‘Sink or Swim’: Hawai'i band Wavvy evolving their island reggae sound with debut EP

There is a quiet shift happening in modern island music, and Hawaiian band Wavvy is right at the centre of it.

The Honolulu-based band, led by Hilo-born musicians James Shaw and Kala’i Pomroy, is building a growing global audience with a sound that blends island reggae with R&B, pop, and country.

They describe it as rooted in tradition but not afraid to move.

“I like to describe us as your typical island reggae music, but with a modern twist,” Pomroy tells Pacific Days.

“When we curate, we like to keep our roots in island reggae, but we're not afraid to experiment.”

The band draws inspiration from island reggae icons like The Green, JBoog, and Fiji while also pulling ideas from mainstream artists like Chris Brown and Bruno Mars to shape their sound.

It is a title that has taken on a new meaning for the band as their music career has grown.

Originally used for an early project, the name was carried through into their official band era in 2025 and has since become a mindset.

“In our last year, with our growth and everything, it's kind of felt like that 'sink or swim',” Shaw says.

“So we've been keeping the pressure on and really just working hard and keeping our heads down and staying humble.”

Wavvy’s rise has been fuelled by strong streaming numbers, particularly in Aotearoa New Zealand, now their second-largest audience globally.

Their single Keep Me In Mind, a collaboration with New Zealand-born Sāmoan master mixer Canaan Ene, has reached nearly 3.5 million Spotify streams.

Follow-up hit Thyme, released in March 2025, has gone past four million streams.

More recently, the music video for their track One Way has picked up over 10,000 views just days after its release.

What sets Sink or Swim apart is Wavvy’s freedom to experiment in the studio. From tapping into the slow, stony roots vibes for their R&B track to spinning some country for 2AM in Kamuela.

“We really wanted to embody the whole idea of not just doing like another country reggae song,” Shaw says. “So it took us, it took a few sessions at the studio to say the least to get those vocals good.”

Currently capturing nearly 300,000 monthly Spotify listeners and over 11 million collective streams, the band is taking their magic on the road.

Armed with touring essentials, including local snacks, a ukulele, a Nintendo Switch, and a laptop, Wavvy is on their Sink or Swim tour across Hawai’i.

With more global shows planned throughout the year, the group is eager to look to the horizon.

“Stopping in beautiful Aotearoa, exploring more of the world, honestly, seeing more of Polynesia, more of the States,” Shaw says.

Shaw and Pomroy say that as their music reaches the masses, they are committed to keeping a “pono and righteous heart” - taking Hilo to the word.

Sink or Swim is available on all music streaming platforms.