Sirens has arrived. The synthwave pop music experience created by Billy Duncan and Kaleb Myers has released two beautiful songs that bring nostalgic joy to the forefront of the listener’s brain. “Naloxone” led the way in November 2022, with “Bad Dreams” following on New Year’s Day. Both songs are easy to get pleasantly lost in and provide an exciting look at a Birmingham band that is blazing its own trail.
While it sounds like Billy and Kaleb have known each other for years, the two have only known each other for a few months. In fact, the first time they met in person was the first day they recorded. The two musicians had a mutual friend in Shane, who plays guitar alongside Kaleb’s singing with the Birmingham band Grand Champ. Shane sent Kaleb a track that Billy was working on and it quickly became apparent that this match was made in musical heaven.
“I’ve been looking for something like this for the past ten years,” Kaleb shares, “By the time I was out of high school I was looking for something more along the synth-wave pop kind of feel, and just didn’t find anybody that I meshed with. Billy and I have a lot of musical chemistry and it’s been fun ever since.”
Duncan started focusing on the synth-pop genre during the pandemic after years of playing in other types of bands. By the time the two musicians linked up, Billy had an assortment of songs practically finished and ready to record - all he needed was a link-minded bandmate to bring these songs to life in their fullest form. He was then introduced to Myers in October 2022 and “Naloxone” was recorded within the week.
“We met up that Sunday morning and I watched him lay down an awesome guitar track in 20 minutes that I’m still amazed by,” Myers recalls. Duncan was equally impressed with Kaleb and the lyrical adjustments and new vocal melodies that he brought to the table for each track. “The songwriting process is all of those things combined,” Billy shares - and the two masterminds behind Sirens understand the value in every aspect of the process.
“For me, it’s just learning what was already in Billy’s head and just trying to help make fruitful this beautiful energy that he had already created,” Kaleb shares of his approach to creation. “Bad Dreams” was a unique situation in that it had already been recorded with another singer, but the band returned to the track to bring a new version that features Kaleb. The band is placing a focus on the creative collaboration between themselves with each new track and is looking forward to bringing a new sonic experience to the people of Birmingham and beyond.
“Personally, I like doing it because it makes me feel nostalgic,” Billy explains, “I grew up listening to 80s synth pop music and that’s how it makes me feel when I hear it. I was just recreating that for myself and hopefully, other people enjoy it too.” Kaleb is in full agreement with the goal, expanding the sentiment by saying “I would like to take a hold of that nostalgia and innocence. The things we’ve experienced since those times, that childhood of listening to 80s music. Friendships, relationships, there’s just so many stories in all of that we can relate to and it’s not all love songs. I’m excited to see where we go lyrically and to create a world that people live in.”
One meeting between two musical minds has resulted in a project that is shifting the Birmingham musical landscape - but it also reminded Kaleb and Billy why they enjoy making music in the Magic City. Billy had just moved back to the Magic City before they met, and Kaleb was unsure if he was staying. “I was to the point where I wanted to run away. He was coming back to Birmingham - I wanted to run away,” Myers explains, “It’s not that I don’t love the city, I have so much love for the city. I just had so much love for music I needed that community there and it felt like the genres that I dabbled in didn’t have a circle I could collaborate with as well. It felt a little hopeless at times.”
The hopelessness has been replaced with anticipation, as the city has responded with adoration to the first two singles. “I love it. I love that my family supports this, we’re doing this in Birmingham, and we didn’t have to go anywhere.” Sirens is in Birmingham and has plans for plenty more singles and live shows on the way. We can’t wait to listen.
Cover image from Sirens
