In the six months since the release of their self-titled debut EP, King Calaway has been crossing a lot of things off of their to-do list, and they’re not slowing down now!

We caught up with the six Nashville-based dudes at Sugar Beach in Toronto to talk about the release, what they’ve got coming up next, some of the HUGE moments that they’ve had in the last few months, and we played a special round of 5 Quick Questions. Jordan, Chad, Simon, Chris, Caleb, and Austin have had a lot to celebrate, they’re all young and super talented, and they were a great hang on the beach.

The odds are good that we missed something super cool that they’ve done, but the list we covered included…
★ Releasing their debut EP with four original tracks and a cover of Stephen Stills’ Love The One You’re With
★ Playing the Grand Ole Opry (and sharing the stage with Ricky Skaggs)
★ Opening for Garth Brooks in Minneapolis, MN (their first stadium show)
★ Landing on lists from Billboard (7 Country Acts to Watch in 2019) and Amazon (2019 Artists To Watch)
★ Press, interviews, and radio tours that have taken them across the United States, and now into Canada
★ Making their late-night television debut on Jimmy Kimmel Live

The accomplishments that these guys have racked up are impressive. But their desire for more is what’s going to really show us what they’ve got. We talked about their upcoming debut full-length album (scheduled for a fall release) as well as the hope that the band will get on a tour as a supporting act. They also told us that they’re already working on more new music for future projects, focusing on who they are, what they want to sound like, and creating the music that fits those needs and wants. It’s a never-ending process, but one that it feels like all six of these young men are excited about.

As we listened to the EP and then spoke with King Calaway, one of the things I was struck most by is the idea of finding six individuals who are uniquely qualified to come together and form a band. From the United States, Scotland, and Gibraltar, the talent in the band has various roots. And as with any group of people, six musicians (maybe even more than the average Joe) are going to have their own personalities and quirks. But this group, with six voices that comes together with buttery smooth harmonies, play all the instruments they need to fill the stage with sound and have a common goal in country music, seem to have found something that clicks. And we like it.

One of the things we were curious about wasn’t so much the coming together of the band, but the gelling once they were assembled. Simon told us that everything felt like it was going to work from rehearsal number one.

He told us that they started playing and singing Love The One You’re With and it worked. They had two acoustic guitars plus a full instrument lineup, a ton of harmonies, and there was a weight to the six-piece unit that you just don’t get from a smaller collective.

The harmonies that they found on that first day are strong, very strong, and we can hear them all on the EP. They remind us of what Hunter Brothers do here on the Canadian country music scene. And, if I’m being honest, I would love to see King Calaway and Hunter Brothers on stage together, with 11 voices coming together in sweet, sweet harmony like some sort of country music choir.

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As we chatted with the band and got to know them a little bit, we asked about the future and what comes next. Because as great as it is to have a list of awesome early accomplishments in their career, there’s a lot more to do.

We found out that their upcoming debut full-length album is scheduled for a fall release. They also told us that they hope the band will get on a tour as a supporting act and get on stage in front of more fans. And they told us that they’re already working on more new music for future projects, focusing on who they are, what they want to sound like, and creating the music that fits those needs and wants. It’s a never-ending process, but one that it feels like all six of these young men are excited about.

Some of our prep-work revealed that the band has been described as a mix of the Eagles and One Direction. We asked the boys about it, and they were encouragingly cool with it. They know that comparisons are part of the process, and they can understand the bands that they’ve been mentioned with. They’re also encouraged because the names they keep hearing are all high-quality acts. They told us that while in Toronto on this radio tour, they heard a new combo comparison: Backstreet Boys and Mumford & Sons.

Whether it’s 90s pop + folky alt-rock or modern pop + classic California country-rock, the band is ready for the comparisons. But what they mostly hope is that you hear those comps before you see them live, and then leave knowing that King Calaway has got their own thing going on for themselves.

While we had the band on the beach, we lined them up, rolled the camera, and played a special edition of 5 Quick Questions with 6 Quick Questions. We got each of the King Calaway members to answer a question for us so we could get to know them a little better. And these answers are good. We like ’em and think you will too. Hit play now!

Big thanks to the guys of King Calaway for taking the time to hang out with us at Sugar Beach, helping us get to know them a little better, and for playing a 5 6 Quick Questions.

If you haven’t heard the single or seen the video for World For Two yet, we highly recommend it.

Right there, that’s what we’re talking about with full sound and smooth harmonies. These boys have got it under control, with nothing but opportunity in front of them!

If you haven’t listened to the King Calaway EP yet, hit play, turn up the volume and listen to the harmonies and instruments and everything else.

Enjoy!

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Joshua Murray

creator of content, daddy blogger, writer, coffee drinker, fan of the Batman. proud mo bro. prouder dad.

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Trish Cassling

Writer/Photographer/Editor

Toronto Music Blogger