Siren kings
Pasifika subculture in New Zealand / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Siren kings are members of a primarily Pasifika underground youth subculture, originating in South Auckland,[1] which gained popularity in the mid-2010s. The siren scene involves competitions where crews compete for the loudest and clearest sound produced by sirens (loudspeakers or public address systems) attached to cars or bicycles, to win the title of siren king. Māngere is considered to be the birthplace of the siren king culture,[2] with the Te Atatū Peninsula a bastion in West Auckland.[3] The subculture exists mostly within Auckland but has also spread to Metropolitan Wellington, within its heavily Pasifika district of Porirua.[4]
The music produced to be used in siren battles is known as siren beats or siren jams, and is typically music inspired by reggae and dembow that emphasises treble. In 2020, siren beat producer and high school student Jawsh 685's song "Laxed (Siren Beat)" became popular on TikTok, later becoming a global hit when sampled by American singer Jason Derulo, released as "Savage Love (Laxed – Siren Beat)".