Aloha Got Soul

Aloha Got Soul is a record label from Honolulu, Hawaii, founded in 2014 by Roger Bong. The label was up and running already in 2010, from the eponymous blog Aloha Got Soul. The present DJ and radio moderator Bong was actually born in Seattle, Washington and moved during his childhood to Hawaii. Admittedly, he noticed how much the island was dear to his heart, when he began to study in Oregon. »I had terrible homesickness« he recalls. »Then I heard DJ Muros’ ›Hawaiian Breaks‹ mix and was totally astounded. There was this music scene, which I never knew existed.« As a teenager, Roger Bong had ransacked his parents’ and his friends’ record collections, searching for good music, but he hardly wasted a thought on the Hawaiian soul-scene. That changed with the Mackey Feary Band and their song »A Million Stars«, a song which Roger Bong knew already from his teenage years and had rediscovered whilst listening to DJ Muro.

In 2010, he started the blog and the radio programme Aloha Got Soul, which exclusively dealt with Hawaiian music from the soul and funk field. The requests for obscure treasures accumulated. Simultaneously, Roger Bong was inspired by the work of others. »Light In The Attic, Numero Group, Awesome Tapes From Africa, RVNG Intl. and Music from Memory« he lists, »all labels, which make great reissue work; it became clear to me, that Hawaii also needed it. Because when we don’t reissue these gems…well, someone else from elsewhere will do it!« Roger Bong would not like to just edit old, regional specialities with Aloha Got Soul, rather also bolster contemporary acts from Hawaii; it should not end there with re-issues. It’s also important to him, that the spirit of the island is conveyed. »Hawaii is a spiritual place, which you can hear in the music. The music that I publish must have soul, convey a feeling, which is far-reaching.« So just like the love for his home, which Roger Bong was not born in.