Caleb Mills - Feature Artist of the Month

We’d love to introduce you to Caleb Mills!

Caleb found Studio45b through word-of-mouth, as so many artists did in the beginning days. When he initially came into our Studio, we were blown away with his voice. For such a young man, he had an incredible amount of feeling and soul radiating from each note.

It wasn’t long before we noticed his hit songwriting skills. S-U-R-V-I-V-E is a cheeky song that came to life with Grady and Caleb working alongside each other. This song catapulted Caleb on TikTok, gaining hundreds of thousands of followers overnight.

We sat down with Caleb to get the insight on his newest EP, "You Only," that he recorded right here at Studio45b.

Let’s get to it!

Studio45b: Caleb! It’s so great to chat with you. Congratulations on your new EP release. Can you tell us a little bit about the process for picking these songs, and how the EP came together?

Caleb: I honestly didn't plan for these songs to go on a project together at all. Once I had all 3 back though, I slowly connected them all, and to me they fit perfectly as a collective. 

Studio45b: Tell us about your recording experience. Did you face any challenges and how did you overcome them?

Caleb: Not really, but it is funny that initially "Me And You" was going to be a demo to pitch. I ended up loving it so much that I had to put it on the EP.

Studio45b: Good thing, because we love that song! How do you balance creative direction with commercial appeal?

Caleb: For me, I try not to think too much into commercial appeal, as long as the song isn't 5 minutes long I feel like my creativity is enough to make a song commercial. 

Studio45b: What do you think is the most challenging aspect that musicians face in todays industry?

Caleb: I think the most challenging aspect of today's industry is the immense amount of music/musicians. It is extremely competitive with so many people having the ability to release their own records. The constant demand for new music by fans is great but it takes away from a lot of artists' ability to stay relevant.

Studio45b: Tell us about your TikTok following. You've blown up! Congratulations. Are you finding that it's helping your career? Is it a good platform for you?

Caleb: Without TikTok I wouldn't have anywhere near the amount of support that I have. I tell every artist, writer, producer, etc. if they aren't on TikTok it needs to be the very next thing they do. It has furthered my career more than anything else. At times, the constant need to put out content is a lot, but in the end it's 100% worth it!

Studio45b: Tell us about the most memerable show you've played!

Caleb: The most memorable show I've ever played is probably Whiskey Jam at Winner's in Nashville. It's such an iconic place and event to play. It was so much fun and is an honor to be a part of that family. 

Studio45b: We love Whiskey Jam. Congrats on playing such a prestigious gig! What is the best piece of musical advice you've ever received?

Caleb: "You can't sing it if you don't feel it" - My Grandaddy

Studio45b: We love that! Do you have any favorite songs on the EP?

Caleb: My favorite song from the You Only EP is definitely "Keep On". It's more of a slow jam love song which is my favorite style to write. I also wrote it alone so it means a lot to me.

Studio45b: Can you share who collaborated on this album with you? Writers, producers, players, if any?

Caleb: The legend himself, Mr. Grady James, played everything on this EP other than a few acoustic guitars that I did. We produced it together, mostly me making weird noises with my mouth and him turning them into real music. My co-writers on this project were Eric Michael Taylor, Parker Leblanc, Caleb Lathrop, Ethan Wynn, and Andrew Parris.

Studio45b: Hey, I think we’ve heard of those guys! Thank you for sending them to our Studio. Lastly, we have a legendary Mexican restaurant down the street from our studio. Pedro’s has become a client favorite around here! What is your favorite thing on the menu?

Caleb: ALL OF IT! If you're recording with Grady, and he asks if you're hungry, just say yes. Pedro's is worth every penny.

Thanks so much for chatting with us, Caleb. We can’t wait to see you in the Studio again soon. Congratulations on all your success!

Check out Caleb’s new EP here.

Check out Caleb’s website here.

Check out Caleb on TikTok here.