Diane Warren to Release New Compilation “Songs In The Key of Diane” on July 31st, 2026 | LISTEN!
DIANE WARREN TEAMS UP WITH REGGAE & PACIFIC ISLAND ARTISTS FOR SONGS IN THE KEY OF DIANE, INCLUDING NEW VERSIONS OF CHART-TOPPING HITS & HIDDEN GEMS
The 13-Track Compilation is Available on July 31, 2026
The Lead Single “Rhythm of the Night,” Reimagined by Common Kings is Out Today
One of modern music’s most timeless catalogs steps into a new territory with Songs in the Key of Diane: A Reggae Compilation of Diane Warren Songs, a 13-track collection pairing the illustrious songwriting of Diane Warren with some of the world’s leading reggae and Pacific Island artists. Available on July 31, 2026, the landmark project is a tribute to the versatility of one of music’s most impressive, hit-laden catalogs with its indelible melodies and lyrics set to the distinct riddims of beat, opening its door to resonate across genres, generations, and cultures. The compilation will also open the vault and reveal six songs from her catalog spanning previously unreleased material and lesser known gems—some written over a decade ago that are given fresh life and just now finding their voices, making this a groundbreaking and historic project. Pre-save Songs in the Key of Diane HERE.
“I’ve always loved reggae,” enthused Warren. “It’s music that just makes you feel good. My music has always had that rhythmic Caribbean feel, starting with ‘Rhythm of the Night.’ It’s cool to have fresh covers of the old hits – it’s like putting a new set of clothes on them – but I’m even more excited about the songs that haven’t been heard before. There’s such a wide variety of artists on this record, which made it so much fun to do.”
The project launches with its first single out on April 17, a reinterpretation of “Rhythm of the Night,” Warren’s 1985 chart-topping hit for DeBarge, recorded by GRAMMY-nominated American reggae band Common Kings. Formed in Orange County, CA and rooted in Polynesian and Pacific Islander heritage—including Samoan, Tongan, Fijian, and Hawaiian backgrounds—the group has built a deeply engaged global fanbase, particularly within island communities, and have directly supported the likes of Bruno Mars, Justin Timberlake, Megan Trainor, 5th Harmony, and Pitbull. In 2017, the group earned a GRAMMY nomination for their debut album, Lost in Paradise.
Pre-Save Songs in the Key of Diane
“We had so much fun with this one!” said Ivan “Uncle Lui” Kirimaua of Common Kings. “Nothing like being asked to record and pay homage to this throwback by the legendary Diane Warren.”
“What makes a song great is its ability to stand on its own two feet, and be able to work in different genres, like reggae,” explains Warren. “If the melody, lyrics and rhythm are there – the bones – it should work in any style of music. I could write something as a ballad and have it turned into a killer dance track. I love taking a song and flipping it on its head.”
The genesis of the album is rooted in the 35-year-plus relationship between the fabled, multi-Oscar nominated and Grammy-winning songwriter and Regime Music Group President, Steven Rosen, who curated the project and co-produced the album alongside Warren and Regime/Island Empire co-founders Ivory Daniel and Kevin Zinger. Rosen set out to compile a new, 13-track collection featuring reggae versions of classic Diane Warren hits and deeper cuts from her catalog that have yet to fully connect with a wide audience, including several by Regime Music Group’s Island Empire label, which specializes in the genre and will release the album.
In addition to Common Kings, fellow Island Empire label acts include Polynesian/Samoan reggae star Sammy Johnson performing the breezy “I Heart U,” a previously unreleased reggae song penned by Warren, and the late Pacific reggae superstar Fiji with a version of “You Kind of Beautiful,” originally covered by country singer Jimmie Allen for Diane’s 2021 album, The Cave Sessions, Vol. 1, and marking the last recording before Fiji’s death in July 2025.
“It’s a tragedy that he didn’t get a chance to see this come out,” said Rosen. “He and Diane had a great relationship. She gravitates to singers who can carry the message of her songs. They need that type of singer. Not everyone can cover a Diane Warren song. Her melodies are challenging.”
Other Regime/Island Empire-associated acts represented include Filipino-American, Hawaii-raised Eli Mac, who covers “I’ll Never Get Over You Getting Over Me,” a 1993 hit for dance act Expose; Tongan singer/songwriter Analea Brown’s “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing,” recorded by Aerosmith for the 1998 film Armageddon, and Hawaiian-born MAKUA’s version of “When I See You Smile,” a 1989 hit for UK-American supergroup Bad English. Fiji protégé Nomad tackles “Blame it on the Rain,” in a spirited rendition of the 1990 hit for infamous pop duo Milli Vanilli.
Anuhea’s take on “Can’t Fight the Moonlight,” recorded by LeAnn Rimes for the movie Coyote Ugly in 2000 has special significance to her. “It takes me right back to high school,” explained the singer. “The film tells the story of an aspiring songwriter chasing big dreams and finding her voice, something that resonates deeply with both Diane’s journey and my own. Her songwriting is so powerful because it transcends genre, and getting to reinterpret this song in a reggae style felt like a beautiful way to connect all of those stories through one sound that feels like home to me.”
Alongside reimagined classics, the album’s deeper catalog selections reflect a range of origins—some songs that were never formally released, others that were recorded in earlier iterations but went under the radar. Together, they offer a rare glimpse into the breadth of her songwriting, now reframed through voices that bring new sonic construction and perspective.
“Diane doesn’t give up on something until it’s a hit,” observed Rosen about the “new” tracks, which also include Guam performer Pia Mia’s “Hey Haters,” a self-described “happy eff you” song actually first recorded years ago in a non-reggae version, but never released; Hawaiian/Japanese/Samoan singer Lea Love’s lilting “Forgot to Forget You,” and Gramps Morgan – lead singer of Grammy-winning Nashville band Morgan Heritage – taking on the hopeful “I Wish That,” an unreleased Diane Warren song more than a dozen years old which speaks to today’s charged political atmosphere with a measure of hope.
“That’s what was most interesting to me,” Warren said of the tracks brought to light. “Being able to place these songs with these reggae and Pacific Island artists so that they can be heard was a big attraction for me. I write songs without having any idea about who can perform them, and then along comes an artist who fits it perfectly. That happened throughout this project.”
While Songs in the Key of Diane bridges genres, it also builds on Warren’s longstanding connection to Caribbean-influenced music. “Give a Little Love,” co-written with Albert Hammond, was a hit for Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers and Aswad, whose recording of “Don’t Turn Around” became a UK chart-topper—early indicators of how Warren’s songwriting could travel across styles.
More than four decades into a career defined by era-shaping hits, Songs in the Key of Diane is a breezy island collection that not only breathes new life into Diane Warren classics with a sense of discovery, but unearths long-held songs and places them into the hands of artists bridging genres, honoring legacy, and revealing new depth to her catalog. The compilation is a testament affirming that Warren’s songwriting is built on unfaltering songs with resonant lyrics and emotional potency that can take shape far beyond their original form.
Diane Warren Photo by Don Hotlz
Regime Music Group