The members of reggae band Common Kings — Grey Taumata, Lui Kirimaua, Sasualei "JR King" Maliga, and Jerome Taito — hail from a variety of birthplaces across the South Pacific, and in their youths were united geographically by growing up in Southern California's Orange county. This year, their debut album, Lost In Paradise, has earned the band its first-ever career GRAMMY nomination for Best Reggae Album, and the quartet couldn't be more excited.
"We got a call at 5:30 in the morning. I made the biggest noise, I ran up the stairs," explains bassist Kirimaua of the moment they found out about the nomination. "I clearly did not respect the sleep of anybody else in that hotel," he jokes. (The band was out on tour at the time in support of Matisyahu.)
When questioned about the album that earned them their first nomination, the Common Kings sung the praises of superstar producer Poo Bear, who took an interest in their sound and helped guide the record across the finish line.
"There's a lotta love and a lotta heart that went into that project," Kirimaua explains. "We spent some late, late nights. … [Poo Bear and his team the Audibles] didn't have to do that, but they did."
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On the subject of where they might keep their GRAMMY statuettes should they win, the band members have some different ideas. Kirimaua and lead singer Maliga both seem content to keep their awards on their pillows next to their heads while they sleep — "on a golden pillow," King interjects.
Lead guitarist Grey, meanwhile, has plans similar to those of Best Remixed Recording GRAMMY nominee Latroit — mounting his GRAMMY Award on a gold chain and wearing it around his neck at all times, "like Flavor Flav!"
