New CCM duo Caleb & John are writing their own definition of brotherhood. Two men who came to music in completely different ways, Caleb & John have created their own distinctive sound with joy-fueled, high-energy vocals paired with vibrant musicality all pointing to Jesus. In short, their music is hopeful and fun, just like Caleb & John themselves.
Forming a duo wasn’t the obvious choice in the beginning. Caleb, a pastor’s kid from the northeast, grew up on a steady stream of Christian music while John, the only brother to five sisters, came to love it as a young adult. John taught himself to play guitar and piano through videos on YouTube where Caleb is a classically trained musician. John’s personal style leans toward the gritty, rootsy side and Caleb’s sweet spot is in pop melodies. While both playing for other artists like Sam Hunt, Katy Nichole, CAIN and Anne Wilson, Caleb and John met through a mutual friend who believed they might work well together. “When we met it was an interesting difference,” John says. “We hit off immediately, but it took a minute for us to find the right sound together.” “We didn’t find our sound right away,” Caleb says. “I thought John was so awesome, but I wasn’t sure if we’d be a musical fit. But once we decided to just jam for a while, both of us hopping instrument to instrument, that’s when we found the magic.”
Caleb & John’s individual life experiences and approaches to music are what fuel their collaborative songwriting as well as their personal connection. “John’s a raw talent and I’m analytical,” Caleb says. “John will come up with these ideas I would never think of and I’ll help shape them and mold them. We’re able to talk to each other and lean on each other. We complement each other very well.” “Doing this with Caleb is so much better than going it alone,” John says. “I love being able to just hang out with someone and go through this whole thing together. We can bounce ideas off each other.” Caleb adds, “When you’re in a duo, you both have strengths and weaknesses that help you balance each other out. You get the best of both.”
“Hallelujah Feeling,” the duo’s infectious debut single, is an intersection of both Caleb & John’s styles, a hook-driven pop melody with a driving, rootsy vibe and a little rock and roll thrown in for good measure. Based on Romans 15:13 which says, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit,” it’s Caleb & John’s declaration of their intentional belief that Jesus is the answer. “We love that hallelujah is more than a feeling,” Caleb says. “It’s the joy of the Lord, something anyone can have when they know Jesus. It perseveres through hardship because it’s more than a feeling.”
Two unique people with two unique backgrounds, the duo’s unified joy is contagious, their lyrics overflowing with the goodness of God. With a genuine heart for others and a bond formed through their love for God, Caleb & John are eager to share their music with the world. “The message we want to communicate is hope,” John says. “There is hope for you. If God can change somebody like me, He can change somebody like you.”
Find out more about Caleb & John here.
