JJ Julius Son
Kaleo – Blues-rock from Iceland
Origins and Early Years
Jökull Júlíusson, known as JJ Julius Son, was born on June 4, 1990 in Mosfellsbær, Iceland. He founded Kaleo in 2012 with childhood friends. The band started by singing in Icelandic before switching to English.
International Success
The album A/B (2016) propelled the band to fame thanks to the single “Way Down We Go”, which was featured in more than 20 American TV series. The track “No Good” and its video recorded in an Icelandic volcano went viral.
Kaleo was nominated for the Grammy Awards in 2017 for Best Rock Performance.
The fact that Kaleo comes from Iceland, a country of only 370,000 inhabitants, makes their international success even more remarkable. JJ Julius Son grew up listening to blues and classic rock vinyl records in a country without a blues tradition, giving his music a character that is both authentic and exotic.
Style and Legacy
JJ Julius Son has a deep and powerful voice reminiscent of the great singers of blues and southern rock. His style blends blues, Icelandic folk, and rock with raw authenticity.
Iconic Guitar
JJ Julius Son plays Gibson Les Paul Custom guitars (notably a 1957 Reissue Murphy Lab model) and acoustic guitars for folk songs.
See the Gretsch White Falcon Reissue 2017 used by JJ Julius Son.
