradley Built, a charity compilation honoring Sublime's lead singer Bradley Nowell, helping musicians with substance abuse. They covered Sublime's song "Garden Grove", the first track on the album.
Common Kings recorded their second studio album titled, Celebration. It was released by Mensch House Records on August 25, 2023. The first single is "Celebration (One Shot)", a feel-good, party anthem. They tapped into their community of musicians to bring their album full circle and "celebrate" their pop and reggae roots by featuring reggae artists J Boog, Demarco, Kabaka Pyramid, Marc E. Bassy, and more.
The long-awaited follow-up is based on the past 10-plus years of their careers. It's a way to "toast" to more than a decade of their musical experience. The band worked once again with the talented pop-production duo The Audibles who also co-wrote a handful of the songs. They also synced up with renowned producer Poo Bear (Justin Bieber) on "City of Champions".
Uncle Lui describes the album's meaning, "It's a celebration of doing things our way" says Uncle Lui. We've made a lot of things happen in an unconventional, unorthodox way. It's a celebration of where we are today. We're able to live in so many different musical worlds." JR adds, "It's a culmination of our careers, jamming 20 years, raising families, living life and making music; all of it coming together and being able to share that with the world." [7]
Common Kings was one of the many featured reggae rock artists on Crossed Heart Clothing presents Pop Punk Goes Reggae, Vol. 1, which was produced by frontman Nathan Aurora of Iya Terra. The 16-track album was released on September 15, 2023 by Ineffable Records. [8] The band covered "I Write Sins Not Tragedies" by Panic! At The Disco.
Common Kings sound is mixing catchy beats into pop music hits that's infused with the members' love of reggae, rock, R&B and island music. [9] Through individually different musical influences, the members came together with their own unique styles from artists and bands such as, Bob Marley, Earth Wind and Fire, Gypsy Kings, Geourge Benson, Jim Croce, Led Zeppelin, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Van Morrison, and The Who to name a few. [10]
Common Kings teamed up with SRH Productions to collaborate on a short sleeve button down shirt and package called the "Aloha-Bro". It's available in limited quantities (50 black shirts and 50 white shirts). In order to keep the "aloha spirit flowing", every order comes with free items, which include Common Kings One Day and Lost In Paradise CD's, a Common Kings die cut decal, and 2 SRH stickers. [11]
| Year | Album | Label | Billboard Top Reggae peak |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Lost In Paradise | Island Empire Records | #1 |
| 2023 | Celebration | Mensch House Records | TBD |
| Year | Album | Label | Billboard Top Reggae peak |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | #Weontour Soundtrack (EP) | Self-produced | #7 |
| 2013 | Summer Anthems (EP) | Island Empire Records | #4 |
| 2015 | Hits & Mrs. (EP) | Island Empire Records | #2 |
| 2018 | One Day (EP) | Mensch House Records | #2 |
| Title | Release Date | Album |
|---|---|---|
| "She's a Professional" | 2013 | #Weontour Soundtrack EP |
| "IDGAF" | 2013 | #Weontour Soundtrack EP |
| "Wade in the Water" | 2013 | Summer Anthems EP |
| "No Other Love" (feat. J Boog & Fiji) | 2013 | Summer Anthems EP |
| "Alcoholic" | 2013 | Summer Anthems EP |
| "24/7" | 2013 | Sumner Anthems EP |
| "Just Another Lover" | 2013 | Summer Anthems EP |
| "Sickness" | 2013 | Summer Anthems EP |
| "Your Turn" | 2013 | Summer Anthems EP |
| "Fly" | 2013 | Summer Anthems EP |
| "Fall in Love" | 2013 | Summer Anthems EP |
| "Kingdom Come" | 2014 | (Single) |
| "On the Low" | 2015 | Hits & Mrs. EP |
| "Since I Woke Up" | 2015 | Hits & Mrs. EP |
| "Ain't No Stopping" | 2015 | Hits & Mrs. EP |
| "Before You Go" (feat. Meghan Trainor) | 2015 | Hits & Mrs. EP |
