Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
Editorials & Other Articles
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Kaleo - Run No More (from their new album + Spin article/review)
https://www.spin.com/2025/03/kaleo-at-the-crossroads/
KALEO at the Crossroads
On ‘Mixed Emotions,’ the Icelandic rock band goes deep on the roots of rock, blues, and guns in America
Written by Steve Appleford |
March 24, 2025 - 8:30 am
After a full decade living in the United States, singer-guitarist JJ Julius Son from the Icelandic rock band KALEO is still digging deep into the American roots of rock, blues, and soul. Just a few weeks ago, he finally made it to the infamous crossroads in Clarksdale, Mississippi, the legendary spot where Robert Johnson supposedly sold his soul to the devil in exchange for some otherworldly blues skills.
Julius Son also gets to New Orleans when he can to absorb the rich musical culture there, and he’s always ready to work with soul masters the Dap-Kings whenever in New York. Now he has his sights on another historic spot: the studios of Muscle Shoals in Alabama, where essential records have been created by Aretha Franklin, the Rolling Stones,and the Black Keys. So the legendary crossroads was merely the latest stop on that endless tour of discovery.
“As a blues fan, it’s one of those pilgrimage trips you have to make,” says Julius Son, born Jökull Júlíusson, now 34. “I try to use my environment when I can, you know?”
That same sense of history and place is the foundation of KALEO’s sound, which echoes the textures and twang of classic rock, blues, folk, and soul. That puts the band in league with acts like Jack White and the Black Keys, along with earlier generations of guitar-based music—a sound that can be heard on KALEO’s new album, Mixed Emotions, set for release on May 9 from Atlantic Records. It’s been nine years since the band’s 2015 single “Way Down We Go” (from the album A/B) became an international career-defining hit with more than 1.3 billion listens on Spotify, while hitting No. 1 on Billboard‘s Alternative Songs chart.
-snip-
On ‘Mixed Emotions,’ the Icelandic rock band goes deep on the roots of rock, blues, and guns in America
Written by Steve Appleford |
March 24, 2025 - 8:30 am
After a full decade living in the United States, singer-guitarist JJ Julius Son from the Icelandic rock band KALEO is still digging deep into the American roots of rock, blues, and soul. Just a few weeks ago, he finally made it to the infamous crossroads in Clarksdale, Mississippi, the legendary spot where Robert Johnson supposedly sold his soul to the devil in exchange for some otherworldly blues skills.
Julius Son also gets to New Orleans when he can to absorb the rich musical culture there, and he’s always ready to work with soul masters the Dap-Kings whenever in New York. Now he has his sights on another historic spot: the studios of Muscle Shoals in Alabama, where essential records have been created by Aretha Franklin, the Rolling Stones,and the Black Keys. So the legendary crossroads was merely the latest stop on that endless tour of discovery.
“As a blues fan, it’s one of those pilgrimage trips you have to make,” says Julius Son, born Jökull Júlíusson, now 34. “I try to use my environment when I can, you know?”
That same sense of history and place is the foundation of KALEO’s sound, which echoes the textures and twang of classic rock, blues, folk, and soul. That puts the band in league with acts like Jack White and the Black Keys, along with earlier generations of guitar-based music—a sound that can be heard on KALEO’s new album, Mixed Emotions, set for release on May 9 from Atlantic Records. It’s been nine years since the band’s 2015 single “Way Down We Go” (from the album A/B) became an international career-defining hit with more than 1.3 billion listens on Spotify, while hitting No. 1 on Billboard‘s Alternative Songs chart.
-snip-
4 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
= new reply since forum marked as read
