siren kings
{{short description|Pasifika subculture in New Zealand}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2022}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=February 2022}}
File:Siren Kings Mischief.C (Joe Hockley).jpg, used in siren battles]]
Siren kings are members of a primarily Pasifika underground youth subculture, originating in South Auckland,{{Cite web |title=Siren kings: New Zealand city plagued by Céline Dion 'speaker battles' {{!}} New Zealand {{!}} The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/oct/24/porirua-siren-kings-new-zealand-city-speaker-battles |access-date=2024-03-04 |website=amp.theguardian.com|date=24 October 2023 }} 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) stolen from schools, tsunami risk zones and industrial sites, then attached to cars or bicycles, to win the title of siren king. Māngere is considered to be the birthplace of the siren king culture,{{Cite web |last=Latif |first=Justin |date=2022-03-20 |title=Siren love: Noisy neighbourhood nuisance or misunderstood musical subculture? |url=https://thespinoff.co.nz/society/20-03-2022/siren-love-noisy-neighbourhood-nuisance-or-misunderstood-musical-subculture |access-date=2024-03-04 |website=The Spinoff |language=en}} with the Te Atatū Peninsula a bastion in West Auckland.{{Cite web |title=Celine Dion siren battlers return to West Auckland, locals at 'breaking point' |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/127665492/celine-dion-siren-battlers-return-to-west-auckland-locals-at-breaking-point |access-date=2024-03-04 |website=www.stuff.co.nz}} The subculture exists mostly within Auckland but has also spread to Metropolitan Wellington, within its heavily Pasifika district of Porirua.{{Cite web |title=Siren kings: New Zealand city plagued by Céline Dion 'speaker battles' {{!}} New Zealand {{!}} The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/oct/24/porirua-siren-kings-new-zealand-city-speaker-battles |access-date=2024-03-04 |website=amp.theguardian.com|date=24 October 2023 }}
The music produced to be used in siren battles is known as siren beats or siren jams, and is typically music played at high volumes, 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)".
History
The origins of the siren scene are the early 2000s in South Auckland, New Zealand, primarily among Pasifika youth.{{Cite episode |title=Young and a Siren King |url=https://www.tvnz.co.nz/shows/young-and/episodes/s1-e6 |access-date=29 September 2021 |series=Young And... |network=TVNZ |date=12 August 2021 |season=1 |number=6 |first1=Jacob |last1=Brown |first2=Ursula |last2=Grace}}{{Cite web|date=14 August 2021|title='A way to be heard': the New Zealand Pasifika youth subculture devoted to emergency sirens|first1=Joe |last1=Hockley |first2=Tess |last2=McClure |url=http://www.theguardian.com/culture/2021/aug/15/a-way-to-be-heard-the-new-zealand-pasifika-youth-subculture-devoted-to-emergency-sirens|access-date=29 September 2021|website=The Guardian|language=en}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.renews.co.nz/how-playing-really-loud-music-on-aucklands-streets-is-bridging-gang-divides/ |title=How Playing Really Loud Music on Auckland's Streets Is Bridging Gang Divides |first1=James |last1=Borrowdale |date=13 August 2021|website=Re |publisher=TVNZ |access-date=29 September 2021}} The scene grew from car owners adding stolen car battery-powered speaker systems to cars (known as "stacking"), and in 2010 battles between different siren crews began in public areas. During this time, bicycle use began to be popular among youth members of the siren scene.{{Cite web |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/straight-outta-roskill/ |title=Meet the Auckland Boys Who Blast Celine Dion from Tiny Bikes |first1=Aubrey |last1=Edwards |date=8 January 2016|website=Vice |access-date=29 September 2021}} Popular locations for battles include carparks and reserves around Henderson,{{Cite web |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/music/113383698/celine-dions-my-heart-will-go-on-tortures-auckland-residents |title=Celine Dion's 'My Heart Will Go On' tortures Auckland residents |first1=Torika |last1=Tokalau |date=14 June 2019|website=Stuff |access-date=29 September 2021}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/127665492/celine-dion-siren-battlers-return-to-west-auckland-locals-at-breaking-point |title=Celine Dion siren battlers return to West Auckland, locals at 'breaking point' |first1=Melanie|last1=Earley |date=8 February 2022|website=Stuff |access-date=8 February 2022}} Avondale,{{Cite web |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/western-leader/105604327/west-aucklanders-get-behind-siren-kings-in-plea-for-battle-space |title=West Aucklanders get behind 'siren kings' in plea for battle space |first1=Torika |last1=Tokalau |date=21 July 2018|website=Stuff |access-date=29 September 2021}} the Onehunga shoreline and Māngere.
