Justin Wellington is a singer-songwriter from Papua New Guinea. With a style that he self-describes as “island pop” or “urban island,” his songs draw heavily from a wide array of styles including zouk, reggae, dancehall, R&B, and reggaeton. A regular globetrotter, he has traveled and performed throughout North America, the South Pacific, and Southeast Asia, something that has definitely influenced his music. Wellington grew up inspired by pop artists like Lionel Richie, Michael Jackson, and Boyz II Men before becoming infatuated with reggae and island music during his high school years. He made his official debut in 2005 with the album Much Love, which was followed by Jw in 2007, and Reign of Morobe in 2010. In the following years, he took the Pacific by storm with a handful of singles such as “Island Sound” (2011), “Need You” (2013), “My Girl” (2018), and “Iko Iko,” a collaboration with Solomon Islander reggae outfit Small Jam that was released in 2019 but went viral on social media in 2021. The track’s viral success even reached Europe, breaking into the Top 200 in France.
