American reggae act, Algorhythm, has just dropped the first of several related EPs scheduled to release this year as part of their Surroundings series, an exciting project conceived by the band’s manager, Brandon Pescrille. The concept involves the band traveling to different cities around the world where they will write and record music on the spot, often in collaboration with local artists.

According to guitarist, Trevor Young, the band was instantly on board with Pescrille’s idea. “We made our first record, Make It Last, in Costa Rica, so this felt like a natural extension of that, just a faster, more refined version,” he said, referring to the fact that the band’s trips to their chosen destinations will be brief.  “Time is of the essence, and making the most of it is what matters. When we get locked in, it’s game over. The songs start coming to life fast. Inspiration hits differently when we’re genuinely having a good time, especially in an unknown city or a foreign country.

Their first EP in the series was written and recorded while visiting Jamaica for six days, which Young said felt like a natural stop when the Surroundings concept first came to life. “We love it,” Young said about the birthplace of reggae music. “Each of us has been to Jamaica before, whether for work or vacation, and it’s always left a mark on us. Negril, especially, had the exact energy we were looking for.”

The biggest question before heading to Jamaica was where to stay.  “We tried to find places that would spark creativity right away,” Young shared. “There’s this debate we always have – do we want to be in the jungle overlooking the ocean with an unreal view, or down on the beach hearing the waves crash while the breeze rolls in? It’s a tough call. You always want to be where you’re not.”

Ultimately, for their lodging they chose an “amazing house” overlooking Negril’s Seven Mile Beach that was part of a small community built by an artist from the UK. “It was a whole vibe,” Young said. “The house had a record player with a solid selection of classic reggae and dancehall albums, that’s how we started every morning: listening to records.”

Algorhythm had flown down to the Caribbean with essentially a blank slate. Surroundings centers around creative spontaneity, so while the band members had a few ideas floating around in their heads, they didn’t demo or share anything until arriving on the island.

To write and record everything, Algorhythm used a custom rig they brought with them, which included two laptops, a MIDI keyboard, a few mics, and a couple of acoustic guitars.  They also kept a local studio “on standby” in case they want to “work something out together as a full band,” but it never came into play. Young explained, “We build all the drum loops on the go, then Kev heads into the studio when we get home to track them properly. Drums take the longest to record, so this setup helps us stay efficient. “

Efficiency is key to the Surroundings series given the aggressive timeframes they’ve opted to adhere to. “These EPs are really just a challenge to ourselves,” Young said.

They essentially write a song a day, then mix and master everything over the next two weeks. “I send off mixes in our group chat, and we tweak them in real time,” Young shared. “Kyle will build mixes as well and send them through. We usually have a release date set before the project is even finished. The four of us keep our foot on the gas and get it done.”

Young admitted “there are always things we could have done differently, but at the end of the day, we love the music we’re making and putting out.”

Given the spontaneous nature of the project, Algorhythm did not line up any talent to work with ahead of time, preferring to let fate lead them in the spur of the moment. “We went out looking for reggae artists and ended up meeting a local promoter, that’s where it started,” Young recounted. “He introduced us to one person, then another, then another, and eventually we met Ras Humble, Jhava, and Monsterfrass. It was all very organic and real.”

Young added that the singers they chose to feature on the EP aren’t “massive reggae artists,” just “great people and incredibly talented.”  He said, “It’s tough to get heard sometimes, so anytime we come across real talent, we’re all in. So far, we’ve only worked with undiscovered artists. We want to use our platform to shine a light on them as much as possible.”

The EP kicks off with the scorching “No Storm,” a roots rock reggae track with a deep low end, decisive percussion and flurries of Young wailing away on the electric guitar that give it an extra edge. Like on most Algorhythm songs, Wareham’s raspy voice leads the charge, with Young adding vocal harmonies that take the song to the highest level. In the middle of the song, “No Storm” features a dope dub breakdown where the bass and drums are joined by a woodwind jam (courtesy of a synth) and swirling electric guitar notes.

Not to be overlooked, the wicked music of “No Storm” fittingly features the steadfast lyrical sentiments, “The roots run deep,” and “No storm can ever pull the roots up.”

Algorhythm: Kevin Offitzer, Trevor Young and Kyle Wareham

After that incredible start to Surroundings, Vol.1: Jamaica, Algorhythm scores even higher with the next track, “Run it,” a modern reggae banger enhanced by not one but two Jamaican singers that the band befriended on their trip, the aforementioned Monsterfrass and Ras Humble.  The band met them at a jerk chicken shack on the beach and had them freestyle over the song in real time. According to Young, they had actually recorded six artists that day, but ultimately chose Monsterfrass and Ras Humble because they “loved what their vocal tones added.”

With the third song on the EP, Algo softens things up while not relinquishing the tempo with a world-beat flavored dancehall ballad, titled “Come Closer.” For this track, Wareham ended up going to Jhava’s studio to write the Jamaican singer’s verse together. Young applauded, “He went off on it. His verse brings a whole new life to the track.”

Finally, the EP wraps up with “Trip Around the Sun,” a breezy pop reggae tune that sounds straight outa the Cali Roots scene. On this song, all band members share vocals with Young’s really carrying the vibe.

In looking at the Jamaica EP as a whole, the four songs each have their own style, providing a nice variety of sounds. “Honestly, it just evolved that way,” Young commented. “We don’t go in trying to fit into a box or hit specific styles, we just follow what feels right in the moment. That’s kind of the whole point of this project.”

Continuing, he said, “A lot of our songs actually start as more electronic, almost EDM style ideas. We build the track, lay down vocals and lyrics, then take everything apart and rebuild it into what it wants to be. It’s kind of like an art project, nothing’s locked in until it feels right. No matter what style we make, we think it always has an Algorhtyhm feel to it.”

While the band selected only four songs for inclusion, they had actually recorded additional songs, which they also did on their following trip for the next EP to be released, Surroundings, Vol. 2: Florida Keys. “With Jamaica, we came out with about six songs, and the Keys was the same – around six ideas that we felt really good about. From there, it’s all about feel. If something locks into the vibe of that specific place and moment, it makes the EP. If not, we don’t force it.”

Thankfully, the songs that didn’t make the EPs don’t “go to waste,” though.  “We just put them on the back burner,” Young reassured. “A lot of them are already being saved for the full-length album we’re working toward in 2027. So, everything we create still has a home, it’s just about putting it in the right place at the right time.

Beyond the guest singers that the band has chosen to work with, how have the locales they’ve visited impacted the music? Young explained, “They’re two opposite ends of the spectrum, as will be the next EPs we put out. With Jamaica, we leaned heavily into roots, reggae, and dancehall, that’s what we were surrounded by, and it naturally shaped the sound. The Keys was a completely different energy. Think Jimmy Buffet meets Jack Johnson. Super chill and super warm.  We were out on boats, vibing at the pool, walking into beach bars, cruising the streets of Key West…that whole atmosphere just took over. It pushed things in a different direction, and we leaned into it. At the core, though, everything still has the foundation of Algorhythm, just with different toppings depending on where we are and what we’re feeling.

While that is something to look forward to, for now fans can enjoy the new music Algorhythm created on the island home of reggae music. “There’s something special about Jamaica,” Young enthused. “The music, the people, the culture, the spirit of the island. It all runs deep, and you can feel it everywhere you go. Music isn’t just a part of life there, it is the heartbeat. Being in that environment inspired us in a way that’s hard to put into words. We’re beyond grateful to have created this EP there, connect with such incredible people, and build real friendships along the way. Jamaica gave us so much, and we can’t wait to come back.”