Stories

It feels as if it's been quite some time since we released a new music project. After reissuing two timelss albums from Kalapana's early days, followed by a collaboration with the legendary Brother Noland, we're decidedly taking a break from the spotlight-filled stage of classic local music to focus on our roots: bringing attention to lesser known, often under-represented artists in these islands.  Max High is a multi-instrumentalist of Japanese-Filipino-French descent, currently living and working on Oahu. He moved to the islands in 2021, and has since called Honolulu his home. Each year since the pandemic, Max has used his ongoing Recordings series as a process of...

Over the years, there's been a number of Aloha Got Soul events in Japan, the majority being held in Tokyo thanks to the help of our friends at Kakubarhythm. When we started thinking about what 2023 would look like for AGS in Japan, we reached out to Rush Production for assistance. The brothers behind Rush -- Yasushi and Fumi -- have for many years worked with Tommy Guerrero (we're big fans!), and after an introduction to Rush in early 2020 (pre-COVID) thanks to our friend Hashim Bharoocha, we felt we could count on Rush to create something special on behalf of Aloha Got Soul. So we...

AGS returns to Japan next weekend for a full tour from Tokyo to Hiroshima. Kicking off on Sunday, October 22nd with a stacked lineup at CITAN with live performances by Your Song Is Good and Max High. We'll make our way through Gifu, Okayama, Hiroshima, Kakogawa and Osaka with DJ bags in tow for a series of evenings packed with Hawaii vinyl gems and more. Plus, we've created a limited run of 2023 tour merch in collaboration with Tokyo Cultuart by Beams. Available at every gig (until it's sold out!). Sunday October 22CITAN — TokyoTuesday October 24green yang — GifuThursday...

“Just like the song — mutli-dimensional, multi-generational — so are the stories.” Brother Noland reflects on Coconut Girl, its concept and creation, 40 years after its debut in 1983. Join us on Saturday, September 30th, 2023 at @waiwaicollective 5pm-9pm to celebrate 40 Years of Coconut Girl. Live music by Brother Noland and friends, and much more Watch now on YouTube: Filmed and edited by Roger Bong.

Brother Noland and Aloha Got Soul are teaming up to celebrate the 40th anniversary of “Coconut Girl”, Hawaii’s first Jamaican crossover hit, with an evening of live music and community gathering at Ka Waiwai in Mō‘ili‘ili on Saturday, September 30th, 2023. RSVP now on Eventbrite → “Coconut Girl”, which introduced reggae music throughout the Hawaiian Islands upon its debut in 1983, has continued to speak to Hawai‘i’s people with an ever-evolving message that resonates with each generation. Even 40 years later, Brother Noland regards his first big hit as a way to move people. “As the song started to evolve, people...