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The Movement is an Americanreggae band originally formed inColumbia, South Carolina, in 2003. The two founding members, Josh Swain and Jordan Miller, then relocated toPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, where they acquired a live rhythm section in the form of local Philadelphia musicians Jay Schmidt and Gary Jackson. The band has released six studio albums. Their music is commonly described as afusion ofrock, reggae,hip hop andacoustic music.

The Movement began in 2003 when childhood friends Josh Swain and Jordan Miller reconnected in their hometown ofColumbia, South Carolina, to write songs as a duo. With Swain on guitar and Miller oncongas, the two utilized adrum machine to complete their sound. Soon after, Jon Ruff, known as "DJ Riggles", joined the group.

In March 2004, they released their first studio album,On Your Feet, which was recorded and mixed at Pat Casey's Modern Music Studios in Columbia, South Carolina. This "alternative reggae" album has proved a mainstay of the reggae/rock genre and is listed at #9 on The Pier's 10 Essential Reggae Rock Albums.^[2]

The band continued to build their following with nonstop touring throughout the United States. They enjoyed success in opening for national acts such asSteel Pulse,Blues Traveler,Slightly Stoopid,The Wailers,Ludacris,G.Love & Special Sauce,Common,Long Beach Shortbus,The Wu Tang Clan,SOJA, and311.^[3]

Swain and Miller relocated toPhiladelphia to begin recording what would become their second studio album, 2008'sSet Sail at Philadelphonic Studios with producer Chris DiBeneditto, who had worked with G.Love & Special Sauce, Slightly Stoopid andThe Expendables. DJ Riggles contributed heavily to the album, but left the band before it was released.

DiBeneditto contacted local drummer Gary Jackson to sit in with Swain and Miller. The three hit it off immediately and Jackson brought in his friend, guitarist Jay Schmidt, to play bass. The release ofSet Sail proved to be a turning point in their careers and propelled the band into further nonstop touring.Set Sail had achieved the #7 spot on iTunes' Top 100 Reggae Albums.^[4]

However, in 2010, Swain left the band while on tour in Arizona. He decided to move toDenver, Colorado, with his girlfriend at the time. Miller kept The Movement marching on by touring for two years.

The band added keyboardist John Bowling who was previously in a band with Miller in 2006, called The Executives.

They released their third studio album,One More Night on March 20, 2010. This was the only album featuring Miller as the sole songwriter. It peaked at #1 on the Billboard reggae album chart. Bowling said, three of the songs fromOne More Night: "When The Feeling Goes Away", "Lonely At The Top" and "Across the Bridge" were songs that were originally written and performed while he and Bowling played together in The Executives.

After only one monthOne More Night was released, Miller told his bandmates he wanted to quit the band he co-founded. He needed to break away for personal reasons and find a relationship to his own health and well-being. He needed to "get home, get healthy, and spend time with his family". So he walked away from the band abruptly just two hours before a scheduled performance atWofford College inSpartanburg, South Carolina, on April 20, 2012. Even though the members were surprised and hurt by Miller's decision, there was no ill will towards him. Miller also wanted a solo career, which was in the works with The Movement's former manager Marshall Lowe.^[5]

Swain's leaving would only be a temporary hiatus, as he returned in 2012 to replace Miller as the lead singer and guitarist.

The reformed trio, with Swain newly at the helm, relocated toSan Diego, California, to record their fourth albumSide by Side, which was released in August 2013, and entered the Billboard Reggae Albums Chart at #2.^[6][7]

In February 2014, members of the band were arrested for possession ofmarijuana.^[8] Later that year, the band released "Beneath The Palms", a surprise acoustic album on Thanksgiving Day as a gift to their fans.

In April 2015, the band released the single, "Rescue" and announced plans to record another album, their fifth LP.^[9] The band's next album,Golden, was released in April 2016 onRootfire Cooperative. They collaborated with aJohn Brown's Body, Matt Goodwin who played keyboards on the album. It topped theBillboard Reggae Albums chart. It reached #1 on iTunes, as well.^[10][11] The album was also voted 2016 Album of the Year by Surf Roots Radio. And later that year, keyboardist Ross Bogan joined the band in the spring to go on tour.

The band released their sixth albumWays of the World on June 7, 2019. It was produced by musician/reggae music producer John Grey (a.k.a. "Johnny Cosmic").^[12] It features artistsStick Figure,Iya Terra, Jacob Hemphill ofSOJA, and Chali 2na ofJurassic 5. Also known asWOTW, the album peaked at #1 on the Billboard charts for Reggae Albums.^[13]Upon touring in late 2019 Swain relapsed into alcoholism resulting in him being rushed to a Denver hospital over alcohol withdrawal complications. The band now has a strict sober rule on board their tour bus.

The Movement was featured as one of many reggae bands onCollie Buddz riddim album,Cali Roots Riddim 2020 with their single, "Alien", which was produced by Buddz and mixed byStick Figure's touring guitarist, producer Johnny Cosmic.

In 2021, The Movement was one of several reggae and punk bands onThe House That Bradley Built, a charity compilation honoringSublime's lead singerBradley Nowell, helping musicians with substance abuse. They covered Sublime's song "Get Out!"