By the mid-2010s, siren kings received strong police and community scrutiny, with reports of loudspeakers and fire alarms being stolen from schools, fire stations and community centres,{{Cite web |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/speakers-stolen-from-nzs-largest-primary-school/LEPHOIBYLLH5OA6VZ735465MEU/ |title=Speakers stolen from NZ's largest primary school |first1=Lynley |last1=Ward |date=11 December 2015|website=The New Zealand Herald |access-date=30 September 2021}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/emergency-sirens-stolen-from-rural-fire-brigade/T2JW54CAT7ZGCEIUEKLV3IQKBY/ |title=Emergency sirens stolen from rural fire brigade |first1=Vaimoana |last1=Tapaleao |date=19 February 2016 |website=The New Zealand Herald |access-date=30 September 2021}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2020/12/upper-hutt-on-high-alert-after-speaker-systems-disappear-from-raceways-schools.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201220204358/https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2020/12/upper-hutt-on-high-alert-after-speaker-systems-disappear-from-raceways-schools.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=20 December 2020 |title=Upper Hutt on 'high alert' after speaker systems disappear from raceways, schools |first1=Caley |last1=Callahan |date=20 December 2020 |website=Newshub |access-date=30 September 2021}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/nor-west-news/105347793/siren-kings-ask-for-a-public-space-to-battle-for-the-loudest-sounds |title=Siren kings ask for a public space to battle for the loudest sounds |first1=Torika |last1=Tokalau |date=13 July 2018|website=Stuff |access-date=29 September 2021}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/82218417/facebook-black-market-fuels-thefts-of-loudspeakers-around-auckland |title=Facebook black market fuels thefts of loudspeakers around Auckland |first1=Elesha |last1=Edmonds |first2=Tom |last2=Carnegie |date=20 July 2016|website=Stuff |access-date=4 October 2021}} Police reports to media also associated siren battles as being associated with gangs.{{Cite web |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/77310274/auckland-gangs-get-in-on-noise-pollution |title=Auckland gangs join speaker battles |first1=Alastair |last1=Lynn |date=26 February 2016 |website=Stuff |access-date=29 September 2021}} Due to police raids and attention, members of the siren crews began to carry large numbers of receipts for sirens, either in pockets or placed on car dashboards.
Many members of suburban Auckland communities express frustration at the noise created by siren battles.{{Cite web |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/127794005/mngere-birthing-centre-staff-frustrated-as-siren-battlers-park-up-outside |title=Māngere Birthing centre staff frustrated as 'siren battlers' park up outside |first1=Melanie |last1=Earley |date=16 February 2022 |website=Stuff |access-date=21 February 2022}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/kerre-mcivor-mornings/audio/soni-taufa-noizy-boyz-team-leader-on-the-emergence-of-siren-boy-culture/ |title=Soni Taufa: Noizy Boyz team leader on the emergence of Siren Boy culture |first1=Kerre |last1=McIvor |author-link1=Kerre McIvor |date=9 February 2022 |work=Newstalk ZB |access-date=21 February 2022}} In 2019, the Auckland Council created barriers to close off an Auckland public reserve at night time, however this was ineffective at stopping siren battles from taking place.
Siren kings featured prominently in Pasifika photographer Edith Amituanai's 2019 exhibition Double Take, shown at the Adam Art Gallery in Wellington.{{Cite web |url=https://www.wgtn.ac.nz/pasifika/our-community/news/1750131-adam-art-gallery-launches-survey-of-edith-amituanais-photography |title=Adam Art Gallery launches survey of Edith Amituanai's photography |date=24 May 2019|publisher=Victoria University of Wellington |access-date=29 September 2021}} In 2021, a half-hour documentary on siren kings was released by TVNZ, entitled Young and a Siren King.
