Kolohe Kai is a Hawaiian reggae pop musical group formed in 2009 by singer-songwriter Roman De Peralta.
Kolohe Kai | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Oahu, Hawaii, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 2009–present |
| Labels | GO Aloha Entertainment, R K D Inc. |
| Members |
|
| Website | www |
Kolohe Kai consists of De Peralta, Jasmine Moikeha (vocals), Kolomona Ku (keyboard and saxophone), Luke Daddario (drummer), Imua Garza (guitar), and Kahale Morales (bass guitar).
History
editCirca 2006 in Oahu, the band members met in their high school Polynesian music class. After performing in local talent shows, 17-year-old Roman De Peralta signed with a record label followed by the rest of the band.[1][2] De Peralta explains the band's name: Kolohe means "rascal", which his family called him as a child, while Kai means "ocean" or "saltwater".[1]
The group's 2009 debut album was This is the Life, and their 2011 follow-up album was Love Town.[3] Successful singles included "Cool Down" and "Ehu Girl". Their 2014 album Paradise reached third place on Billboard magazine's Reggae Album chart.[4]
In 2019, Kolohe Kai released their fourth album, Summer To Winter,[5] which reached number one on Billboard's Reggae Album chart.[6]
Musical style and influences
editKolohe Kai's musical style is generally described as reggae.[1][7] Their sound has been characterized as Hawaiian-inflected reggae[1] and Pacific Island reggae, infusing "the localism of ukulele music with rhythms of roots reggae."[8] Their more recent material shows flavors of pop and R&B.[8]
De Peralta has cited Hawaiian reggae band Ekolu, Fijian musician George Veikoso a.k.a. Fiji, and Boyz II Men as influences.[1] They have also been influenced by reggae rock band Rebelution.[8]
Discography
editAlbums
editStudio albums
edit- This is the Life (2009)
- Love Town (2011)
- Paradise (2014)
- Summer to Winter (2019)
- Hazel Eyes (2022)
Live albums
edit- Live Album 10th Anniversary (2021)
Compilation albums
edit- Best of Kolohe Kai (Acoustic) (2021)
Extended plays
edit- This Is the Life (Acoustic Remix EP) (2013)
- Love Town (Acoustic Remix EP) (2013)
Singles
edit- "Higher" - 15 November 2016
- "Natural High" (Dub) - 1 June 2019
- "Will You Be Mine" (R&B Version) - 1 August 2019
- "Catching Lightning" - 24 July 2020
- "Speechless" - 28 February 2020
- "When the Rain Falls" - 15 October 2020
- "Isn't She Lovely" - 8 October 2021
- "I Think You're Beautiful" - 25 February 2022
Compilation appearances
edit- Sugarshack Selects, Vol. 2 - Round and Around (On the Spot in HI) (2020)
Awards
edit| Award | Year[a] | Recipient(s) | Category | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards | 2013 | Paradise | Reggae Album of the Year | Won | [2] |
| Island Music Awards | 2019 | Summer to Winter | Reggae Album of the Year | Won |
Notes
edit- ^ Indicates the year of ceremony.
References
edit- ^ a b c d e Hamlin, Andrew (1 September 2022). "Kolohe Kai: Reggae vibes by way of Hawaii". Northwest Asian Weekly. Archived from the original on 5 September 2022. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
- ^ a b Kubota, Gary (18 August 2022). ""Hazel Eyes Tour" expands, deepens fan base for Hawai'i's Kolohe Kai". Maui Now. Archived from the original on 6 December 2022. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
- ^ "Love Town - Kolohe Kai | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic.
- ^ "Kolohe Kai | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 2020-03-08.
- ^ "Summer to Winter - Kolohe Kai | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic.
- ^ "Reggae Albums Chart". Billboard. Retrieved 2020-03-08.
- ^ Motion, Samantha (28 January 2019). "Stan Walker and UB40 stand outs of One Love festival at Tauranga Domain". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 22 October 2020. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
- ^ a b c Symone, Kelly (22 September 2022). "Studio 40 Live: Kolohe Kai". FOX40. Archived from the original on 22 September 2022. Retrieved 21 April 2023.