The Movement recorded their seventh studio album, "Always With Me", which was released on July 29, 2022.^[14] It is the band's first self-produced album on their own R4RE Records since their 2004 debut. The album was recorded at White Star Sound, a studio located on a historic farm in the 'backwoods' outsideCharlottesville, Virginia. It's also the same studio where they recordedGolden andWays of the World. Returning to the band is long-time collaborator and formerJohn Brown's Body member Matt Goodwin on keyboard who toured with the band after being a studio mainstay since 2016'sGolden. The 15-track record featuresClinton Fearon,HIRIE,Iration,Slightly Stoopid, andSOOM T.^[15]

Always With Me was "considered" for aGrammy Award nomination "Best Reggae Album" at the 65th Grammy Awards in 2023.^[16]

The Movement announced on social media theAlways With Me Deluxe Album, which was released digitally on August 4, 2023. The deluxe album includes two brand new original tracks ("At the End of the Day" and "We Are Young"), five remixed songs (E.N. Young,Johnny Cosmic, Little Stranger, andIzyBeats), and a piano version of "U Don't Know Me".^[17]

The Movement was one of the many featured reggae rock artists on Crossed Heart Clothing presentsPop Punk Goes Reggae, Vol. 1, which was produced by frontman Nathan Aurora ofIya Terra. The 16-track album was released on September 15, 2023 by Ineffable Records.^[18] The band covered "Until the Day I Die" byStory of the Year.

On April 26, 2025, the band released the single "Visions" featuringStick Figure.^[19] They released the album of the same name on July 18, 2025.

Swain and Miller assumed equal roles in leading the band as dualfrontmen while showcasing their individual songwriting styles. They are often noted for their use of two-part harmonies while singing backing vocals for one another's songs. Swain talks about the band's music:

"I've always thought of it as what I like to call 'alternative reggae'. We don't feel really roots reggae. We're not rasta. It comes out a little more hip-hop, a little more rock."

Swain and Miller have cited artists of all genres, ranging from thePixies toSublime toOutkast toNorah Jones, as having influenced their own songwriting.^[20] In an interview withThe Pier, Miller is asked where the reggae influence of their music originated:

"Through Josh. Growing up, he really developed an eclectic musical taste and is a big fan ofUB40 and Sublime. I listen to a lot of different things, too, like The Pixies and a lot of underground alternative stuff. When we got together and started playing, it was the reggae that started coming out first. We really latched onto that feeling from reggae music and how it felt right to us. We love everyone fromBeres Hammond toDennis Brown toSteel Pulse. We try to take our own personal non-reggae interests and put that spin on the reggae music."

• Joshua Swain – Lead Vocals, Guitar (2003–2010, 2012–present)
• Jason Schmidt – Bass (2008–present)
• Gary Jackson – Drums (2008–present)
• Matt Goodwin – Keyboard (2019–present)
• Kyle Jerome – Saxophone, Percussion (2021–present)

• Jordan Miller – Vocals/Freestyles/Guitar (2003–2012)
• Jon Ruff "DJ Riggles" – Turntables (2004–2008)
• John Bowling – Keyboard (2010–2012)
• Ross Bogan – Keyboard (2016–2019)

In December 2006, The Movement, in their original lineup as a trio, beat out 215 other bands in the final round of the annual East Coast Showcase inRock Hill,SC.^[21] They were awarded with over $20,000 in cash and prizes.^[22]

In September 2004, Jordan Miller won the Non-Stop Hip-Hop Livefreestyle semifinal at New Brookland Tavern in Columbia, SC.^[23]

• Josh Swain – "Captain Hook" – in reference to his ability to write stronghooks.
• Jordan Miller – "Jwadi Jwad (the Wordsmither)" – in reference to his hip hop freestyling.
• Jay Schmidt – "Smiles" – in reference to his jovial demeanor.
• Gary Jackson – "Dread" – for hisdreadlocks.

• The Pier Compilation: Volume 1 (2009) – "Care (You Don't Even)"
• Sense Boardwear: Amplified – An Acoustic Collective Vol. 6 (2010) – "Using My Head"
• Music Unites: Reggae Around the World, Vol. 2 (2013) – "Echo"
• General Hydroponics, Vol.2 (2015) – "Rescue"

Joshua Swain (The Movement) has collaborated or was featured on songs with artists and bands throughout the years.

• Little Stranger – "Fly Guy" (5/15/2024)
• Green Lion Crew – "Forward I Will Go" (4/19/2024)
• Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad – "Revolution" (3/29/2023)
• Pepper – "Stormtrooper" (Kona Town Revisited Remix) (feat. Kai Boy) (3/10/2023)
• Mihali – "Greater Escape" (feat. The Elovaters) (3/11/2022)
• Tribal Seeds – "Breathe Easy" (10/29/2021)
• Bobby Hustle – "Somewhere in the Middle" (8/11/2021)
• The Elovaters – "My Friend" (feat. Keznamdi) (5/21/2021)
• Dub Town Rockers – "Jump" (feat. Chali 2na) (2/12/2021)
  • Dub Town Rockers – Vámonos (3/13/2023)
• Double Tiger – "Shadow Dweller" (12/3/2020)
• Organically Good Trio – "Welcome to the Time" (12/20/2017)

• Official website
• www.archive.org/details/TheMovementInternet Archive - The Movement's collection oflive shows
• www.thepier.orgThe Pier - "Set Sail album review"
• www.free-times.comFree Times - "Setting Sail" interview

• American reggae rock groups
• American musical quartets
• American reggae musical groups
• Rock music groups from South Carolina
• Rock music groups from Pennsylvania
• Musical groups established in 2004
• Musical groups from Columbia, South Carolina
• Rock music groups from Philadelphia

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