Competitions
File:Celine Dion by Linda Bisset.jpg, such as "The Power of Love" and "My Heart Will Go On", are staple songs of siren events]]
Siren battles are typically judged competitions where contestants battle for the loudest sound. There are separate categories for cars and bicycles; often younger members of the crews compete in the bike category.{{Cite web |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/76557734/these-biker-gangs-are-schoolboys-with-absurdly-large-speakers-on-their-bicycles |title=These biker gangs are schoolboys with absurdly large speakers on their bicycles |author=Sunday News |date=6 February 2016 |website=Stuff |access-date=29 September 2021}} Battles are usually done to win the title of siren king,{{Cite news |url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2016/02/auckland-bike-crews-battle-to-be-the-loudest.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170115093451/http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2016/02/auckland-bike-crews-battle-to-be-the-loudest.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=15 January 2017 |title=Auckland bike crews battle to be the loudest |first=Alice |last=Wilkins |date=6 February 2016 |website=Newshub |access-date=29 September 2021}} but some battles can be to win each other's sirens. After the initial rounds, some battles end with a drownout round, a knockout round where contestants use their sirens together so judges can decide who has the more overwhelming sound.
To compete in a competition, a car or bike must be outfitted with a sound system including sirens, typically a mix of megaphones, stolen industrial public address systems, pulled apart radios, and Bluetooth speakers. For bicycles, sirens need to be strapped to the bike (typically the handlebars), usually powered by a car battery.
Music
Song selection for siren battles is important, as the songs will need to showcase treble over bass, because of how loudspeakers are intended to project speech. Some common songs used by siren crews include Celine Dion's "The Power of Love" and "My Heart Will Go On".{{Cite web |url=https://thespinoff.co.nz/society/20-03-2022/siren-love-noisy-neighbourhood-nuisance-or-misunderstood-musical-subculture |title=Siren love: Noisy neighbourhood nuisance or misunderstood musical subculture? |first1=Justin |last1=Latif |date=20 March 2022 |website=The Spinoff |access-date=20 March 2022}}
Some siren crew members began to produce their own music to use, known as siren jams or siren beats. Often inspired by genres such as reggae and dembow, the songs focus on treble over bass,{{Cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/28/arts/music/jawsh-685-savage-love-siren-jams.html |title=A Teenage Producer With a TikTok Hit Brings New Zealand to the World |first1=Jon |last1=Caramanica |date=28 September 2020 |website=The New York Times |access-date=29 September 2021}} and are intended to sound best while played through siren speakers, taking into account the Doppler effect.{{Cite web |url=https://thespinoff.co.nz/music/19-05-2020/jason-vs-jawsh-the-drama-behind-the-song-thats-hot-on-the-tok/ |title=Jason vs Jawsh: The drama behind the song that's hot on the Tok|first1=Josie |last1=Adams |date=19 May 2020 |website=The Spinoff |access-date=29 September 2021}} Most siren jams are shared online through sites such as YouTube and TikTok.
In 2020, siren jam producer Jawsh 685 from Manurewa saw success after his song "Laxed (Siren Beat)" became a TikTok meme called the Culture Dance, where people would show traditional clothing styles.{{cite news|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=12335012|title=Laxed (Siren Beat) creator Joshua Stylah on Jason Derulo stoush and new music|last=Marinner|first=Chris|date=26 May 2020|access-date=4 August 2020|work=The New Zealand Herald}} After initially gaining popularity on TikTok, the song saw global success when American singer Jason Derulo used the track as the basis for his song "Savage Love", becoming one of the most successful songs of 2020.{{Cite web |url=https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-radar/jawsh-685-banging-siren-jams-to-celebrate-ones-heritage-and-roots-2764432 |title=Jawsh 685: Banging siren-jams to celebrate one's heritage and roots |first1=Timi |last1=Sotire |date=30 September 2020 |website=NME |access-date=29 September 2021}}