More than a decade into an already-impressive recording career, HIRIE (a.k.a. Trish Jetton) is proud to be delivering her latest album, PHASES, which documents a brand-new moment in her life with her strongest set of songs yet. The majority of the album (which comes out October 3, via Controlled Substance Sound Labs/Easy Star Records) was written over the past few years as Trish settled into a new—yes—phase of her life: she got sober just under three years ago, had a new baby, and moved back to her hometown in Hawaii. For some artists, that confluence of events might have been stifling; for Trish, it resulted in a creative outpouring that produced 12 powerful songs and new energy for her to keep making music and touring.  

Once again working with producer Danny Kalb (The Green, The Movement, Ben Harper), who she had worked with on the albums Wandering Soul and Dreamer, Trish was able to hone her material into this statement album. "Danny and I have a special, symbiotic relationship in the studio," Trish explains. "We understand each other so well, speaking the same language and finishing each other's thoughts, even in silence. I love how I can anticipate his next move, as he does mine—which allows us to flow creatively and get things done efficiently." Her backing band on the recordings has been another positive constant, including Chris delCamino (sax, flute, keys), Andrew McKee (trombone, percussion), Andy Flores (bass), and Blaine Dillinger (guitars)—all original members of her band—along with Matt Benoit (in the band since 2017) and Daniel Rodriguez, who joined more recently. delCamino, McKee, and Rodriguez all contributed to the writing and production, as well. Trish handpicked some collaborators to surround herself with to round out the tunes, including Josh Swain of The Movement, Karim Israel of Arise Roots, Cas Haley, Mike Love, and Inna Vision. "The artists I chose to collaborate with are some of my favorite human beings," she says. "I try and let the songs tell me what they need." This meant she wasn't just chasing greater reach by adding random features, but really finding the artists she felt connected to, whom she felt could bring something to these songs. Explaining further, she says, "From Karim, with his profound lyrical storytelling, to Mike Love on 'For Me and You,' who knows how to stir the dust in your soul." One of the stand outs is Josh Swain's feature on the single "All Is OK," as both artists are on sober journeys that come across in the subtext of the song, with the songwriting process helping them connect with each other as friends and supporters even further. "The first time I heard his feature, I felt like I really finally understood what the song was about."

As for making the album while pregnant, Trish says, "I felt really at peace during this time, and the music was just flowing. The entire writing and recording process I got to experience pregnant—which I didn't expect to have such a profound effect on my album-making journey." 

Trish feels more supported as an artist by the label team around her on this go-around, having now released records since 2013 in all sorts of different set ups. The combined efforts of the two labels together is a brand new, unique partnership by two major entities within the U.S. reggae scene, who had been friends and colleagues, but had to this point never worked together on a release. "As an artist, sometimes you just want to focus on creating," Trish says. "But in today's music industry, you are more than just a songwriter or performer. You are a social media manager, content creator, and marketing novice. Having a team that can help lighten your load or cheerlead you when you need it, makes you feel like you can get through it. It's been really nice feeling like I have multiple hands, ears, and hearts working together to bring forth this project." 

HIRIE will be touring after the Phases' release, playing 19 shows to start over October and November, throughout the mainland U.S. and in Hawaii. 

MORE ABOUT HIRIE

Trish Jetton began performing under the stage name HIRIE in the early 2010s, as she began working on her first album, produced by E.N. Young, then the keyboardist of Tribal Seeds, in San Diego. She was born in the Philippines, then followed her U.N.-connected parents to grow up in Italy for much of her early life, before settling in on Oahu, for her most formative years. She chose to use HIRIE because she added an H for Hawaii to Irie, the Jamaican slang word for good or healthy. 

In 2013, she released her self-titled debut, which was followed by Wandering Soul in 2016 and Dreamer in 2019. Both albums, along with extensive touring, helped establish HIRIE as the leading female voice in American reggae. Her last album was Mood Swing (2022), which included the hit songs "Blacklist" (with Matisyahu) and "I Miss You" (with Spragga Benz).