The Movement (reggae band)

Last updated
The Movement
The Movement Always With Me Album Artwork FINAL (1).jpg
Aways With Me album cover (2022)
Background information
Origin Columbia, South Carolina, US
Genres Reggae
Dub
Reggae rock [1]
Hip Hop
Acoustic
Years active2003–present
Labels Rootfire Cooperative
Ineffable Music
MembersJoshua Swain
Jason Schmidt
Gary Jackson
Matt Goodwin Kyle “Ras” Jerome
Past membersJordan Miller
DJ Riggles (Jon Ruff)
John Bowling
Ross Bogan
Website www.themovementvibe.com

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.

Contents

History

Formation (trio years) and On Your Feet (2003–2007)

The Movement began in 2003 when childhood friends Josh Swain and Jordan Miller reconnected in their hometown of Columbia, South Carolina, to write songs as a duo. With Swain on guitar and Miller on congas, the two utilized a drum machine to complete their sound. Soon after, Jon Ruff, known as "DJ Riggles", joined the group.

In March 2004, they released their first studio album, On Your Feet , which was recorded and mixed at Pat Casey's Modern Music Studios in Columbia, South Carolina. This "alternative reggae" album has proved a mainstay of the reggae/rock genre and is listed at #9 on The Pier's 10 Essential Reggae Rock Albums. [2]

Set Sail and subsequent years (2008–2010)

The band continued to build their following with nonstop touring throughout the United States. They enjoyed success in opening for national acts such as Steel Pulse, Blues Traveler, Slightly Stoopid, The Wailers, Ludacris, G.Love & Special Sauce, Common, Long Beach Shortbus, The Wu Tang Clan, SOJA, and 311. [3]

Swain and Miller relocated to Philadelphia to begin recording what would become their second studio album, 2008's Set Sail at Philadelphonic Studios with producer Chris DiBeneditto, who had worked with G.Love & Special Sauce, Slightly Stoopid and The Expendables. DJ Riggles contributed heavily to the album, but left the band before it was released.

DiBeneditto contacted local drummer Gary Jackson to sit in with Swain and Miller. The three hit it off immediately and Jackson brought in his friend, guitarist Jay Schmidt, to play bass. The release of Set Sail proved to be a turning point in their careers and propelled the band into further nonstop touring. Set Sail had achieved the #7 spot on iTunes' Top 100 Reggae Albums. [4]

Departure of Swain

However, in 2010, Swain left the band while on tour in Arizona. He decided to move to Denver, Colorado, with his girlfriend at the time. Miller kept The Movement marching on by touring for two years.

The band added keyboardist John Bowling who was previously in a band with Miller in 2006, called The Executives.

One More Night (2010)

They released their third studio album, One More Night on March 20, 2010. This was the only album featuring Miller as the sole songwriter. It peaked at #1 on the Billboard reggae album chart. Bowling said, three of the songs from One More Night: "When The Feeling Goes Away", "Lonely At The Top" and "Across the Bridge" were songs that were originally written and performed while he and Bowling played together in The Executives.

Departure of Miller

After only one month One More Night was released, Miller told his bandmates he wanted to quit the band he co-founded. He needed to break away for personal reasons and find a relationship to his own health and well-being. He needed to "get home, get healthy, and spend time with his family". So he walked away from the band abruptly just two hours before a scheduled performance at Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina, on April 20, 2012. Even though the members were surprised and hurt by Miller's decision, there was no ill will towards him. Miller also wanted a solo career, which was in the works with The Movement's former manager Marshall Lowe. [5]

Reformation with Swain and Side By Side (2012–2014)

Swain's leaving would only be a temporary hiatus, as he returned in 2012 to replace Miller as the lead singer and guitarist.

The reformed trio, with Swain newly at the helm, relocated to San Diego, California, to record their fourth album Side by Side, which was released in August 2013, and entered the Billboard Reggae Albums Chart at #2. [6] [7]

In February 2014, members of the band were arrested for possession of marijuana. [8] Later that year, the band released "Beneath The Palms", a surprise acoustic album on Thanksgiving Day as a gift to their fans.

Golden (2016)

In April 2015, the band released the single, "Rescue" and announced plans to record another album, their fifth LP. [9] The band's next album, Golden, was released in April 2016 on Rootfire Cooperative. They collaborated with a John Brown's Body, Matt Goodwin who played keyboards on the album. It topped the Billboard Reggae Albums chart. It reached #1 on iTunes, as well. [10] [11] The album was also voted 2016 Album of the Year by Surf Roots Radio. And later that year, keyboardist Ross Bogan joined the band in the spring to go on tour.

