Reggae returns to the Vilar with SOJA and HIRIE 

Just in time for a sweet Valentine’s night, Grammy-winning reggae band SOJA comes to the Vilar Performing Arts Center with special guest HIRIE opening the show. 

SOJA, an acronym for Soldiers of Jah Army, is the first American reggae-rock band to win a Grammy with its 2021 release, “Beauty in the Silence.” The album features various guest artists, including UB40, Slightly Stoopid, J Boog and Rebelution. The Virginia-based band represents the latest generation of reggae influenced by genres like world music, jam, rock, funk and hip-hop. 

Formed in 1997, the eight-piece outfit has developed its own take on roots reggae. The musicians have incorporated music they grew up on, from hip-hop and reggae to rock and folk. 

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“Our musical influences are normally those of storytellers, no matter what the musical genre,” said lead vocalist, guitarist and co-founder Jacob Hemphill. “Reggae is amazing because it tells timeless stories. I love people who tell stories in a way that applies to the human race as a whole —  sad love songs, songs about overcoming some bulls—, songs about life and lessons in the span of life, topics like this are what I gravitate towards. Reggae has that in spades.” 

Right after completing “Beauty in the Silence,” SOJA went to work on another album. They currently have a bunch of songs that are close to finished, some that are completely finished and several in development. Both Hemphill and other members of SOJA write a lot, he said, “so we’re always sort of writing the next album.” 

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And as they write, record and play live, their music morphs a bit. 

“Our tastes in music individually change over time, though mine haven’t really changed that much. I still listen to a lot of Sade, Paul Simon, Bob Marley — singer-songwriter greats. My new favorite artist is Zach Bryan. He has a way of transforming the normal into the supernatural. Country and folk music has always been a big influence on me. I live in Nashville now, and that’s part of the reason,” Hemphill said. 

HIRIE, a reggae-pop band based in California, opens the evening at VPAC. HIRIE’s frontwoman, who has taken the band’s name as her own, blends her rich heritage into the mix, having been born in the Philippines, spending years in Italy and then settling in Hawaii, where she fell in love with reggae. The band’s name stems from adding an “H” for Hawaii to “irie,” a reggae term reflecting a warm greeting and a positive mindset. 

“Hirie is a lifestyle choice, it’s about healing the body, the mind, and the spirit,” she said. “Our fans and our band are always saying ‘let’s get HIRIE.’ It’s a way to detach from the painful complexities of the world and bask in joyous energy.” 

And Hemphill can’t say enough about her and the band. 

“Hirie is amazing. She’s a born performer, a natural singer, and very very charismatic. She also has great songs and skill in songwriting,” he said. “Her band is fire. She’s a standout in the reggae community for sure.”  

VPAC hasn’t brought in reggae since before the pandemic, so it’s long overdue. Stephen Marley and Toots & the Maytals performed in 2019. 

“What better way to bring this sound back into our room than a huge night with two incredible reggae bands: HIRIE and SOJA,” said Cameron Morgan, VPAC executive director. 

So expect an energetic show, full of plenty of musicality, Hemphill said.