Having toured with the likes of Korn, Papa Roach, I Prevail, Stone Sour, Babymetal and P.O.D., Islander have made a name for themselves over the last nine years since their formation with their reggae-inflected take on nu-metal and alt-rock. The South Carolina-based trio have been hard at work on their forthcoming full-length, but as COVID-19 has spread around the world and the pandemic took a very personal toll on the band’s two brothers, Mikey and Chris Carvajal, they took a break from writing for that album to record a timely cover of R.E.M.’s “It’s The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine).” Proceeds from the single — which represents the group’s first release since signing to Better Noise Music — will benefit the NYC Low-Income Artist + Freelancer Relief Fund.
“The world is being hit hard by COVID-19,” the Islander brothers said in a joint statement. “Our hearts especially go out to the NYC community and everyone struggling right now. Our Aunt/Tia Lolin is one of the many that have passed away because of this terrible virus. So this effort to raise funds is dedicated to her huge heart and love for her neighbors.
“She was always thinking of others before herself. In honor of Tia Lolin, a portion of proceeds from this track will go to the NYC Low-Income Artist + Freelancer Relief Fund to support the artists and freelancers that are struggling in her hometown of NYC. We love you, fellow artists. We love you, Tia Lolin.”