Ways of the World (2019)

The band released their sixth album Ways of the World on June 7, 2019. It was produced by musician/reggae music producer John Grey (a.k.a. "Johnny Cosmic"). [12] It features artists Stick Figure, Iya Terra, Jacob Hemphill of SOJA, and Chali 2na of Jurassic 5. Also known as WOTW, the album peaked at #1 on the Billboard charts for Reggae Albums. [13] Upon touring in late 2019 Swain relapsed into alcoholism resulting in him being rushed to a Denver hospital over alcohol withdrawal complications. The band now has a strict sober rule on board their tour bus.

The Movement perform at PNC Bank Arts Center in New Jersey on August 17, 2023. The Movement 8-17-2023.jpg
The Movement perform at PNC Bank Arts Center in New Jersey on August 17, 2023.

The Movement was featured as one of many reggae bands on Collie Buddz riddim album, Cali Roots Riddim 2020 with their single, "Alien", which was produced by Buddz and mixed by Stick Figure's touring guitarist, producer Johnny Cosmic.

In 2021, The Movement 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 "Get Out!"

Always With Me (2022)

The Movement recorded their seventh studio album, "Always With Me", which was released on July 29, 2022. [14] It is the band's first self-produced album on their own R4RE Records since their 2004 debut. The album was recorded at White Star Sound, a studio located on a historic farm in the 'backwoods' outside Charlottesville, Virginia. It's also the same studio where they recorded Golden and Ways of the World. Returning to the band is long-time collaborator and former John Brown's Body member Matt Goodwin on keyboard who toured with the band after being a studio mainstay since 2016's Golden. The 15-track record features Clinton Fearon, HIRIE, Iration, Slightly Stoopid, and SOOM T. [15]

Always With Me was "considered" for a Grammy Award nomination "Best Reggae Album" at the 65th Grammy Awards in 2023. [16]

The Movement announced on social media the Always With Me Deluxe Album, which was released digitally on August 4, 2023. The deluxe album includes two brand new original tracks ("At the End of the Day" and "We Are Young"), five remixed songs (E.N. Young, Johnny Cosmic, Little Stranger, and IzyBeats), and a piano version of "U Don't Know Me". [17]

The Movement 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. [18] The band covered "Until the Day I Die" by Story of the Year.

Musical style

Swain and Miller assumed equal roles in leading the band as dual frontmen while showcasing their individual songwriting styles. They are often noted for their use of two-part harmonies while singing backing vocals for one another's songs. Swain talks about the band's music:

"I've always thought of it as what I like to call 'alternative reggae'. We don't feel really roots reggae. We're not rasta. It comes out a little more hip-hop, a little more rock."

— Josh Swain, The Reggae News Agency

Musical influences

Swain and Miller have cited artists of all genres, ranging from the Pixies to Sublime to Outkast to Norah Jones, as having influenced their own songwriting. [19] In an interview with The Pier, Miller is asked where the reggae influence of their music originated:

"Through Josh. Growing up, he really developed an eclectic musical taste and is a big fan of UB40 and Sublime. I listen to a lot of different things, too, like The Pixies and a lot of underground alternative stuff. When we got together and started playing, it was the reggae that started coming out first. We really latched onto that feeling from reggae music and how it felt right to us. We love everyone from Beres Hammond to Dennis Brown to Steel Pulse. We try to take our own personal non-reggae interests and put that spin on the reggae music."

— Jordan Miller, The Pier

Lineup

The Movement performing at the historic White Eagle Hall in Jersey City, NJ in June 2022. The Movement playing in J.C.jpg
The Movement performing at the historic White Eagle Hall in Jersey City, NJ in June 2022.

Current members

Past members

Trivia

East Coast Showcase

In December 2006, The Movement, in their original lineup as a trio, beat out 215 other bands in the final round of the annual East Coast Showcase in Rock Hill, SC. [20] They were awarded with over $20,000 in cash and prizes. [21]

Non-Stop Hip-Hop Live

In September 2004, Jordan Miller won the Non-Stop Hip-Hop Live freestyle semifinal at New Brookland Tavern in Columbia, SC. [22]

Band member nicknames

Discography

Studio albums

The Movement Chart History [13]
YearAlbumLabelBillboard peak
2004 On Your Feet Self-produced—
2008 Set Sail Self-produced—
2012One More NightSelf-produced#1
2013Side By SideSelf-produced#2
2016GoldenRootfire Cooperative#1
2019 Ways of the World Self-released#1
2022Always With MeRootfire Cooperative--

Live/Acoustic albums

The Movement Chart History
YearAlbumLabelBillboard peak
2006 Alive at Home (Live)Self-produced—
2014Beneath the Palms (Acoustic)Self-produced—

