News: Kaleo Announce New Album 'Mixed Emotions'; Listen To New Single 'Back Door'

Icelandic rockers Kaleo announced the release of their highly anticipated third studio album, ‘Mixed Emotions’ on May 9^th via Atlantic Records. Pre-order here. The band also announced a US tour with dates including a headline show at Red Rocks and a festival performance at Napa Valley’s BottleRock. See full dates below

Produced by GRAMMY® Award Winner Eddie Spear (Zach Bryan, Sierra Ferrell) and co-produced by frontman JJ Julius Son and GRAMMY® Award Winner Shawn Everett (The Killers, Kacey Musgraves), ‘Mixed Emotions’ is a landmark rock album tackling themes from ending gun violence to overcoming despair. ‘Mixed Emotions’ is KALEO’s most ambitious album yet and it hits hard and digs deep in its mission for us to embrace our full spectrum of emotions during these trying times.

“The theme of ‘Mixed Emotions’ is kind of going through the various mood swings of life. For me, both mentally and musically,” says JJ. “I don’t like to limit myself to a specific genre and enjoy the freedom to explore where to take my songs sonically. They are each different and require different treatments and approaches. I truly feel there is something for everyone on this album.”

Today the band released a new single, “Back Door” – a brooding timeless bluesy rocker, which highlights JJ’s graveled vocal. Sharing more about the single, Kaleo recalls “‘Back Door’ is a song that we’ve had for quite a while.We’d performed it live for years, therefore, many of our fans already know it and have been begging us to record it. We’re very happy to finally put it on tape and make it a part of MIXED EMOTIONS. It’s always been met with such great reception when we’ve played it and we’re really excited for more people to experience it and add to the energy we feel during the shows.”

Listen to Back Door, below:

Work on the album began in March 2023 at Blackbird Studio in Nashville, Tennessee, and was completed in between non-stop touring working with Eddie Spear in Nashville as well as Shawn Everett in LA. It is a passionate artistic statement from a band unafraid to take chances but comfortable with the unique sound they have refined over their many years on the road.

“Finding time between two years of heavy touring the band put all their energy into making this album.” album producer Eddie Spear stated, adding, “JJ in particular dedicated and pushed himself to near destruction to get the vocal performances and arrangements to be as enjoyable as they are. There’s nothing better than making music with your friends and I am so proud to have helped facilitate the production of such a fantastic collection of songs.”

Crunching guitars and pounding drums underscore the high-octane, adrenaline-fueled singles, “Rock N Roller,” and “Back Door” – songs which show us how to let the good times roll even when the times are hard. Elsewhere, KALEO displays sonic restraint, drawing inspiration from folk and American roots. On single “Lonely Cowboy” they utilize subtle plucked acoustic guitars ringing over haunting pedal steels. Slow building anthem “USA Today,” unleashes a sound more impassioned, and thought-provoking than anything the band has released to date. Throughout JJ’s distinct and inimitable vocals shine, sharing potent stories of overcoming adversity and finding peace within.

After amassing over 4+ billion global streams, 60+ international gold, platinum, and diamond certifications, countless sold-out headlining shows, plus appearances at noteworthy festivals including Coachella, Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo and more, the GRAMMY® nominated, Icelandic rockers KALEO, have proven to be a worldwide phenomenon. Known for their electrifying live performances, KALEO toured nonstop for 3 years in support of their platinum selling debut album, A/B, which spawned the megahit “Way Down We Go.” The song has since joined the Spotify Billions club with more than 1.3 billion streams and is featured in nearly 3 million TikToks, cementing it as one of the most viral tracks in the history of the platform.

On the heels of sophomore release, Surface Sounds, the band embarked on their Fight or Flight World Tour coming out of Covid. 2022 saw them perform 97 times in 92 different cities across 22 countries, selling over one quarter of a million tickets globally. KALEO recently finished their 2024 Payback Tour, selling out famed venues across the globe including Red Rocks and Wembley Arena. 2025 will see the boys touring Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, and South America before returning to North America with dates through May 2025.

Pre-order the album here

Track list: