REVIEW: Chili Guys – ‘Chili Island’

Chili Guys are back, and this time they’ve bottled up the sunshine. Their second full-length project ‘Chili Island’ is a breezy collection of summer anthems built for backyard cookouts, boat decks, and anywhere the drinks are cold and the vibe is easy. With its official arrival on the 17th June, the Miami-based crew deliver their most relaxed, rhythm-heavy work to date.

At the heart of the new release is ‘Listening to Reggae’, a swaying tribute to the genre that clearly runs through the band’s DNA. Part love letter, part spiritual kinship, the track blends soft horn stabs, sun-drenched guitar licks, and a smooth groove that echoes through the whole record. It’s preceded by a sweet vocal cameo from frontman Mike Halley’s son Indigo, a moment that feels emblematic of Chili Guys’ family-first, fun-focused approach to music-making.

Where their debut ‘Love, Papa’ was rooted in the transformative experience of new parenthood, ‘Chili Island’ zooms out to capture a broader palette of lazy afternoons, endless summer nights, and that collective exhale when the world finally slows down.

The production is polished but not overcooked, thanks to a collaborative team that includes producer-engineer Michael ‘Vazen’ Vanasek and co-producer Frank Kenobi of ¡Mayday!. Contributions from regional heavy-hitters like Alex Coombs (on trumpet) and Branden Decaso (on sax) round out the grooves with a rich, live-band energy that elevates the laid-back sound without overpowering it.

While their influences are easy to trace, the Chili Guys never lean too heavily in one direction. Instead, they glide between styles with the confidence of a group that knows how to read the room and soundtrack it at the same time. It’s that genre fluidity, paired with an inviting warmth, that makes ‘Chili Island’ a mood and a destination.

If ‘Love, Papa’ was about grounding yourself, ‘Chili Island’ is about letting go. It’s the kind of album that makes you want to hit play and kick off your shoes. And in a world that rarely slows down, that’s no small thing.

Chili Guys’ new album ‘Chili Island’ will be available to stream from the 17th June.