Our writer Madeline Christy reviews King Calaway’s debut album ‘Rivers’ and reveals her standout tracks…
If you’ve ever wondered what a country boyband would sound like – meet King Calaway. With members from near and far, the musical six-piece are rebranding the tarnish that comes along with the ‘boy band’ tag by setting their musicianship front and centre as heard on their current success ‘Driver’s Seat’.
The group, consisting of a mixture of members from both the UK and the US, have an origin similar to that of The Spice Girls; through auditions and trials the group were assembled by the then BMG President Zach Katz. Each member offers a blend of manifold musical background; let’s meet our members.
Driving the rhythm of the band, Franklin, Tennessee-grown, Chris Deaton and Austin Luther add flare and spark to the band with their powerful bedrock and variety. While studying at the Atlanta Institute Of Music, Deaton played drums for Brothers Road and while the band’s daylight was short-lived, their sign to Zac Brown’s record label, Southern Ground, enamoured Deaton and destined him to stay in Nashville.
Providing a third of the lead vocals is – Edinburgh native, Jordan Harvey – who decided to pursue music after a knee injury, and began work in a local studio as well as learning drums and guitar. You may recognise him from the UK singing competition ‘Let It Shine’ where he performed a cover of George Ezra’s ‘Blame it on Me’. When asked on the show what got him into singing he stated ‘I started singing because someone told me it gets girls’.
Doubling up as the group’s pianist and one third front man, Simon Dumas delivers his Gibraltar-originated passion for music and offers a layer of choir-trained vocals. After completing his studies at The Royal Northern College Of Music, Dumas traded his opportunity to become a Catholic missionary as he decided to put his faith in the band. Completing the front men is Chad Micheal Jervis whose silky vocals contribute a raw and vulnerability to some of the band’s most honest tracks.
Though the youngest, but certainly not the least experienced, front runner guitarist Caleb Miller is the junior of the group at age eighteen. An instrumentalist since the age of four, Miller brings a history of genre diversity along with him, from his metal and blues guitarist session days, to the cantabile rock solos on the band’s new album ‘Rivers’. Miller helps to widen the range of the band’s musicianship and serve so many music fans in different genre worlds.
Following the release of their self- entitled January EP, King Calaway, the band gave to us their debut album entitled ‘Rivers’, released earlier this month. Opening with one of the brightest tracks on the album ‘No Matter What’ paves the country-pop sound that matures throughout the album and is reflective of the band’s image that bridges together the influences of British pop and American country. It’s light and playful opening blends well with the soft, joyful message of sweet true blue that was probably inspired by Deaton’s recent marriage to dancer Molli Benson ‘When you say I do/I do’. During the bridge you’ll hear the first of many air guitar worthy solos from Miller.
The title track of the album ‘Rivers’ was originally a stand out track from their debut EP earlier this year and goes beyond any love song on the album. It represents how the boy’s bond ‘goes on and on like rivers to the sea’. There’s an ease to their harmonies and chemistry that is both surprising and special.
Turning to more of a California sound, , ‘More Than I Do’ sets the boys up as true romantics and here you will find the greatest layers of harmonies from the three front men. Other stand-out love songs from the album are the retro Hanson vibe track ‘Obvious’, the warmly produced ‘World For Two’, and the folk influenced ‘Grow Old’, which showcases some mandolin strains that are as tight as ‘Hey Soul Sister’ train tracks.
Some New Orleans soul and intimacy is shown on ‘Missing You’. If you want a song that sounds like a rainy day, here it is. The most refined vulnerability is exhibited on the track written by Dave Barnes (best known for writing Blake Shelton’s God Gave Me You) and Jordan Reynolds (Tequila by Dan + Shay, and If I Were You by Jillian Jacqueline), and promotes another layer of emotional depth to the band. The boys dig deeper in the soft funk track ‘I Do’; a slow burner that melts like candle wax and is soaked in blues guitar, whilst ‘Driver’s Seat’ will fool you into a summer set of mind during this great and murky season.
I’ve never heard a diverse group of musicians seem so in sync. With a bright pallets of instrumentation it’s no wonder why they’ve garnered over a 1/4 million plays on Spotify alone. The band continue to challenge the ongoing country-pop battle with their omnivorous genre appetite in ‘Picture Of The Way You Are’; a capsule shot of the band’s sound.
An unexpected inclusion comes from a cover of a Stephen Stills 1970 release. The band out their spin on the only cover in the album ‘Love The One You’re With’, a tribute to one of the many artists that have helped to shape their sound. The opening of the track has some roots elements to it, as the vocals ring out and inter flow with The Eagles style guitar and shimmy worthy beat.
The production of the vocals in ‘I Did’ (the closing track of the album) is the most exposed I’ve ever heard any artist. It’s a perfect sign off to their attributions to their blossoming careers and humble beginnings. ‘Did I give all that I could give to win/ I can say I did’. Overall, the album has a steadiness of sonic cohesion that creates a trailblazer of a debut album. We can’t wait for the boys to announce a tour!
Stand out tracks
Rivers
Love The One You’re With
I Did
