KALEO’s JJ Julius Son opens up about the band’s spirited third studio album ‘Mixed Emotions,’ which delivers deep reflections on life, society, and today’s world through ten moving and powerful rock, blues, and soul-based tracks.
Stream: ‘MIXED EMOTIONS’ – KALEO
Through soul-stirring music, KALEO have been capturing tiny snippets of the human experience for over a decade.
The Icelandic band’s third studio album, MIXED EMOTIONS (out May 9th via Atlantic Records) does not stray away from that. Rather, it dives even further into it. As the record reflects on the balance between personal introspection and societal observation, it brings together themes of love, loss, struggle, and resilience – the complex set of feelings that make up our existence.
Produced by GRAMMY® Award Winner Eddie Spear (Zach Bryan, Sierra Ferrell) and co-produced by KALEO frontman JJ Julius Son and GRAMMY® Award Winner Shawn Everett (The Killers, Kacey Musgraves), MIXED EMOTIONS takes on American roots with its powerful blend of rock, blues, and soul. It is a sound KALEO have experimented with before, and now bring to the forefront of their artistry. Speaking to Atwood Magazine, JJ explains that he is still growing as a studio artist and producer – and while some songs for this album have been around for a while, some are newer. He and Spear have “an unspoken language” in the studio that makes for this understanding of capturing music that is true and honest.
For JJ, the album’s title bears “a couple of meanings.”
“Mixed emotions, you can have fun with that,” he explains. “The music is obviously emotions and you’re mixing them in the studio, but it’s mixed emotions about today’s society, the music industry now and being an artist in today’s landscape.”
The album begins with “Bloodline,” a rock-infused track complimented by gritty vocals and synthy guitar riffs. KALEO set a serious, almost angry pace for the rest of the record, but with calmer moments in the track, the title of this album comes to fruition and makes its point from the get-go. This also holds true for songs like “Rock N Roller” and “Back Door”: As multiple groovy riffs slash across each track, pure adrenaline rushes in. But based off the album’s tone and title, it is an adrenaline that is sure to be short lived and come crashing down.
While KALEO’s rock sound is at an all-time high, so is their depth and realness. Within this record, the Icelandic band address harder hitting topics occurring within our world. JJ candidly explains that there was a lot of daydreaming on this record, and that he let himself get into that flow of creating stories in his mind. “‘Lonely Cowboy,’ you are making up this western movie in your mind,” he says. “But then again, I also like to switch gears and do something very direct like ‘USA Today.’ I’m addressing things that I’m watching and seeing every week in the US.”
So here we are
Fighting for America
Fighting for a new day
Trying hard to change
USA today
The four-minute “USA Today” reflects on the ongoing gun violence epidemic in the United States. As JJ was completing the song, a shooting took place in a nearby Nashville suburb about three blocks away from the studio. “Coming from an extremely peaceful country, it’s not me trying to be political or telling anyone that I have the solution,” he says. “It’s simply just, as an outsider looking in a little bit, it’s surreal.”
In “Run No More,” a track JJ is excited to play live, the album takes on a cinematic element. Through a faint sound of country twang and the song’s gradual build up, KALEO show how they have mastered the art of being and feeling connected to music, emphasizing its power to bring people together. As JJ sings, “One day, we will rise again,” sending chills running down listeners’ spines.
“I’m just hoping and believing that there’s enough people out there who still care for this form of music that I’m making,” JJ admits. Creating this album, he notes, was a bit more of a struggle due to what seems to be ‘TikTok music’ and an extremely short listener attention span. “I guess I would consider myself kind of trying to build a catalog,” he adds, “which is enjoyable when you get to the show because you get to cherry pick your greatest hits. I still enjoy going and seeing the greats. I saw AC/DC last summer and Paul McCartney – it’s amazing. Obviously, these people have such an incredible catalog of songs.”
About halfway through the album, KALEO reach “Lonely Cowboy,” a song they released a year ago – and one that embodies the essence of loneliness through heart-wrenching lyrics and a slower tempo. This track marks a new pace for the rest of the album, which is rooted in a more peaceful tranquility and stillness.
Share the silence with a fire,
roll the rest of my tobacco
Tellin’ stories to myself,
but I know them all too well (mm)
When the desert night is cold,
I just want someone to hold me close
I don’t wanna die alone,
who’s gonna love me when I’m gone?
‘Cause even cowboys can get
lonely from time to time
Even cowboys do get
lonesome sometimes
Yes, but I, I know one thing,
I’ve come much too far
Oh, to let you go now,
please, don’t let me go
Lord, don’t let me go
The following tracks – “The Good Die Young,” “Legacy” and “Memoirs” – touch on the foundation of mankind: Life and death. The band observe the vast array of emotions one could feel when getting lost in thought. In all three songs, there’s this yearning for more time and making the absolute most of your life.
KALEO close their third record with “Sofðu Unga Ástin Mín,” a traditional Icelandic lullaby – and a beautiful tribute to their home country. Roughly translated, it means “Sleep My Little Love.” To JJ, it felt like a return-to-roots moment. “I’m extremely proud of being from Iceland,” he smiles. “I love my country dearly as well as my language. I guess I sometimes feel a little guilty not writing more in Icelandic, but this song felt like something I had to do. It’s one of the oldest songs in Iceland. We don’t even know who wrote it. It’s a traditional song. It’s been passed between people for generations. It’s something mothers would sing to their children in Iceland, including myself. Technically, it’s the first song I would have ever heard. I always loved this song, so I really wanted to make my own version and thought it was a nice closer for the record.”
Coming from the small Icelandic town of Mosfellsbær, a suburb of the capital Reykjavik, KALEO have grown immensely over the past decade to become a globally known, critically acclaimed act.
Singing songs in their native language has become a highlight at their shows, no matter which continent they’re on.
“We have another song in Icelandic and it’s pretty amazing seeing the reaction,” JJ notes. “People just love that song. It’s like the tranquil, quiet moment of the show where people just absolutely stay and listen. I think they are affected by both the language and the music. But you’ll also go to other countries, and you hear people from all over the world sing along to it which is kind of funny but also beautiful.”
Within its ten tracks, Mixed Emotions showcases KALEO’s variety and versatility.
It is an album that pushes the boundaries of being trapped in one concept or theme. Instead, it undertakes an abundance of ideas that pertain to humanity. It grapples with and tries to make sense of life at its core. It is a record that will sit with you long after you have listened to it.
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:: stream/purchase MIXED EMOTIONS here ::
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Stream: “Back Door” – KALEO
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© courtesy of the artist
© courtesy of the artistMIXED EMOTIONS
an album by KALEO
