Jawsh 685: The Viral Dancehall Producer

Jawsh 685 is a New Zealand-born music producer who achieved global fame by blending traditional Polynesian rhythms with contemporary dancehall and pop. His breakthrough instrumental track became a viral internet sensation, leading to a massive international chart hit and multi-platinum certifications worldwide.

Early career

Born Joshua Nanai in 2000, Jawsh 685 grew up in South Auckland, New Zealand, immersed in his Samoan heritage. He began producing music in his bedroom as a teenager, drawing inspiration from the island sounds of his culture and modern electronic production.

Breakthrough

The producer's career exploded in 2020 with the viral spread of his instrumental track Savage Love (Laxed - Siren Beat). The song's distinctive beat, built on a sample of traditional Samoan siva log drums, became a phenomenon on the video platform TikTok. This online success caught the attention of major labels, leading to a formal release through Columbia Records.

Key tracks

Savage Love (Laxed - Siren Beat) - The original viral instrumental that defined the "Siren Beat" trend and launched his career.

Savage Love (Laxed - Siren Beat) [with Jason Derulo] - The official vocal version featuring Jason Derulo, which became a global number-one single in multiple countries.

Savage Love (Laxed - Siren Beat) [with BTS and Jason Derulo] - The remix featuring K-pop superstars BTS, which amplified the song's global reach and chart dominance.

The collaboration with Jason Derulo, officially titled Savage Love (Laxed - Siren Beat), topped the charts in nations including the UK, Australia, and New Zealand, and reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States. The track earned multi-platinum certifications across the globe, solidifying Jawsh 685's impact from a viral moment to a certified commercial hit.

Following this monumental success, Jawsh 685 has continued to work on new music, navigating his path as a young producer who found fame through internet culture. His story represents a modern music industry blueprint where a bedroom producer's sound can captivate the world.

Listeners who enjoy the Polynesian-inspired beats of Jawsh 685 might also appreciate other artists from the region. Six60 is another hugely successful New Zealand group blending pop, rock, and R&B. The smooth reggae-pop sounds of Katchafire offer another take on Pacific music influences. For a different style of New Zealand electronic production, Shapeshifter fuses drum and bass with live instrumentation.