| "Take Her" | 2017 | Lost In Paradise |
| "Mary Wanna" | 2017 | Lost In Paradise |
| "License to Smoke" | 2017 | Lost In Paradise |
| "Always Beside You" | 2017 | Lost In Paradise |
| "Speaking My Language" | 2017 | Lost In Paradise |
| "I Want Your Body" | 2017 | Lost In Paradise |
| "Everybody Wants to Fool the World" | 2017 | Lost In Paradise |
| "Cali Girl" (feat. Don Corlean) | 2017 | (Single) |
| "One Day" | 2018 | One Day EP |
| "Today's A New Day" (feat. ¡MAYDAY!) | 2018 | One Day EP |
| "Champion" (feat. Kat Dahlia) | 2018 | One Day EP |
| "Broken Crowns" (feat. Matisyahu) | 2018 | One Day EP |
| "Queen Majesty" (feat. Sammy Johnson & The Green) | 2019 | (Single) |
| "Neil Armstrong" (feat. Landon McNamara) | 2019 | (Single) |
| "Happy Pill" | 2020 | (Single) |
| "Fish in the Sea" (feat. Marc E. Bassy) | 2020 | (Single) |
| "Let Me Down Slow" | 2020 | (Single) |
| "There I Go" (feat. Collie Buddz) | May 22, 2020 | Cali Roots Riddim |
| "California Day" (feat. Shwayze) | August 28, 2020 | (Single) |
| "Garden Grove" (Sublime cover) | September 4, 2020 | The House That Bradley Built |
| "Damn Good Time" | July 22, 2022 | (Single) |
| "Raggamuffin" | February 3, 2023 | Celebration (Single) |
| "Celebration (One Shot)" | June 23, 2023 | Celebration (Single) |
| "Hideaway" | July 14, 2023 | Celebration (Single) |
| "Came Up" (feat. Kabaka Pyramid & SpreadLof) | August 25, 2023 | Celebration |
| "Raggamuffin" (feat. J Boog | August 25, 2023 | Celebration |
| "Do My Thing" (feat. Royal Blu) | August 25, 2023 | Celebration |
| "City of Champions" | August 25, 2023 | Celebration |
| "Just One of Those Days" (feat. Demarco) | August 25, 2023 | Celebration |
| "I Write Sins Not Tragedies" (Panic! at the Disco Reggae Cover) | September 15, 2023 | Pop Punk Goes Reggae, Vol. 1 (Single) |
| "Stand By Me (Drew Forever)" | December 15, 2023 | (Single) |
The music of Polynesia is a diverse set of musical traditions from islands within a large area of the central and southern Pacific Ocean, approximately a triangle with New Zealand, Hawaii and Easter Island forming its corners. Traditional Polynesian music is largely an inseparable part of a broader performance art form, incorporating dance and recital of oral traditions; most literature considers Polynesian music and dance together. Polynesian music expanded with colonial European contact and incorporated instruments and styles introduced through a process of acculturation that continues to the present day. Although the European tradition of hymn-singing brought by Christian missionaries was probably the most important influence, others are evident; Hawaii's influential kī hōʻalu music incorporated the Spanish guitar introduced in the late 19th century, and later introduced the steel guitar to country music. Hip hop and R&B influences have created a contemporary Urban Pasifika music genre with a strong Polynesian identity and supported by the annual Pacific Music Awards in New Zealand.
The Music of Samoa is a complex mix of cultures and traditions, with pre- and post-European contact histories. Since American colonization, popular traditions such as rap and hip hop have been integrated into Samoan music.
Pepper is a three-piece reggae rock band originally from Hawaii, now based in San Diego. The band consists of vocalist/guitarist Kaleo Wassman, vocalist/bassist Bret Bollinger, and drummer Yesod Williams. Since the band's formation they have released eight studio albums, as well as two live albums.
SOJA is an American Grammy-award winning reggae band based in Arlington, Virginia. Formed in 1997, their music is currently produced under ATO Records. The eight-member band has released a number of singles, albums, and DVDs, including SOJA – Live in Hawaii. Their third full-length album Born in Babylon peaked at number 11 on the Top Heatseekers chart, while their 2012 album Strength to Survive topped the Billboard Reggae Album Chart. The band continues to tour and record new music.
