In Hawaiian culture, “ohana” means family, a word that practically defines Pepper and makes a very fitting title for the trio’s latest album due out April 29, 2016 on their own LAW Records. Formed in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii by Kaleo Wassman, Bret Bollinger and Yesod Williams, the now California-based trio relied on their longtime friendship and creative partnership to self-produce (their first time) and record Ohana in their newly established Kona Inn Recording Studio in Redondo Beach (former studio home to Pennywise). With Ohana, Pepper was able to bridge their past with their future. The first single, “Vacation”, bassist Bret Bollinger describes as “...if James Brown and The Beach Boys got together and had way too many Mai Tai’s,” while “Start You Up” and “Never Ending Summer” demonstrate that with Ohana, Pepper is on a whole new level and better than ever.

The group eventually caught the attention of Law Records and in speaking with Law’s Yesod Williams, he shares how Cydeways wound up on his radar, telling The Pier: “I was podcasting Joe D. from Iration and he mentioned Cydeways to me. He’s friends with Dustin. After a little time, Hawaiian time that is, I finally reached out to Dustin. He sent me a track he had coincidentally done featuring another mutual friend in the Rhymesayers artists, Grieves, serendipity? I’d say so!”