Hawaii’s The Green are back with their anticipated new album, Hawai‘i '13, set for worldwide release on August 20 through Easy Star Records. Hawai‘i '13 is the band’s third studio album and was recorded and mixed with Danny Kalb (Ben Harper, Beck, Jack Johnson) mainly in Costa Mesa, CA, at Hurley Studios.Since the 2011 release of their chart-topping (#1 Billboard and iTunes Reggae) sophomore album Ways & Means (Easy Star Records), the sextet continues to raise their profile to the top of the thriving US reggae scene. The Green’s previous two albums have sold over 50,000 copies worldwide, winning awards (iTunes Best Reggae Album 2010, Best Reggae Album at Hawaii’s 2011 Na Hoku Hanohano Awards) and receiving critical praise from media outlets like NPR, Billboard, The Huffington Post, and the San Francisco Chronicle. Their prolific touring has yielded countless sold out shows, while sharing the bill with reggae heavyweights Damian Marley, Rebelution, and SOJA, to name a few. Internationally they’ve toured in Japan, New Zealand, and Guam, while at home performing at notable festivals including the Vans Warped Tour, Wakarusa, Sierra Nevada World Music Festival, and the California Roots Festival. “The talent and creativity coming out of the band is getting stronger by the minute and the new album captures this growth beautifully” says Easy Star Records Co-Founder Eric Smith.The first single off the new album - “Take Me On” - is already receiving heavy commercial radio airplay in Hawaii and is currently charting #3 on Oahu’s Island 98.5 FM. National Geographic Music touted “The Green's radio friendly modern roots sound, sweetening their deep island grooves with just enough vocal honey to entrap legions of new fans.” Hawai‘i '13, recorded in February and March 2013, is the first Green album using a dedicated producer/engineer. Kalb, best known for his work with Ben Harper, was introduced to the band by Easy Star Records. Guitarist-vocalist Zion Thompson explains, “Danny was one of a few mixing engineers we had on our second album Ways & Means. We were really happy with his work on that project and his overall vibe seemed right so we asked him to be our main guy for this record and the results are pretty magical.”The album title Hawai‘i '13 has meaning on multiple levels. The obvious ones are the year it was created and released in and that there happens to be 13 songs on it. But, there is also a bigger significance according to Zion and the band. He states, “It's also a reference to a song that we grew up with called "Hawai‘i '78" by Israel “IZ” Kamakawiwo‘ole. The song deals with the issues and ongoing conversations about the changes that have happened to our land and people. It questions how our ancestors would react to seeing things like over-crowding, technological advancements and unwanted industrial growth. Something that many people and cultures around the world can relate to, but is an ongoing issue to the people of Hawai‘i to this day and is still very fresh in our minds. On this record we wanted to encapsulate this push and pull feeling of both a connection to the past and a progression forward, all in one.” Starting today (July 16), Hawai‘i '13 is available for digital pre-order on iTunes. The CD and vinyl (please note the vinyl ships September 17) pre-order is available through the band’s web store, where fans can also add in newly designed Green tank tops for men or women. First week (7/16-7/23) pre-orders will also receive a 25% discount through the web store.The Green, hot on the heels of their recent headlining “Take Me On Tour,” will be back with another US tour this Fall. More details coming soon.
