An ode to South Auckland Success
Elisapeta Dawson, Ngare Hauata of Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Hamoa (she/her)
If you spent quarantine on TikTok, listening to the radio, or paying attention to what’s happening in Aotearoa, you know the phenomenon that is “Loud and Styla” Jawsh685.
Debuting in 2019, he skyrocketed with the aid of Tiktok and his track “Laxed (Siren Beat)”. The original audio amassed over 50 million ‘creations’ on TikTok. This spawned global celebrations of culture through the app, in a trend called the ‘Culture Dance’, with Jawsh’s own 685 references (Samoa’s calling code).
Unfortunately, the powers that be can never let the good flourish without trying to line their own pockets. So in April 2020, Jason Derulo dropped a ‘Culture Dance’ video captioning it “IS THIS A TREND”, acting like he didn’t know what he was up to. Typical. While Sony Music were trying to find Jawsh’s mum on Facebook, Derulo didn't feel the need to wait for a sign off on the production, and according to one of his mates went “rogue”. He put his lyrics over the siren-beat without crediting or acknowledging Jawsh.
Jalaiah Hamron did not get credit for the ‘Renegade’ dance, in a similar situation. As the New York Times put it, “to be robbed of credit on TikTok is to be robbed of real opportunities. In 2020, virality means income.”
As we gather here today to celebrate the astonishing success and talent of a young man from South Auckland, so did the TikTok community. Accountability was forced upon the elite by the people, with audiences across the globe who utilised Jawsh’s beat in celebration of themselves giving that celebration back to him. Goliath was defeated.
On 11 June 2020, the Hot 100 chart-topper was officially released: “Savage Love (Laxed - Siren Beat)” by Jawsh685 and Jason Derulo. This made Jawsh685 the first and only Pasifika artist to achieve the #1 single in the UK. It was so huge that BTS hopped on the track—K-pop’s official marriage with South Auckland.
Siren Beat uses sounds from siren speakers, usually stuck on bikes or cars. Variety highlights the way it’s “Reminiscent of Jamaica’s dancehall scene and Latin America’s embrace of reggaeton, it’s a musical point of pride.”
685, Mr Whippy speakers in baskets, ‘leshgos’—they are the wealth and culture which became popularised, although the music had value prior to international recognition. Those sounds are inherently Jawsh, embedded in Aiga; he will always keep repping where he’s from. South Auckland has always believed in itself.
Throughout the pandemic, headlines were littered with “South Auckland” and “highschooler”—teenagers were leaving schools to join the workforce. Divisions became apparent with corresponding headlines of those benefiting from the pandemic. Boys and girls woke up as adults, to work. As my Poppa did, as my mother always told me was expected from the eldest, or rather it being what you do for your family.
National lockdown underway, Jawsh685 emerged as an international success. This forced a national media celebration of SA, and disproving tensions created by the national urgency to inquire on SA’s competency and agency.
South Auckland wasn’t waiting on you. It never needed your approval. The man with the #1 single in the world, posting Bible verses & his bros going for Head Boy. This chart topper is solidification of his future legendary status, a legend who is “Focusing on all the positive things to come, and getting Manurewa 67 on the Map.”