World champion surfer and Hawaiian musician Makua Rothman today releases his new single “HOOKED” via Regime Music Group. The rhythmic song layers lyrics of self destruction and redemption over an easy island ambiance courtesy of Sister Nancy’s legendary backing track, “Bam Bam.” Listen HERE.
“I wrote this song while thinking of trials and tribulations that I’ve overcome in my life. I’ve been through the depths, through dark places in life and now I’m here back in the light,” Rothman explains, using the woman in the song as a creative foil to mirror his own experiences. “It’s a song about humans making mistakes – bad habits or a relationship you need to cut out of your life, but they’re so hard to kick. It’s a song from my heart, from a time when I wasn’t making the best choices. But ultimately, it’s about overcoming those vices and staying the course for a better day.”
Co-written by Rothman and Nick Bailey and produced by Jimmy Messer, “HOOKED” was created at Kona Town Studio – Pepper singer and bassist Bret Bolinger’s studio in Redondo Beach, California. His beach-punk flow intertwines with one of the most recognizable samples in reggae music to create an immaculate vibe on the new single.
“There’s no other song that makes you feel the way ‘Bam Bam’ does,” he adds. “That Sister Nancy track is so legendary, it’s a staple in the reggae world, and mashed up perfectly with the song we were creating. I’m really grateful that we were able to tap into that feeling, even though the lyrics call back to a darker time.”
The release of “HOOKED” comes one year after Rothman suffered a devastating injury that threatened to end his professional surfing career. He turned to the healing power of music during his recovery, and emerged with songs like “HOOKED” and his previous single “The One And Only” from a forthcoming sophomore album. Rothman's new collection of releases follows up his critically acclaimed album, Sound Wave.
Born on the iconic North Shore of Oahu, Rothman made a name for himself as a professional surfer known to take on some of the biggest and most dangerous breaks on the planet. He cemented his status alongside the world’s greatest surfers by winning the 2015 World Surf League (WSL) Big Wave Championship. And in 2018, made national headlines after surviving a violent wipeout while attempting to ride one of the biggest waves in Fiji’s history. The stunt landed him in national headlines, with press coverage from TMZ, NBC News, iHeartRadio and many others.
Now one year removed from the knee injury that upended his athletic career, Rothman comes full circle with the release of “HOOKED.”
In his network television debut, Rothman will return to the notorious North Shore waves as a recurring character in Fox’s forthcoming drama series, “Rescue: Hi Surf." He is currently filming in his native O'ahu between concert dates and the pro surf circuit. A book about Rothman’s life is planned to release in 2024 as well.
Stay tuned for more to come at makuarothman.com.
Makua Rothman Tour Dates
March 29 - Solana Beach, CA - Belly Up Tavern *
March 30 - Pioneertown, CA - Pappy + Harriet's *
August 23 - Auburn, CA - Dry Diggings Festival
* with Save Ferris
