Callaghan is an English singer songwriter whose first full-length record, Life in Full Colour, comes out May 1, 2012. She played recently at Space in Evanston, Illinois with Shawn Mullins, who also produced her record.
Her music is hard to classify by genre when you see her live. That is likely because she is a multi-instrumentalist singer songwriter playing solo; by definition that makes genre hard to determine. When Callaghan tours with a nine piece band you can figure that out. For now, just accept her as a writer with a lovely voice who can play like a human metronome.
Mullin relocated to Atlanta from the U.K. (can you say “culture shock”?) and began work on her record.
“This is my first full length album it is coming out may first. It is twelve songs. The Life in full color title came from the collection of songs the theme of things from everyday life that people experience falling in love, falling out of love being overjoyed or really sad, those highs and lows of life,” she says. “It was recorded in 2010 and 2011 with Shawn and I had a fantastic time making it and getting to come out and play the songs live it has been great, real learning curve getting to go into the studio with him and watch him as a producer.”
Callaghan says she has been a huge fan of Mullins’ music for as long as she remembers. But seeing him work as a producer showed her a whole new side. The new record isn’t the first she produced but it is the first she thought of as an integral collection of songs.
“I’ve done EPs in past, five six seven songs I put out myself. This one because it was a full album I really thought about which songs are going to go on here and I have so many to choose from..” she says.
They started with 40 songs—a large portion, at least, of the songs Callaghan had written. They added a couple of songs she and Mullins worked on together.
Her music is hard to classify by genre when you see her live. That is likely because she is a multi-instrumentalist singer songwriter playing solo; by definition that makes genre hard to determine. When Callaghan tours with a nine piece band you can figure that out. For now, just accept her as a writer with a lovely voice who can play like a human metronome.
Mullin relocated to Atlanta from the U.K. (can you say “culture shock”?) and began work on her record.
“This is my first full length album it is coming out may first. It is twelve songs. The Life in full color title came from the collection of songs the theme of things from everyday life that people experience falling in love, falling out of love being overjoyed or really sad, those highs and lows of life,” she says. “It was recorded in 2010 and 2011 with Shawn and I had a fantastic time making it and getting to come out and play the songs live it has been great, real learning curve getting to go into the studio with him and watch him as a producer.”
Callaghan says she has been a huge fan of Mullins’ music for as long as she remembers. But seeing him work as a producer showed her a whole new side. The new record isn’t the first she produced but it is the first she thought of as an integral collection of songs.
“I’ve done EPs in past, five six seven songs I put out myself. This one because it was a full album I really thought about which songs are going to go on here and I have so many to choose from..” she says.
They started with 40 songs—a large portion, at least, of the songs Callaghan had written. They added a couple of songs she and Mullins worked on together.
Callaghan tours extensively and before songs are recorded they get played live.
“It is interesting because I have heard other artists say that when they play a song over and over and over again it can get monotonous but I quite like it,” says Callaghan. “That feeling when you play a song 200 times and suddenly it changes. I don’t know if it is the audience reaction or something feels different as you discover a new part of that song.”
Callaghan also feels at home on tour.
“I love touring. I love the studio side as well and all the creative part, creating a song.’ she says.
But playing live is what she really loves. Being on tour with Mullins has been a plus. When she plays with him she benefits from his fans and his past. Regardless of where or who Callaghan plays for she brings the same mindset.
“I’ve played some where there are five people in the room but it doesn’t matter whether there are five people or five hundred; I am going to have fun on stage. Hopefully the people will go home and say ‘I saw a good show tonight.’ Then I hope they go tell all their friends about it,” she says. “I know to be realistic in the way that the music business now is now to build it sustainably; get people to come out. Then they go home and tell their friends and the next time they come and see you.”
“It is interesting because I have heard other artists say that when they play a song over and over and over again it can get monotonous but I quite like it,” says Callaghan. “That feeling when you play a song 200 times and suddenly it changes. I don’t know if it is the audience reaction or something feels different as you discover a new part of that song.”
Callaghan also feels at home on tour.
