Samoan teen hits No. 1 in Britain

By Tina Mata'afa-Tufele 05 July 2020, 8:00PM

Auckland-based Samoan artist Josh Nanai, 17, whose stage name is Jawsh 685 – has topped the music charts in the United Kingdom.

Nanai’s son, ‘Savage Love’, is his smash-hit collaboration with U.S. artist Jason Derulo.

The track went from viral hit to chart smash claiming Number 1 on this week’s Official Singles Chart with Savage Love (Laxed – Siren Beat), officialcharts.com reports.

On the world music charts, the song sits at an impressive Number 67.

“Yo! We did it Jason DeRulo! Mad love to everyone in the United Kingdom who bought and streamed Savage Love #1 Aha! 67 to the world, keep it loud and stylah,” Nanai wrote on his Twitter account. 

“Being a youngin from South Auckland hitting the charts heavy to the point where we hit Number 1! Honestly it is just the biggest blessing I could have ever received seeing it happen to not only me but for my family and friends,” Nanai reportedly said. 

“As always from here on out, thank you for all the support and love from around the globe! Stay safe, stay styla”.

The track started out as a viral melody on TikTok made by the teenager, screen name Jawsh 685, before Jason Derulo wrote lyrics to the tune, leading to the pair teaming up.

Savage Love rose from 4 to top spot this week, with 57,000 chart sales, including 6 million streams.

It gives Jawsh 685 his Number 1 debut single; for Derulo it earned him his fifth U.K. chart-topper and his first in five years. 

Derulo’s previous Number 1 singles are: In My Head (2010), Don’t Wanna Go Home (2011), Talk Dirty ft. 2 Chainz (2013), Want To Want Me (2015).

Attempts to contact Nanai on Sunday were not successful. 



By Tina Mata'afa-Tufele 05 July 2020, 8:00PM
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