“JAEWAR” is a Brooklyn-born, Tidewater Virginia-raised musician, producer, and creative director passionate about creating art that transcends cultural divides and brings communities together.
Blending an innate, playful curiosity with a deep appreciation for his Jamaican and Haitian roots, JAEWAR fuses modern and retro soundscapes to split the difference between groove-driven funk, neo soul, hip-hop, reggae, and jazz. A power player in the Virginia music scene, he currently fronts the band Vibe Riot, a group that aspires to combine their smooth percussive flow with defiant and sexy lyrics to transcend singular genre boundaries through charismatic storytelling. To date, JAEWAR and his team have shared the stage with a multitude of diverse, forward-thinking artists, including Lalah Hathaway, Michael Franti, and Thievery Corporation. He and his team have also had the pleasure of working with fellow industry disruptors such as Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Tank and the Bangas, and Big Freedia—and they’re just getting started!
In addition to his artistic pursuits, JAEWAR is also a devoted community builder, especially within the creative sector. One of his greatest accomplishments to date is establishing Vibe Fest, an annual grassroots music festival in the Charlottesville, Virginia area that uplifts the regional community and expands his global creative reach. JAEWAR has also lent his program management expertise and creative prowess to organizations such as the Charlottesville Albemarle Convention & Visitors Bureau, Discover Black Cville Program, and the University of Virginia. His and his team’s efforts were recently recognized with the U.S. Travel Association’s national Destiny Award in 2022 and the HSMAI’s Adrian Award in 2023 for exemplary achievements in creative marketing and community building.
JAEWAR is a proud graduate of Virginia Tech—go Hokies!
