Oogee Wawa – “Just Keep Swimming”
Long Island’s own Oogee Wawa is back with their HIGHLY anticipated full length album, “Just Keep Swimming”! This 11 track album is packed irresistible instrumentals and hard-hitting vocals that you can’t help but play on repeat. Throughout the past decade, Oogee Wawa have been pioneers in the music scene, especially here in NY. They know exactly what it means to be part of a music COMMUNITY and demonstrate that beautifully with every show they play and song they record. If you need a band to look to for inspiration, Oogee Wawa is your go to!
“Just Keep Swimming” is the album that all Oogee fans have been waiting for! This album represents the growth that these guys have made throughout the years. Oogee Wawa explores more serious topics while still maintaining the upbeat, positive vibe that their fans know and love. “Just Keep Swimming” kicks off with “Keep UP”, a track beaming with classic Oogee vibes you know and love. The song intros with drumming that instantly gets your body rocking and leads into Jesse’s (Oogee Lee) strong vocals. My favorite line of the song comes in the second verse. “What are your dreams? To some it’s make-believe, a fantasy depicted of what can never be but not for me. It’s the reason that I breathe, the one thing that I’m working really hard to achieve.” This line hit me immediately because it’s something every single one of us can relate to. We all have dreams and aspirations and for the most part, we’re the only thing hold ourselves back. Sometimes all it takes a reminder from one of our favorite bands that we can do whatever we put our mind to!
Oogee Wawa follows up with “Sharks”, a song that has quickly become a fan favorite from the album. The song takes the listener through the trials and tribulations of navigating the music industry and staying true to yourself and your craft. When people recognize a band/artist with true talent, they are quick to jump on the bandwagon. While that is amazing on paper, it doesn’t always turn into a positive interaction, as many people look to take advantage of a good situation. The chorus of the track leaves you with a message to not get tied up in the nonsense and keep pushing forward! Lead singer Nicholas Loiodice lets that message be heard on the chorus. “There’s too many sharks in these waters, I gotta keep swimming. I gotta work hard for my daughters, handling business, fuck all the bitchin’, focus the vision. There’s too many sharks in these waters, and no one wants to listen. There’s too many sharks in these waters, time to go fishing.” A true standout on this track is the insane guitar riff that Lawrence Coleman III lays down towards the end of the song. This dude is a wizard on the guitar and everyone is going to love the sound it adds to Oogee Wawa!
“Herbal Aroma” follows up next, a true smoker’s anthem that all of the fans will vibe with. This song brings all the positive vibes that you expect to hear on an Oogee track. Nicky’s vocals shine through this track immediately. “She got that herbal aroma, the eyes of a stoner, so sexy when she’s sitting their sipping on Corona. She’s got that herbal aroma, the eyes of a stoner. With those looks she was born with, she said she wants to smoke til the morning.” In addition to being a great smoking song, it doubles as a love song. Jesse raps, “She’s got those take home to mom vibes, the type to shorten up long car rides. We sharing playlists on Spotify, our time occupied is optimized, my ride or die.” This is a song I picture Nicky not even having to sing live because the crowd will be singing every word back to the band! Oogee Wawa keeps the positive vibes going with the next track, “Sweet Sippin’” featuring Florida’s reggae band, Resinated! This song exemplifies everything you think of when you think of the perfect Summer anthem. This is the song you will be blasting through your car speakers on the way to the beach. Jesse’s first verse is enough to put you in a good mood. “I need a sandy beach, a fat beat and moving feet. A little liquor, twisted swisher and that southern heat. Palm trees, breeze, sun kissing our skin, lets have a roll in the sheets and bring out the freaks. She’s got it going on.” What more can you need on a beautiful summer day?! Kenny Mullins of Resinated continues the good vibes with a verse that will have you singing and dancing along!
In true Oogee Wawa fashion, they switch up the flow again with the following track, “Pressure”. What I love so much about this song is how well Jesse and Nicky’s vocals compliment each other. Jesse’s darker, heavier vocals are perfectly matched with Nicky’s serenading chorus. The simple repetition of “do you feel the pressure?” adds volumes to this track! This track was the one that surprised me the most on the album. I don’t associate Oogee’s live shows with moshing, just dancing and positive vibes. However, the kick ass ending to this song is filled with nasty guitar riffs, powerful bass and heavy drumming that makes you want to start throwing your body around! I can’t wait to see a crowd’s reaction to the infectious instrumentals. Oogee Wawa teamed up with Tropidelic, Bumpin Uglies and Jordan Miller for the next song, “The Circle”. This song is POWERFUL! This was one of the most anticipated songs of the album, especially for us Long Islanders. We have heard so many variations of this track as it has become a staple of an Oogee show. The band is known for showing love to the homies in the music scene and they regularly invite other musicians to hop on stage with them and spit some bars over this beat. Oogee Wawa did an amazing job choosing the best MCs/vocalists to feature on the album version of the track. Now let’s get a Long Island remix!
“Just Keep Swimming” powers on with “Mecca”, a track that lets Oogee Wawa show appreciation to their home state. The chorus bellows, “New York is in the building, East Coast has got the rhythm for streets like city pigeons. Above the competition, the East is on a mission for peace!” I love this chorus. People constantly compare NY/LI to the state of the scene years back and say we fell off. Oogee is another band to prove that those people couldn’t be more wrong! Long Island/New York is here to make their lasting mark on the music industry. Despite the song having a darker instrumental vibe, Oogee adds keys and a steel drum that adds a positive/island vibe to the track. This band’s ability to make any type track they want and still stick true to their roots amazes me! “City to City”, the .Wav Rider Remix, follows up. This has always been a favorite track of mine, so I was elated to see there was a remix of it on this new album. Oogee further demonstrates their love for all, releasing this song for all of their fans, friends and family around the nation. I’ve never met a band that is more welcoming and friendly than these guys. They truly appreciate all the love they get and never take it for granted. We need more bands to release tracks like this!
“Can’t Catch Me” follows up, a song that we’ve heard performed live and have been itching for a recorded version. Oogee Wawa did not disappoint and gave us exactly what we were waiting for! “Can’t Catch Me” has a dubbed vibe with Chad’s infectious bass line. You can’t help but rock along to the track! Oogee Wawa ends the album with “Lunatic” and “Believe”. “Lunatic” explores the topics of depression and self-doubt. What I love is how the band can twist a song that covers such heavy topics into a positive light. “You’re being too critical, thinking so cynical, you stuck to our principals, in times that’s so political. Transitioned into digital, made our dreams visible, stop acting like it’s pitiful, so far the story’s biblical. Pat yourself on the back man, learn how to relax. Enjoy these moments while they last so you can laugh at the past.” The band ends the album with “Believe”, an upbeat track that leaves the listener feeling hopeful and positive. “Some people see this life’s a dream, open your eyes it’s so serene, and just believe.”
Oogee Wawa has demonstrated so much growth and maturity on “Just Keep Swimming”. This album is going to become an instant classic not only in the Reggae Rock scene, but for all music lovers. There isn’t a track on here that you can’t vibe with. Much love to the homies in Oogee Wawa for always representing Long Island to the fullest! Make sure you follow Oogee Wawa on all of their social media platforms and stream songs from “Just Keep Swimming” on the blog’s Spotify playlist: After Hours Review!