Cultura Profética is a Puerto Rican reggae band formed in 1996. The band has undergone several lineup changes, but founding members Willy Rodríguez, Eliut González (guitar), and Omar Silva have remained in the group throughout its history. Despite primarily performing reggae music, Cultura Profética has experimented with genres such as bossa nova, tango, jazz, and salsa. Lyrically, the group discusses socio-political and ecological issues including Latin American identity and environmental concerns, as well as interpersonal relationships and love.
Stick Figure is an American reggae and dub band founded in 2006 and based in Southern California. The group has released seven full-length albums and one instrumental album, all of which were written and produced by frontman and self-taught multi-instrumentalist Scott Woodruff. The live band consists of vocalist, producer and guitarist Scott Woodruff, keyboardist Kevin Bong (KBong), drummer Kevin Offitzer, bassist Tommy Suliman, guitarist, keyboardist, and backup vocalist Johnny Cosmic, and percussionist Will Phillips. Cocoa, an Australian Shepherd, often joins the band onstage and has accordingly been nicknamed Cocoa the Tour Dog.
Colin Patrick Harper, better known by his stage name Collie Buddz, is a Bermudian reggae artist best known for his single "Come Around".
Aloha from Hawaii via Satellite is a live album by American singer and musician Elvis Presley, released by RCA Records in February 1973. The album consists of recordings from Presley's January 1973 concert of the same name. It peaked at number one on the Billboard chart in the spring of the same year. Despite the satellite innovation, the concert did not air in the United States until April 4. Aloha from Hawaii went to number one on the Billboard album chart. The album dominated the charts, reaching number one on both the pop and country charts in the US.
"Steamroller Blues", is a blues parody written by James Taylor, that appeared on his 1970 album Sweet Baby James. It was intended to mock the inauthentic blues bands of the day. The song later appeared on two of Taylor's compilation albums and has been recorded by a variety of other artists.
Iration is a reggae/pop group from Santa Barbara, California. All members originally hail from Hawaii. They play a mix of reggae, dub, pop, and rock.
The Movement is an American reggae band originally formed in Columbia, South Carolina, in 2003. The two founding members, Josh Swain and Jordan Miller, then relocated to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where they acquired a live rhythm section in the form of local Philadelphia musicians Jay Schmidt and Gary Jackson. The band has released six studio albums. Their music is commonly described as a fusion of rock, reggae, hip hop and acoustic music.
Josh Heinrichs is an American reggae singer/songwriter who was the former lead singer of internationally known indie reggae band, Jah Roots and current owner/operator of indie reggae record label, GanJah Records. Since leaving the band in 2008, Heinrichs has launched a successful solo career and has released several albums, including a #1 Billboard charting release with Good Vibes in 2016.
The Green is a reggae band formed in 2009 from Oahu, Hawaii. Their sound blends dub-heavy roots reggae, smooth lovers' rock, and contemporary pop and rock with indigenous Hawaiian musical/lyrical references. The band consists of Caleb Keolanui on vocals, Ikaika Antone on keys/vocals, JP Kennedy on guitar/vocals, Zion Thompson on guitar/vocals, Brad Watanabe on Bass and Jordan Espinoza on drums. The group has released five full-length studio albums to date.
Fa'anana Jerome Grey is an American singer, songwriter, musician and composer.
Natural Vibrations,, is a reggae band originally from Kahalu'u, Oahu, Hawaii, based out of San Diego, California with rock and pop influences. The band has received several awards at the Hawaii Music Awards and three Na Hoku Hanohano Awards.
Tenelle Christine Luafalemana is an American Samoan singer-songwriter from Carson, California. She represented American Samoa in the American Song Contest where she placed 6th in the Grand Final.
The Elovaters are an American, Boston-based American reggae rock band, that formed in 2014.
Iya Terra were an American roots reggae and dub band based in Los Angeles, California.
Through The Roots is an American reggae rock and pop band based out of San Diego, California. They are described as "easy-listening music with positive Cali-vibes and inspiring messages".
Jerry Fealofani Afemata, better known by his stage name J Boog, is an American-Samoan reggae singer and songwriter. J Boog has released three albums that reached the top ten of the Billboard Reggae Albums chart, debuting with Hear Me Roar in 2007. His next two albums, Backyard Boogie (2011) and Wash House Ting (2016), both reached number one on the Reggae Albums chart.