We’ve all known at least one: bands that have been great from the get-go, but for some reason haven’t quite hit that critical mass that other similarly talented acts managed to. Well, The Irie have been working their butts off and churning out killer tunes the past few years, and if their last release is any indication, they might be finding themselves with a whole new audience after their EP, Way Out, drops on Friday.
The Irie vocalist and guitarist George Ruiz has been putting out music, both under the band name and as a solo artist, since 2012. I won’t embarrass him by making the obvious comparisons, but he’s one of those dudes we love in this scene—super-talented, immediately recognizable voice, and exudes that pure artist vibe. Sometimes, all you need to take that next step is the right team.
By 2022, the current lineup of Ruiz, bassist Marcus Mapes and drummer/manager Johnny Groove had solidified, and they’ve been going from strength to strength – charting albums and EPs, tour support slots for acts like Katastro and Cydeways, and even opening slots for heavyweights like Sublime with Rome and The Wailers…Which brings us to the upcoming EP release and their last single, “Way Up.”
Like the title suggests, the tune is about that same upward movement and growth. As Ruiz sings in the chorus, “Everybody call me crazy/now I’m on my way up.” It’s an incredibly catchy, beach-ready tune that’s all hooks and no fluff. At a length of 2:40, they really do leave you wanting more—well played, fellas.
Giving the tune an extra injection of energy and vibes are two members of east-coast legends, Badfish. Singer Pat Downes drops a killer second verse, while trumpeter Danny Torgerson (who, as an Arizona boy, often plays with The Irie) helps choruses pop with an ear-worm of a brass line.
Accompanying the song is a cleverly executed video that fits the tune like a glove. The band elected to shoot on a volume stage (one of those cool production spaces with giant high-definition LED screens). This allowed them to film a fun performance video backed by lush forests, sandy beaches and what looks like it might be the world’s most stunning sunset. Simple, but it felt just as organic as the song. Hilariously, the Badfish boys (presumably filming at home in Long Island) find themselves on location on a snowy beach, but it actually gels perfectly in a “wherever you find us, we’ll be good” way.
Long story short: “Way Up” is a banger, and either listening to the track or watching the video pretty much guarantees to brighten your day. I had the chance to sit down with George and Johnny, chatting about everything from the creation of the “Way Up” video to why their very different personalities make them the perfect team. Check out the interview below!
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Growing up in Trinidad and Tobago, reggae and dancehall music sat alongside calypso and soca as sounds inherent to life itself. His father’s Marley, Tosh and Black Uhuru records soon gave way to the sounds of Buju Banton, Capleton and other dancehall titans.
After falling in love with hip-hop and all manner of rock, he began to seek out music that fused all of the above. The incredibly unique Trini reggae rock scene (don’t worry, he’ll be telling you all about it soon) blew his little teenaged mind, and of course when the Cali Reggae scene reached his ears, it was all over.
Nobody was more surprised than him, however, when after emigrating to Canada, he himself ended up in the reggae rock band, Staylefish, touring the continent and discovering what he himself had to offer as a musician. After a long break which allowed him to find himself and some much needed peace, he’s now back to the stage as King Sagz the Dreamer.
During that break, his second love—words—kept him afloat. Working in music journalism and as a freelance copywriter, he eventually landed as a lead copywriter at a tech company’s internal agency. He’ll be forever thankful for the stability it provided—but at the end of the day, Sagz is a Dreamer, and the dream is doing what you love. Return to music: check. And now, getting back to writing not just about music, but the music he loves most, feels like a dream come true.
You can follow his journey on Instagram and TikTok @kingsagz