# Artikal Sound System

Artikal Sound System is a reggae/pop group from Delray Beach, Florida.

## History

Artikal Sound System is a reggae band based out of South Florida. Founded by Chris Montague (guitar) and Fabian Acuña (bass) in 2012, the band honed their chops backing a series of Caribbean singers. Along the way the boys picked up the insane and absurd keys player Christopher Cope and the heavy footed drummer Adam Kampf before finally trying something a little sonically different with their neighbor, female vocalist Logan Rex. After nearly a decade of playing together the boys sound tight and powerful, creating the perfect foundation for their jazz-influenced singer to dance around on lyrically and literally. What you hear is the sound of friendship, hard work, imagination and the hope to spread their message of love and the importance of having a good time.
Artikal Sound System is known for high-energy live shows and crowd engagement. They have built a strong following by opening for bands like Iration and Dirty Heads and by performing well at larger reggae festivals. Some festivals they performed at include Reggae Rise up in 2023 and Cali Vibes Festival in 2024. They are scheduled to open the highly regarded Closer to the Sun festival in Riviera Maya, Mexico in December 2024.

### Welcome to Florida (2022)

Artikal Sound System released the album Welcome to Florida in 2022. The album received praise from fans and critics upon it's release. Dave Shiffman of RootFire said, "Evolving from a more straightforward roots sound that can be heard on their previously published output, Welcome to Florida fuses reggae with R&B inspired grooves, resulting in a legit crossover record that could please scores of listeners with pop
sensibilities." He continued, "With all due respect to the talented group of musicians, Artikal Sound System’s trump card is Logan Rex. As such, I give credit to the band and Danny Kalb for arrangements and mixes that provide plenty of space to showcase her vocal chops, and I can’t help but think of Gwen Stefani, who parlayed the crossover success of her Anaheim ska band into superstardom as a solo pop singer. Now with the support of a well-established label, let the ascent begin."
Allie Adams of Top Shelf Music also praised Welcome to Florida. Adams wrote, "If you take away only one thing from this entire article, let it be this — you are going to LOVE this album. I say this with the confidence of a straight white man. I don’t care what kind of music you like or don’t like, whether you’re a ska-loving punk, a bleeding-heart indie or a hair-twirling-lollipop-licking-platform-wearing pop princess… somehow the newest album by Delray Beach, Florida-based Artikal Sound System (affectionately known as A.S.S. to their loyal fanbase), Welcome To Florida, bridges all of those genres — and does it fantastically well."

### Happy Holidays (2023)

In 2023, Artikal Sound System recorded a Christmas album of covers called Happy Holidays. Some of the songs covered include Sleigh Ride, Last Christmas, Jingle Bell Rock, Feliz Navidad, Eight Days of Hannukah and You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch. It is a fantastic Christmas album.

### Self Sabotage (2024)

In 2024, Artikal Sound System announced an upcoming new album while touring with Iration and Pepper. The band played some new songs on the tour including their lead single from the album, Self Sabotage.

## Lawsuit against Dua Lipa

In 2023, Artikal Sound System charged that Dua Lipa had stolen the hook from her 2020 song Levitating from the 2017 Artikal Sound System song Live Your Life. Artikal Sound System claimed that one of Lipa’s co-writer had previously worked with a woman who was allegedly taught guitar by the brother-in-law of one band member. The band also claimed that the song was so widely-available that the Levitating writers must have heard it, citing the fact that it had been played at concerts, that they had sold “several hundred” physical CDs, and that it was available on streaming platforms.
In a filing on June 7, 2023, attorneys for both Artikal Sound System and Lipa filed a joint motion, asking the judge to permanently dismiss the case. There was no indication that Lipa had agreed to pay any money or change the credits to her song.

## Lineup
### Current members

* Logan Rex - lead vocals
* Christopher Cope – keyboard
* Chris Montague – guitar (2012–present)
* Fabian Acuna – bass (2012–present)
* Adam Kampf – percussion