Arise Roots

Arise Roots is an American roots reggae band based in Los Angeles, California, known for their positive, classic reggae sound blended with modern influences. Formed in 2010, the band originally consisted of Ron Montoya on drums, Rudy Covarrubias on bass, Todd Johnson on keyboards and harmonies, and later added lead vocalist Karim Israel after he answered a Craigslist ad. Lead guitarist Robert Sotelo soon joined the lineup, and the band self-released their debut EP, Lay Your Guns Down, on November 16, 2010. In 2013, Arise Roots released their first full-length album, Moving Forward, a 16-track project they self-produced and recorded at Kingsize Soundlabs in Los Angeles. This was followed by their second album, Love & War, released in 2014 and engineered by E.N. Young of Tribal Seeds. The album featured collaborations with several notable reggae artists, including Rootz Underground, HIRIE, and Dan Kelly of Fortunate Youth. In 2016, the band further expanded their reach with the singles “Rootsman,” featuring Capleton, and the vinyl-only release “Crisis.” In 2020, Arise Roots appeared on the Cali Roots Riddim 2020 compilation with the song “Cali Love” and released their third studio album, Pathways, through Ineffable Records. The album featured artists such as Eric Rachmany of Rebelution, Kyle McDonald of Slightly Stoopid, Lutan Fyah, and Nattali Rize, and marked a lineup change with Blake Colie replacing Ron Montoya on drums. In 2023, the band released their first dub project, Dubways, mixed by Zion I Kings, as a companion album to Pathways, continuing their evolution within modern roots reggae.