HOUSTON – Have you ever heard a song and the person singing on the microphone didn’t sound like how you pictured them? That’s what happened to me when I first heard Jökull Júlíusson a.k.a JJ, singer/songwriter of popular rock band KALEO and their hit song “Way Down We Go.”
SEE ALSO: The Cure announces a new album and releases its first new song in 16 years, ‘Alone’
Recommended Videos
At first glance, JJ is someone who certainly has the stereotypical “rockstar” look, but it’s belied by the soulful sound that captures the pathos that is Blues Rock one might normally hear in an older musician. So how then, has JJ managed to capture this type of haunting sound? In a Zoom meeting, he tells me it’s simply just years of studying the greats.
“I think it comes from a lot of places,” he said. “I’ve always enjoyed music since early on, but I would I would say that it’s very influenced by Roots music. It was recorded in America in the ‘30s, ‘40s, and ‘50s and then progressed into Rock ‘n Roll, Classic Rock...I’m just a big student of music.”
A student indeed, but one who mastered the arts of his crafts, which frankly cannot be taught. And yet, JJ and KALEO make it seem effortless but the Iceland native has been able to capture the sound of Roots music into the contemporary scene with songs like “No Good” and “Break My Baby.” Perhaps most impressive is JJ’s ability to translate that sound into his native language with classic Icelandic covers and even an original song, “Sofðu Unga Ástin Mín,” released earlier this year.
“Naturally, I write [songs] in English, but I’m extremely proud of being from Iceland. I love my country and my heritage,” JJ said. “So yeah, I’ve been able to take those opportunities and do these old Icelandic songs and you know, bring some new life to them and hopefully keeping my language alive. We have one of the top five oldest spoken languages in the world right now. And with social media and everything else, like it’s difficult at the moment, I see the language going away. I see the vocabulary getting watered down, much like other languages as well.”
His musical studies continued when he and the rest of his bandmates, childhood friends for more than a decade, moved to Austin, Texas about nine years ago, where his management team was based.
“We were there for about 18 months and we love Austin,” JJ explained. “I’m pretty much based half the time in Nashville now when I’m not in Iceland and not on the road, but Austin’s a great place.”
MORE: The real story of how Austin became known as the live music capital of the world
He’s also no stranger to Houston, but folks who may not be familiar, JJ and his band KALEO have been in some pretty recognizable spots. And with his latest singles “USA Today” and “Lonely Cowboy” which are now available on Apple Music, or wherever you stream demonstrate he’s only growing as an artist. Early on in JJ’s career though, KALEO’s music has been featured in several TV shows and big films like “Vinyl,” directed by Martin Scorcese, but the highlight (at least to JJ) was his songs featured in the popular soccer video game: FIFA.
“Everyone plays FIFA and like growing up, it’s just such a huge thing,” he recalled. “That was a lot of fun. I mean, yeah, I remember reading the Black Keys for the first time with FIFA on, Blur and all these bands back in the ‘90s was very cool; that was the highlight to begin with, but obviously, I consider my songs — a lot of them being cinematic. So, I mean, it’s enjoyable when a great director will like, seek me out or I’m able to provide someone with that stuff.”
RELATED: HCHSA provides latest on FIFA World Cup 2026 matches in Houston
The thing JJ enjoys most, however, is performing live, and fans in Houston will get to experience that when they see him on Monday, September 30 at Bayou Music Center. To him, playing and singing live before a crowd, especially as diverse as Houston, and getting to connect with the audience in a cosmic way that listening through headphones or speakers can’t replicate.
“I just love to see people’s reactions after the shows and like experiencing something with us,” JJ explained. “It’s a certain magic to it and for people to come together like that, I don’t know. It’s just a beautiful thing to me, you know, to to grateful and lucky to be a part of that.”
MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS COVERAGE
KALEO will be performing at Bayou Music Center in Houston on September 30. Tickets are available now, which you can find by visiting their website.