King Calaway Shows Off New Sound With Upcoming ‘Midnight EP’

On Wednesday, Aug. 11, with the picturesque backdrop of Tennessee’s prized Arrington Vineyards around them, rising country band King Calaway showcased their upcoming EP, Midnight, to a group of industry friends and supporters. The four-song project releases on Friday, Aug. 27 via Stoney Creek Records.

BMG Nashville President Jon Loba introduced the now 5-piece band to the crowd. “I am personally so proud of the evolution of these men, and have never been more excited about what you’re about to hear and where they are in their career.”

Comprised of Chris Deaton, Simon Dumas, Chad Michael Jervis, Austin Luther, and Caleb Miller, the group shared all four of the tracks featured on the upcoming EP as well as four additional tracks.

“There was a lot of momentum that was happening towards the end of 2019 and beginning of 2020,” shared Jervis. “But through [the COVID-19 pandemic], it reinforced our commitment to each other and our passion for wanting to pursue our career.”

The band began writing in August of 2020 with most of the songs being born out of Zoom writes. Digging their heels in, the five wrote over 80 songs over the last year.

To record, the five travelled to Asheville, North Carolina to live in a house together for three weeks. Inspired by the southern California, 1970s country sound, the group went to work to bring their new sonic direction to life. With the advice of one of the EP’s producers, Justin Niebank, the five bandmates played every instrument on Midnight, save the pedal steel which was helmed by Paul Franklin, giving the project a deeper sense of honesty and authenticity.

“Justin made it a point to make sure we were all playing it because that made it feel the most authentic,” the band explained. “Instead of making everything perfect, the fact that it all came from one of the five of us made it feel really honest.”

Through the four tracks featured on Midnight, the crowd was taken along a full spectrum of emotions from the lighthearted and easy on the ears “Homegrown” to the powerful and timely anthem, “More People,” encouraging small acts of kindness in our everyday lives.

The edgy, guitar licked “Heartbreaker” takes the EP one shade darker while “Good Time To Me,” which features MusicRow‘s newest CountryBreakout No. 1 artist Lainey Wilson, gives a welcomed bar-stomping, high-voltage energy to the project.

“I think this EP and these songs really represent the journey that we went on over the last year and a half,” Jervis explained. “Through all of the adversity, we stuck together, held it out, and now we’re here today. And we are all so thankful to be here today with all of you.”

Midnight Track List:
1. Homegrown – Chad Michael Jervis, Kevin Griffin
2. More People – Simon Dumas, Ryan Lafferty, Tina Parol Gemza
3. Heartbreaker – Simon Dumas, Neil Medley, Dave Cohen
4. Good Time To Me (feat. Lainey Wilson) – Charles Kelley, Russell Dickerson, Corey Crowder, Steven Lee Olsen