Singles

TitleRelease DateAlbum
"Down Down"2004On Your Feet
"Another Man's Shoes"2008Set Sail
"Habit"2008Set Sail
"Mexico"2008Set Sail
"Ochos Rios"2008Set Sail
"Say Hello"2008Set Sail
"Set Sail"2008Set Sail
"Sweet Summertime"2008Set Sail
"Mr. Policeman"2012One More Night
"When the Feeling Goes Away"2012One More Night
"Something to Say"2012One More Night
"Echo"2013Side By Side
"Side By Side"2013Side By Side
"Sweet Life"2013Side By Side
"Rescue"April 14, 2015Golden
"Blinded"2016Golden
"Dancehall" (feat. Mr. Williamz)February 23, 2016Golden
"Golden" (feat. Elliot Martin)March 22, 2016Golden
"Fair Warning"2016Golden
"Habit (2016)" (feat. Collie Buddz & Bobby Hustle)2016Golden
"Smoke"2016Golden
"Through the Heart"2016Golden
"Wild Time"2016Golden
"Siren" (feat. Stick Figure)June 30, 2017Ways of the World
"Cool Me Down"January 19, 2018Ways of the World
"Loud Enough"May 18, 2018Ways of the World
"Break the Glass"2019Ways of the World
"Diamond" (feat. Jacob Hemphill of SOJA)May 3, 2019Ways of the World
"Honey"2019Ways of the World
"Life is a Circle"2019Ways of the World
"Orange Sky"2019Ways of the World
"Redwoodz" (feat. Iya Terra)2019Ways of the World
"Remember (The Return)"2019Ways of the World
"Take Me to the Ocean"2019Ways of the World
"The Great Discovery"2019Ways of the World
"Ways of the World"2019Ways of the World
"Rescue" (Live Acoustic)2019Sugarshack Sessions Selects, Vol. 1
"Alien" (feat. Collie Buddz)April 3, 2020Cali Roots Riddim
"Mountain" (feat. Clinton Fearon)September 4, 2020(Single)
"Get Out!" (Sublime cover)January 15, 2021The House That Bradley Built
"Siren" (Haze Street Studios Dub)February 5, 2021(Single)
"Sounds of Summer" (feat. Slightly Stoopid)June 25, 2021(Single)
"No Worry"April 15, 2022Always With Me (Single)
"On and On" (feat. Iration)May 20, 2022Always With Me (Single)
"Beg Borrow & Steal"June 24, 2022Always With Me (Single)
"Until the Day I Die" (Story of the Year Reggae Cover)September 1, 2023Pop Punk Goes Reggae, Vol. 1 (Single)
"River Guide You"July 25, 2024(Single)

Compilation appearances

Collaborations

Joshua Swain (The Movement) has collaborated or was featured on songs with artists and bands throughout the years.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Long Beach Dub Allstars</span> American dub, ska, and reggae rock band

The Long Beach Dub Allstars are an American dub/ska/reggae rock band formed in 1997 and disbanded in 2002, but reformed 10 years later.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pepper (band)</span> American reggae rock band

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stick Figure</span> American reggae and dub band

Stick Figure is an American reggae and dub band founded in 2005 In Duxbury, MA. The group has released eight 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 Woodruff, keyboardist Kevin Bong (KBong), drummer Kevin Offitzer, bassist Tommy Suliman, guitarist, keyboardist, and guitarist/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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Collie Buddz</span> Bermudian reggae artist

Colin Patrick Harper, better known by his stage name Collie Buddz, is a Bermudian reggae artist best known for his single "Come Around".

Reggae rock is a subgenre of reggae fusion and rock music that primarily uses the genres reggae, rock, and ska. Typical lyrics of reggae rock songs incorporate love, personal awareness, and life challenges while incorporating music and beat elements of rock, punk, and hip-hop. The term "reggae rock" has been used to categorize artists such as Eddy Grant, and bands like the Police, Men at Work, Sublime & Sublime with Rome, No Doubt, Pepper, Slightly Stoopid, the Expendables, Iration, Dirty Heads, Rebelution, 311, SOJA, Big Sugar, and, to some extent, heavier bands such as Bad Brains.

The Expendables are an American reggae rock band from Santa Cruz, California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dirty Heads</span> American reggae rock band

Dirty Heads is an American reggae rock band from Huntington Beach, California. Their debut album, Any Port in a Storm, was released on September 23, 2008, by Executive Music Group (Fontana/Universal). Their latest album, Midnight Control, was released on August 26, 2023, by Better Noise Music. They have been associated with music groups such as Sublime with Rome, 311, and Pepper, and have toured with groups including Cobra Starship, Aer, and Gym Class Heroes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rebelution (band)</span> American reggae rock band

Rebelution is a reggae rock music band formed in Isla Vista, California. The current members of Rebelution are Eric Rachmany, Rory Carey, Marley D. Williams, and Wesley Finley. Each member attended and completed school at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Slightly Stoopid</span> American reggae rock/punk band

Slightly Stoopid is an American rock band based in the Ocean Beach neighborhood of San Diego, California, who describe their music as "a fusion of folk, rock, reggae and blues with hip-hop, funk, metal and punk." As a band, they have released 13 albums. The band was originally signed by Bradley Nowell from the band Sublime to his label Skunk Records while still in high school.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tribal Seeds</span> American reggae band

Tribal Seeds is an American /Mexican reggae band based in San Diego that was formed in 2005 by the Jacobo brothers, singer Steven Rene and producer Tony-Ray.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sublime with Rome</span> American reggae rock band

Sublime with Rome is a band that began as a musical collaboration between former Sublime members Eric Wilson and Bud Gaugh, and singer and guitarist Rome Ramirez. The group's name was not only a reference to the singer's first name, but to the fact that they chiefly performed songs by the original Sublime, which was fronted by Bradley Nowell until his death in 1996.

