Kaleo - The Best Icelandic Music Band

Iceland has given us many great music bands and artists. Just to name a few: Björk, Of Monsters and Men, Sigur Rós. But if we are talking about current music scene, it’s safe to say that the best band to come out from that fascinating country is Kaleo.

Kaleo literally took the music scene by surprise. How incredibly good they were right from the start. How fresh and strong there sound was. They became an instant sensation for a reason. Or I should say for many reasons, good reasons. If you are looking for a modern rock band with elements of blues and alternative, you absolutely need check them out.

Who are Kaleo the band?

Kaleo vocalist and guitarist Jökull Júlíusson on stage — Jökull Júlíusson Performing Live

Kaleo is an Icelandic rock band formed in 2012 in Mosfellsbær. The band members are: JJ Julius Son (lead vocals and guitar), Davíð Antonsson (drums and vocals), Daniel Kristjansson (bass), and Rubin Pollock (guitar and vocals). The band’s name Kaleo means “the voice” in Hawaiian. And it’s a perfect name for the group, you will see it after you hear them.

Kaleo moved to the United States and signed with Atlantic Records in 2015. Very soon after that they gained international success with their single “Way Down We Go“. It went straight to the top of the Billboard Alternative Songs chart and was featured in numerous TV shows and movies. Their debut album “A/B” was released in 2016 and included other hits like “No Good” and “All the Pretty Girls.”

Kaleo played at major festivals like Coachella, Bonnaroo, and Lollapalooza, delivering awesome live performances. The latest album “Surface Sounds” came out in 2021.

For the latest news and tour dates about Kaleo you can check their official website.

Music Style of Kaleo

Kaleo’s musical style is a blend of rock, blues, and folk. A blend of highest quality! And of course I must mention JJ’s powerful and soulful vocals. A perfect voice to deliver deep, emotional and sometimes bluesy performance. The band also has nice guitar riffs that suit their style.

If you love rock sound, Kaleo has the track-list for that. If you like blues vibes, Kaleo also got you. And if you want some folk elements, the band once again has you back.

What Makes Kaleo so Great?

What makes Kaleo so awesome is their unique sound, which is as fine blend of rock, blues, and folk as you can ever find. Combined with JJ Julius Son’s powerful vocals and you have one of the best bands today.

They also did a couple of really interesting songs that are based on Icelandic folk heritage. These are calm deep songs that I highly recommend you to listen. Here’s one of them called “Sofðu Unga Ástin Mín“. It is based on Icelandic lullaby.

Best Song by Kaleo

The tricky but also good thing about Kaleo is that it’s hard to select their singular best song. They have too many great ones. My choice changes depending on my mood. But if it’s you first time hearing them, you can’t go wrong with “Way Down We Go“: