JOE SAMBA
Guitar slung low, microphone turned up, and emotion overflowing, Joe Samba taps into rock ‘n’ roll spirit and reggae soul all at once. The Massachusetts-born singer, songwriter, and guitarist sonically teeters on an axis of island-inflected grooves and gritty guitar-craft balanced by his dynamic vocals. He finds the sweet spot between smoked-out Caribbean bliss and sweat-soaked punkified energy. It’s why he’s quietly emerged as a phenomenon, toppling charts at #1 and performing alongside everyone from The Dirty Heads to Pepper.
However, he’s primed to unite not only genres, but people as well through a series of 2023 releases and much more to come.
“No matter what walk of life you’re from, I’d love for you to hear the conviction in my music,” he notes. “I hope you think, ‘This dude meant it’. Maybe you relate to what I’m singing about or just cut loose for a little bit. I just write songs and try to connect with people.”
He recognized music’s inherent power to connect as a kid. Dad played bass in a local favorite funk band, while his two older brothers followed suit by picking up the same instrument. At barely seven-years-old, pops pulled Joe up on stage and he busted out a wild rendition of “I Feel Good” by James Brown, leaving the crowd speechless and, unassumingly, deciding his fate. As a teen, he even played at the Boston date of the Warped Tour in his metal band. Post-high school, he cut his teeth by performing in countless bars and watering holes solo. 2019 saw him make a major splash with The Wrong Impression. It bowed at #1 on the Billboard Reggae Albums Chart and clocked over 2 million streams.
CYDEWAYS
Cydeways blends modern reggae with alternative, indie charm and hip hop grooves, creating a fresh yet nostalgic sound. Their live show delivers laid-back reggae vibes with the high-energy punch of alt-rock making for an unforgettable experience.
The group eventually caught the attention of Law Records and in speaking with Law’s Yesod Williams, he shares how Cydeways wound up on his radar, telling The Pier: “I was podcasting Joe D. from Iration and he mentioned Cydeways to me. He’s friends with Dustin. After a little time, Hawaiian time that is, I finally reached out to Dustin. He sent me a track he had coincidentally done featuring another mutual friend in the Rhymesayers artists, Grieves, serendipity? I’d say so!”
