There’s something about Hawaii that brings out the best in musical duo Chris Ramos and Sonny Burns, affectionately known as island music jam artists CRSB. They wouldn’t have it any other way.
The charismatic singer-songwriters are quick to point out that Hawaii was the first place outside of their native California to embrace their music.
CRSB’s forte is blending just the right proportions of island music, reggae, R&B and soul. A big part of their appeal are the harmonic strums of the ukulele, which have become the backbone and signature of their feel-good sound, on both high-energy jams and love ballads. After listening to the island soul tendencies and soothing riffs of the Bay Area-bred cousins, it would be easy to think they were raised in the 808.
THE INTRA-ISLAND MUSIC TOUR 2016
With CRSB, Inna Vision, Manny Phesto, Mayda, Megatron, R-Dot, and Tripple Los and Bigg Happ
Where: The Republik, 1349 Kapiolani Blvd.
When: 8 p.m. Wednesday
Cost: $20, ages 18+
Info: flavorus.com Opens in a new tab or 855-235-2867
Both are self-taught ukulele players who produce and arrange their own music. Burns said family members with roots in the islands introduced them to Hawaii’s unofficial native instrument as kids growing up in Vallejo, Calif., and they haven’t put down their ukes since.
“Hawaii pulled us in and drew us into creating as kids. The people of Hawaii are raised on ukuleles, so there is nothing we can do to impress the locals,” Burns joked. “The fact that we are still able to impress by the melodies we use and just by being us is amazing. It’s a beautiful thing because we embrace the culture the same way.”
Their fans in Hawaii adopted CRSB as their own, beginning in 2012 when “Give It Up” hit local airwaves. Since then the pair has had a number of top singles, including “Cool Lovin’,” “Baby It’s You,” “You and I” and “LoveGun.” Over the last few months, their song “Don’t Care at All” off of their album “Evolution” has routinely charted on 93.1 The Pa‘ina’s “Mo Better 4 at 4” and KCCN FM 100’s Top 5 at Five countdowns.
Ramos said they sometimes still have trouble believing that their music has reached the United Kingdom, Guam, Saipan and New Zealand, not to mention the U.S. heartland. Many of their songs are used in an ukulele class at Boise State University, he added.
Burns credits the growing popularity of island music festivals on the West Coast and in Las Vegas for the increased spotlight on Polynesian artists.
The merging of Polynesian culture and music has been gratifying for the duo.
“To see the Poly culture so spread out across the world, it is finally at the point where (Polynesians) are getting exposure,” Burns said. “We are definitely trying to fill that gap and show that our culture as an ethnicity and as an area can also share the same type of energy.”
Fresh off of headlining their “Evolution Tour,” they’re co-headlining the Intra-Island Music Tour 2016 with Inna Vision at The Republik. CRSB has made summer visits to Hawaii an annual occurrence over the past six years, allowing them to relish the island support, build their music careers and stay connected with relatives.
Family and friends were important to their early career and encouraged the duo to pursue their musical aspirations. Ramos and Burns were able to sidestep gangs and other reckless behavior in high school, finding singing to impress the ladies to be much more enjoyable.
“We’ve known what we wanted to be for the longest. Our friends and family wouldn’t allow us to get into trouble,” said Burns.
The notion of serenading girls came full circle recently when a Campbell High School senior sang their song “You and I” to ask a girl to the senior prom. A video of the “promposal” on YouTube prompted CRSB to pay a surprise visit to the school in April, which led to surprises for the artists as well.
“The initial plan was to sing in a classroom, not the whole school,” said Ramos. “We didn’t know they would know our songs as well as they did. We don’t live out there, so we don’t hear our songs on the radio like they do, and the fact that the girl said yes was perfect.”
With two projects coming out this year and a new album on the way in early 2017, Burns is hopeful that their gratitude and drive will continue to help them share their music with as many fans as possible.
“Right now it’s about getting our music out around the world and trying to affect lives and love,” said Burns.
