Songs from several artists with Island roots are set to release this Friday, Jan. 30. Here is a little bit about the new music releasing this week:
Iam Tongi. The “American Idol” winner who grew up in Kahuku, has announced his new single, “Eyes for You,” which releases on Friday. The video about the song posted on social media today features his fiancé. The duo made their engagement Instagram official in late December.
Recently, Tongi caught up with Aloha State Daily and shared inspiration for music, advice from an auntie and reflections on his debut at the Grand Ole Opry.
The popular singer and songwriter has North Shore roots and more than 1.5 million monthly listeners on Spotify. He recently sang “Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride” with the Kamehameha Schools Children’s Chorus for Disney’s live action “Lilo & Stitch,” which was released in May of 2025.
Follow Tongi on Spotify and Instagram.
Jake Shimabukuro. The Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award winning ʻukulele virtuoso has announced his new album, “Calm Seas,” set to release this Friday.
“This project was an eye opening, healing project for me,” he shared in a post on Instagram. “It rekindled my relationship with nature. Each track features meditative soundscapes, in tandem with the ‘Ukulele, all recorded in Hawai’i. Slow down, reflect, and let nature lead the pacing of our lives.”
Shimabukuro’s music took off after his ‘ukulele version of “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” went viral on YouTube and launched his touring career. Today, he is considered one of the best ‘ukulele players in the world and has more than 660,000 monthly listeners on Spotify.
Follow Shimabukuro on Spotify and Instagram.
Kanaka Fyah. The up-and-coming reggae band Kanaka Fyah announced its newest song, “Morning Sun,” which is a collaboration with BraddaHoodz and drops this Friday.
Randin Napeahi, who wrote the band’s popular single “Only Jah Jah Knows” spoke with ASD about that song in October ahead of the band’s performance at the Holo Holo Music Festival on O’ahu. He wrote the group’s No. 1 hit — which has more than 14.7 million streams on Spotify— while traveling Saddle Road on the way home from a gig on Hawai’i Island. The first version of “Only Jah Jah Knows” was captured via a voice memo on Napeahi’s phone, while he simultaneously wrote lyrics.
Today, the band has more than 445,000 monthly listeners on Spotify. Kanaka Fyah is also known for its song “The Underground is Here,” which has more than 1.5 million streams on the same platform.
Follow Kanaka Fyah on Spotify and Instagram.
Know of other artists releasing new music? Send us an email at katie@alohastatedaily.com.
For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up here for our free Daily Edition newsletter.
Katie Helland can be reached at katie@alohastatedaily.com.
