HIRIE

Hirie, a singer and songwriter rooted in Hawaii, wove her worldwide experiences into a rich, energetic blend of reggae pop throughout the mid-2010s. Supported by her six-piece ensemble, the artist—born in the Philippines, raised in Italy, and based on Oahu—achieved her initial breakthrough via the optimistic Wandering Soul, released in 2016, then extended that momentum with Dreamer in 2019.

Her father's role as a United Nations employee shaped her multicultural childhood, prompting the family's relocation from Europe to Hawaii, where she discovered her spiritual home. Drawing from her birthplace's Filipino roots alongside the island's reggae traditions and indigenous elements, she channeled those influences into the luminous, relaxed pop that defined her self-titled debut album from 2013. For the follow-up, she partnered with the collective Rootsfire label and brought in producer Danny Kalb. Backed by her San Diego-based group, the 2016 release Wandering Soul expanded sonically through added horns, dub methods, and intermittent psychedelic layers, while incorporating appearances by Trevor Hall, Nahko Bear, and Nattali Rize. Dreamer arrived in 2019, showcasing an array of approaches that ranged from relaxed reggae to ska-tinged rock and polished pop.