Please list all of your band members and their roles in the band.
Rodney Bokman - Guitar
Jessica Gonzales - Guitar
Ryan Herrera - Bass
Luke Cook - Drums
Chris Graham – Vocals
For starters, what bands were you guys a part of prior to Cali.co?
Rodney, Ryan, and I were previously in the band Radio City. Ryan, Jess, and Luke were in Now We Know. We have been good friends for a while but timing was never on our side to start a project together. When the name change and new direction for Radio City came up, the idea of building something bigger took precedence.
How long has the band been around?
January 2016 is when the majority of the writing started for Cali.co.
What’s the origin of that name and have you changed the band’s name before?
Cali.co has pretty much been our escape from the "image" you have to be, to "make it". We wanted an outlet for not only ourselves, but for our fans to be goofy, enjoy what they do, and maybe make some friends out of it. Cali.co was a name we came up with while sitting around talking about how much we love cats. It's hard to focus an "image" around cats, and frankly we like it that way.
Radio City was the original name before legal action was required to change it. Along with a name change, a new direction was discussed with some of the songs written for Radio City.
Who writes your songs?
In Radio City, Rodney, Ryan, and I wrote the single E.P. release. It was so raw, just three kids writing music that was catchy. We were also blessed to have other musicians behind us who believed in what we stood for. Personally, that’s what is so exciting about what Cali.co will bring. Every band member has the ability to sit down and write their own amazing song from start to finish.
What are the main themes or topics for most of your songs and do you think these topics will change over time?
Lyrically, I usually base themes around what emotion I have attached to, for that particular song. Most of my writing is molded around the idea of a "battlefield". In life, we face battles every single day, whether it's in a relationship, work, internal fears, etc. My goal is to show others that we are all out there battling, but choosing to stand up and fight is the one thing that will make us feel the most alive.
What bands are currently inspiring the music that you’re making?
We all have people we "fan girl" over. A few I can list off the top of my head are Pvris, Neck Deep, Polyphia, Beartooth, and State Champs. They all have amazing lyrics, melodies, not to mention they all shred.
Was there a particular band/artist or concert that inspired you to start a band?
Not the band necessarily, but personally yes. In 2007 I was blessed to be able to see Emery. I loved Emery at the time, but that wasn't what pushed me to follow a career in music. A couple small opening bands came on before, Mayday Parade and Pierce the Veil. I remember hearing "Jamie All Over" for the first time and being overwhelmed by the energy from the crowd. That day I chose to start writing songs.
What do you do to prepare for a show? Any flexing, exercises, ect….
We have a fascination with Harry Potter, so mostly HP marathons. I'm pretty sure Jess is actually secretly converting us into a Harry Potter instrumental band.
What has been the biggest highlight of the band’s career so far?
So What?! Music Fest! We were blessed to be able to perform at this year’s festival. What better way to play our first show together, than at one of the industry’s biggest festivals?
If you could tour with any bands, past or present, who would they be and why?
After seeing them twice this year live, my number one is Neck Deep. Those guys look like they are having the time of their lives.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
We are currently in the studio recording our first E.P. No release date set yet, but we will know more soon! Follow us on social media for more details. Thank you!
Check them out at https://www.facebook.com/calicoofficialband