“I love touring. I love the studio side as well and all the creative part, creating a song.’ she says.
But playing live is what she really loves. Being on tour with Mullins has been a plus. When she plays with him she benefits from his fans and his past. Regardless of where or who Callaghan plays for she brings the same mindset.
“I’ve played some where there are five people in the room but it doesn’t matter whether there are five people or five hundred; I am going to have fun on stage. Hopefully the people will go home and say ‘I saw a good show tonight.’ Then I hope they go tell all their friends about it,” she says. “I know to be realistic in the way that the music business now is now to build it sustainably; get people to come out. Then they go home and tell their friends and the next time they come and see you.”
Callaghan tells a story before she plays one of her new songs. She talks about how she wrote a song for her husband, who moved to the USA with her shortly after their marriage. She played the song, Blue Eyes, for him and asked what he thought. She could tell something wasn’t quite right.
He then pointed out, “I have green eyes.”
The song now has a new title. Callaghan says he doesn’t bring this up as often as most men would.
“Yes, well…He is very understanding about being married to a songwriter and that these things happen. People come up to the CD table a lot and look at his eyes very intently and say ‘you’re the one with green eyes’.” says Callaghan.
As to her near future plans Callaghan says she plans to tour, tour, tour, for the next few months.
“I am going to play as many shows as possible to support the album coming out. More and more dates are being booked.” she says.
You can find out more information, and for awhile, get a free download at www.callaghansongs.com.
He then pointed out, “I have green eyes.”
The song now has a new title. Callaghan says he doesn’t bring this up as often as most men would.
“Yes, well…He is very understanding about being married to a songwriter and that these things happen. People come up to the CD table a lot and look at his eyes very intently and say ‘you’re the one with green eyes’.” says Callaghan.
As to her near future plans Callaghan says she plans to tour, tour, tour, for the next few months.
“I am going to play as many shows as possible to support the album coming out. More and more dates are being booked.” she says.
You can find out more information, and for awhile, get a free download at www.callaghansongs.com.
Current Tour Dates (more to come, go to callaghansongs.com)
3/8 - Indianapolis, IN - Irving Theater
3/9 - Valparaiso, IN - Front Porch
3/10 - Valparaiso, IN - Memorial Opera House (w/Dave Alvin & The Guilty Ones)
3/11 - Chicago, IL - ACE Bar
4/13 - Dahlonega, GA - Crimson Moon Cafe
4/18 - Raleigh, NC - Burning Coal Theater
4/19 - Knoxville, TN - Scruffy City Roots
4/21 - Roanoke, VA - The Blues BBQ Co.
4/22 - Easton, MD - NightCat
4/23 - Philadelphia, PA - World Cafe Live
4/25 - Asbury Park, NJ - The Saint
4/26 - New York, NY - Rockwood Music Hall
4/27 - Scarborough, ME - The Brickhouse
5/25 - Decatur, GA - Eddie's Attic
5/26 - Duluth, GA - Eddie Owens Presents, Red Clay Theatre
6/13 - Nashville, TN - Music City Roots
3/8 - Indianapolis, IN - Irving Theater
3/9 - Valparaiso, IN - Front Porch
3/10 - Valparaiso, IN - Memorial Opera House (w/Dave Alvin & The Guilty Ones)
3/11 - Chicago, IL - ACE Bar
4/13 - Dahlonega, GA - Crimson Moon Cafe
4/18 - Raleigh, NC - Burning Coal Theater
4/19 - Knoxville, TN - Scruffy City Roots
4/21 - Roanoke, VA - The Blues BBQ Co.
4/22 - Easton, MD - NightCat
4/23 - Philadelphia, PA - World Cafe Live
4/25 - Asbury Park, NJ - The Saint
4/26 - New York, NY - Rockwood Music Hall
4/27 - Scarborough, ME - The Brickhouse
5/25 - Decatur, GA - Eddie's Attic
5/26 - Duluth, GA - Eddie Owens Presents, Red Clay Theatre
6/13 - Nashville, TN - Music City Roots
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