<i>Set Sail</i> (The Movement album) 2008 studio album by The Movement

Set Sail is The Movement's second studio album, produced by Chris DiBeneditto at Philadelphonic Studios in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and released on October 25, 2008. This album features artists such as Garrett "G. Love" Dutton and Mark Boyce of G. Love & Special Sauce, Chuck Treece, and Oguer Ocon of Slightly Stoopid.

<i>On Your Feet</i> (The Movement album) 2004 studio album by The Movement

On Your Feet is The Movement's first studio album, recorded at Pat Casey's Modern Music Studios in Columbia, South Carolina and released in March 2004. The recording, mixing and tracking were all completed in three separate eight-hour sessions in the studio. All of the beats for the album were made on a drum machine "in about a day".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ballyhoo!</span> American reggae rock, punk band

Ballyhoo! is an American reggae rock and punk band from Aberdeen, Maryland. The group has sold over 30,000 copies of its five albums and more than 200,000 digital tracks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Passafire</span> American reggae rock band

Passafire is a reggae rock band based in Savannah, Georgia.

Shrub is an American reggae, rock and rap group from Columbus, Ohio. The band released their debut album, Senorita, a six-song EP in February 2010 and was voted by readers as High Times magazine's Unsigned Band of the Month in September 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fortunate Youth</span> American reggae rock band

Fortunate Youth is an American reggae rock sextet from Hermosa Beach, California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Elovaters</span> American reggae rock band

The Elovaters are an American reggae rock band from Boston that formed in 2014.

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".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seranation</span> American pop/reggae rock band

Seranation is an American pop, reggae rock band from Treasure Island, St. Petersburg, Florida.

References

  1. ↑ Jeffries, David. "The Movement – Artist Biography". AllMusic. All Media Network . Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  2. ↑ "Artist Interview: The Movement". The Pier. October 2008. Archived January 15, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  3. ↑ Official Press Release. TheMovementVibe.com. Retrieved May 2010.
  4. ↑ "Biography: The Movement". Reggaeville.com.
  5. ↑ "The Movement: Moving Forward?…Or Moving On?". May 19, 2012. Retrieved March 14, 2016.
  6. ↑ "The Movement: A Bold New Look at Making Music". Campus Activities Magazine. January 2010.
  7. ↑ Jackson, Kevin (2013) "The Movement hits Billboard", Jamaica Observer , August 23, 2013. Retrieved August 25, 2013
  8. ↑ Suder, Jason (2014) "Reggae band arrested in drug bust", Telton Valley News, February 13, 2014. retrieved February 15, 2014
  9. ↑ "The Movement's new single "Rescue"". Topshelfreggae.com. May 1, 2015. Retrieved November 5, 2015.
  10. ↑ "The Movement Announces New Album". Gratefulweb.com. February 26, 2016. Retrieved March 14, 2016.
  11. ↑ Jackson, Kevin (2016) "The Movement's Golden Moment", Jamaica Observer , April 21, 2016. Retrieved April 23, 2016
  12. ↑ [ dead link ]
  13. 1 2 "The Movement (Dupe 1)". Billboard .
  14. ↑ "The Movement - Always with Me". Ineffable.to.
  15. ↑ "Josh Swain of the Movement Discusses 8th Studio Album: Always with Me". Thepier.org. 21 June 2022.
  16. ↑ Mallick, Dani (25 October 2022). "Grammys 2023: Reggae Entries Down To 67, From 125 Last Year" . Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  17. ↑ "The Movement - Always with Me (Deluxe)".
  18. ↑ "Pop Punk Goes Reggae Vol. 1".
  19. ↑ "The Movement to Rock Buffalo's". Connect Statesboro. 03 June 2009.
  20. ↑ Taylor, Otis (15 December 2006). "Moving Up: The Movement". The State (Columbia, SC).
  21. ↑ Wall, Patrick (13 December 2006). "Kudos are in order to our favorite hometown white-boy-reggae stars The Movement". Free Times (Columbia, SC).
  22. ↑ Taylor, Otis (08 October 2004). "Listen Up: The kid can throw down with the best". The State (Columbia, SC).
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.