Hawaiian Artist Maoli Bridges Island Soul and Country Storytelling on New Album MMO3
- Anne Connor
- 4 hours ago
- 5 min read
By Anne Connor | The Sound Cafe Journal
Hawaiian-born artist Maoli is set to return with a new chapter in his rapidly expanding musical story, announcing the release of his forthcoming album MMO3, arriving August 28. The project marks the latest installment in his widely embraced MMO (Maoli Music Overload) series, continuing a creative run that has helped propel the artist beyond island shores into a global audience exceeding 1.1 billion streams.
Ahead of the album’s release, Maoli has unveiled its newest single, “Good On You,” offering another glimpse into a record that blends island roots, reggae warmth, country storytelling, and modern soul into a cohesive, genre-fluid identity that has become his signature.
Produced by Grammy Award-winning producer J-Vibe (Jason Farmer), MMO3 continues a collaboration that frames Maoli’s sound in a polished but organic sonic landscape, one that carries both radio-ready clarity and the grounded feel of live musicianship rooted in tradition and place.
At the heart of the new project is a philosophy that extends far beyond streaming numbers or chart positions.
“If I have one person listening, 10 people listening, or 10,000 people listening, it doesn’t matter,” Maoli says. “I want to show the world we’re very similar, and I think it’s my purpose – my calling. I really believe this music we play could do a lot of great things. I believe it could change the world for better.”
It’s a sentiment that runs through MMO3, an album shaped by themes of unity, love, positivity, and cultural connection. Across twelve tracks, Maoli continues to explore the intersections between island life and country storytelling, two worlds that, in his hands, feel less like distant genres and more like neighbouring dialects of the same emotional language.
The new release follows a strong line of recent singles that have already begun to define the tone of the record. Alongside “Good On You,” MMO3 includes “Some Are Just Better,” “Clarity” featuring Kabaka Pyramid, “Feels Like Love,” and the most recent release “Runnin’ Me Off,” which features special guest Maddie Font of Maddie & Tae. The latter has already drawn attention from critics, with Holler describing the duet as “an incredible pairing,” underscoring Maoli’s increasing ability to bridge stylistic worlds without losing authenticity in either.
The album’s release also arrives during a landmark touring year for Maoli, whose live presence has grown into a major international draw. His 2025 “Last Sip of Summer Tour” spanned the United States, Australia, and New Zealand, with the first three New Zealand shows alone selling more than 40,000 tickets. The tour continued through major venues including Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena, Los Angeles’ Greek Theatre, and New York’s Webster Hall, reinforcing the scale of his cross-Pacific appeal.
This summer, Maoli continues that momentum with appearances at major festivals including Bourbon & Beyond in Louisville and Reggae on the Rocks at the iconic Red Rocks Amphitheatre, stages that reflect both the country and reggae communities that have embraced his hybrid sound.
The touring success follows what has been a defining period in Maoli’s career. In 2025 alone, he made his debut at the Grand Ole Opry, an important milestone for any country-influenced artist, and appeared on national television via The TODAY Show, introducing his music to an even broader mainstream audience. That same year also saw the release of Last Sip of Summer, followed by Last Sip of Summer (Island Vibe Edition), a reimagined companion project that leaned further into his Pacific roots.
Critical response has continued to highlight the duality at the centre of his sound. Rolling Stone noted, “He’s as country as it gets, and this record was his way of letting the world know,” while Nashville Lifestyles described him as “bringing his mix of country, reggae, and island pop to the mainland… capable of brightening any day.”
Maoli’s rise has been anything but overnight. His musical foundation began in seventh grade when he first picked up the ukulele, an early introduction to the instrument that would anchor his creative identity. Years later, with encouragement from his uncle, he returned to music more seriously, an inflection point that ultimately led to a 15-year career marked by consistent evolution, independent success, and an ever-expanding global audience.
Earlier releases laid the groundwork for what was to come. His sophomore album Rock Easy reached the Top 5 on the Billboard Reggae charts, producing three No. 1 singles: “Breaking My Heart,” “Whisper,” and “Rock Easy.” By 2020, Maoli had earned Group of the Year and Album of the Year at the iHeart Island Awards for Sense of Purpose, followed by additional Album and Song of the Year honours in 2021.
His catalogue also includes a series of widely streamed reinterpretations of country and pop favourites, including covers of Maddie & Tae’s “Every Night Every Morning” (74.3 million streams), Brett Young’s “Mercy” (61.4+ million streams), and “In Case You Didn’t Know” (26+ million streams). These interpretations have played a significant role in expanding his audience beyond traditional genre boundaries.
Today, Maoli stands at a creative intersection where island reggae, country soul, and contemporary pop storytelling converge. His artistic mission remains rooted in representation, bringing visibility to Hawaiian culture while highlighting the shared emotional terrain between island communities and rural Americana.
As he puts it, the goal is not separation, but connection.
In his own words and through his music, Maoli continues to suggest that distance between cultures is often smaller than it seems, bridged by melody, rhythm, and lived experience.
MMO3 appears set to continue that journey, carrying forward a series that has already become one of the defining bodies of work in modern island-infused popular music.
MMO3 Track List
Almost Was
Borrow Tomorrow
Clarity (feat. Kabaka Pyramid)
Feels Like Love
God On a Gravel Road
Good On You
Heart Of A Cowboy
I Got A Beer For That
Loving You Comes Easy
Runnin’ Me Off (feat. Maddie Font)
Some Are Just Better
Tequila Heartache
More information on Maoli can be found at Maoli Official Website
At The Sound Cafe we don't simply review music. We explore the stories behind the songs, the journeys behind the artists, and the moments that shape their creative lives. Our role is not to tell readers what to think, but to help them understand why the music matters.
About The Writer:
Anne Connor has made significant contributions to The Sound Cafe through her insightful writing and support of emerging artists in the music scene. Her expertise and her passion for storytelling have helped elevate the platform's profile, fostering a deeper connection between artists and audiences.
With a real passion for global music, Anne's involvement as a juror for national awards underscores her commitment to recognizing and celebrating talent within the Canadian and wider global music community.
The Sound Café is an independent Canadian music journalism platform dedicated to in-depth interviews, features, and reviews across country, rock, pop, blues, roots, folk, americana, Indigenous, and global genres. Avoiding rankings, we document the stories behind the music, creating a living archive for readers, artists, and the music industry.
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