Kallai (sounds like ‘call-eye’) celebrates the sound of the timeless, the places that never were, and the futures that may never be. Waves of reverb-soaked guitars break and give way to a synthesized haze suspended over a verge of melodic bass lines and flowing rhythms. Their songs tell stories of melancholy and hope that are sentimental yet sardonic, dreamlike but real, and always emotionally true. Kallai was formed in the summer of 2023 by members of Trance to the Sun, Luscious Apparatus, and Lost Echoes. While inspired by the post-punk, shoegaze, and doom acts of the past few decades, Kallai’s perspective is evolving with those scenes and seeking to spin sounds that unfold throughout time.
The band builds an irresistible sonic tension at the start of their new single “Palisades.” The slow-burning nature of this track creates an atmosphere of gothic tones and murky textures. Miraculously, the dark, slow-core undertones create a lush dreamscape. The subtle funk of the bassline gives the ambiance a slight bounce, while distant vocals provide an eerie feeling. Kallai is in no rush on “Palisades.” The hypnotic loops that draw you in can be broken apart at any minute. The guitars explode into sharp solos while a steady drum pattern keeps the song from feeling too dense. Kallai creates an otherworldly shoegaze that bends and twists without warning. “Palisades” is just a taste of what this band offers.
“This song’s mood and message are inspired by how sometimes we hold back our desires like a fence around our hearts,” explains guitarist/vocalist David Gross. “How breaking through can be a daunting experience, much like entering the grandeur of a wide open canyon that fills the horizon. But love and nature will lead the way.”
