Kirin J. Callinan

Kieran John Callinan (born 21 January 1986), known by his stage name Kirin J. Callinan, is an Australian singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He is also a founding member of Mercy Arms and has played with the Night Game, Jack Ladder and the Dreamlanders, Mark Ronson and Genesis Owusu.[1]

Kirin J. Callinan
Callinan performing live in Sydney, August 2019
Background information
Birth nameKieran John Callinan
Born (1986-01-21) 21 January 1986
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Musician
  • actor
Instrument(s)
  • Vocals
  • guitar
  • synthesiser
  • bass guitar
  • percussion
  • piano
Years active2005–present
Labels

Referred to as the enfant terrible of Australia's underground rock music scene,[2] Callinan is known for his flamboyant public persona, confrontational live shows, and diverse musical output in which, according to Spin, "the distinctions between talent, irony, and genuine bad taste bleed together until they’re indistinguishable."[3] Callinan said that his primary motivation as a musician is to "excite and confuse, ... But you can't do that for any length of time without having sincerity."[4]

Callinan has collaborated with a wide range of musicians, including Mark Ronson,[5] Jimmy Barnes, James Chance, Alex Cameron, Connan Mockasin, Caroline Polachek, Weyes Blood, Pond, Mac Demarco, Hubert Lenoir, Julian Casablancas, Genesis Owusu, whistler Molly Lewis and brothers Neil and Tim Finn. Barnes, Cameron and Lewis feature in Callinan's 2017 single "Big Enough"; Barnes' distinctive screaming cameo became an internet meme.[6]

Early life

Kieran John Callinan was born and raised in Sydney.[7][8] His father is Brendan Callinan, former keyboardist with Australian pub rock band The Radiators.[9][10]

Music career

2005–2007: Early years and Mercy Arms
Callinan playing live with Mercy Arms, Melbourne, May 2008

In 2005, he formed indie rock band Mercy Arms with fellow guitarist and vocalist Thom Moore, bassist Ash Moss, and drummer Julian Sudek.[11][12] Callinan and Sudek had lived in the same area: "We played soccer against each other and with each other as kids, so we go back to when we were fourteen years old or so."[13] Mercy Arms broke up in 2009, on stage at the Perth Big Day Out.

Kirin was also an early member of Sydney post punk band The Valentinos, their first ep produced by later Kirin J collaborator and Embracism producer Kim Moyes of The Presets.[14]

2008–present: Solo career

In 2008, Callinan self-released his debut solo album, Am I a Woman, Yet?. His second album, Embracism, was released by American record label Terrible Records and London based XL Recordings in 2013.

In 2017, Callinan released Bravado. It reached No. 5 on the ARIA Hitseekers Albums Chart.[15] His track, "S.A.D.", was provided with a music video directed by Danny Cohen, which was nominated for Best Video at the ARIA Music Awards of 2017.[16]

In February 2018, Callinan received a 12-month good-behaviour bond after being charged with willful and obscene exposure in a public place. He lifted his kilt on the red carpet at the ARIA Music Awards of 2017, briefly exposing his genitals to press photographers.[17] Following the incident, Callinan was dropped from the 2018 lineup of Laneway Music Festival.[18]

In 2019, Callinan released Return to Center. Writing for the Sydney Morning Herald, music journalist Michael Dwyer declared "Kirin J Callinan has just purloined the concept album of the century".[19]

Callinan has contributed & collaborated both live and on record with a number of other artists. Since 2009 he has been an original touring member of Jack Ladder & The Dreamlanders, contributing guitars on the 2009 live ep "Counterfeits" as well as full length albums "Hurtsville" (2011), "Playmates" (2014), "Blue Poles" (2018) and 2021’s "Hijack!". He also played guitars on Mark Ronson’s Grammy Award winning album "Uptown Special", performing songs from the album including lead singles "Uptown Funk" and "Leaving Los Feliz" live alongside Ronson and Tame Impala’s Kevin Parker.[5]

2019 saw Callinan co-writing & producing songs in a production duo alongside Mac Demarco, producing Julian Casablancas & The Voidz singles "Did My Best" and "The Eternal Tao 2.0" and working on Hubert Lenoir’s second LP "PICTURA DE IPSE : Musique Direct" among others.[20]

Back in Australia, Callinan also begun working alongside Australian / Ghanaian rapper Genesis Owusu, co-writing 2021’s "Smiling With No Teeth" album, contributing vocals and guitar. Smiling With No Teeth would go on to win Album of the Year, Best Hip Hop Release, and Best Independent Release at the 2021 ARIA Awards[21] as well as the J Award for Australian Album of the Year [22] and, in March 2022, the Australian Music Prize.[23]

In 2021, Callinan launched his own record label - Worse Records - a subsidiary of US label Terrible Records, releasing French Canadian artist Hubert Lenoir’s 2022 Polaris Prize shortlisted sophomore album PICTURA DE IPSE : Musique Direct[24] as well as one off single "New Music Friday", by his own manufactured conceptual boy band "Seconds Flat" and Jack Ladder & The Dreamlanders lead single "Astronaut" from the album "Hijack!".

On Valentine’s Day, 14 February 2022, Kirin released the first single "…in ABSOLUTES" and its accompanying music video co-directed with Kiwi director Oscar Keys, apparently shot in Kirin’s New Zealand residence.[25]

In October 2023, Callinan released "Eternally Hateful" and announced his fifth studio album If I Could Sing.[26]

Acting

In 2017, Callinan was cast by Jane Campion in the second season of Top of the Lake. "Kirin was a joy to work with because he was imaginative, playful and exploring," said Campion. "He seems somehow to push the limits of human being in the biggest sense, like he might have been raised by unicorns."[4]

Discography

Albums
Title Details
Am I a Woman, Yet?
  • Released: 2008
  • Label: Kirin J Callinan
  • Format: CD, digital download
Embracism
  • Released: 24 June 2013
  • Label: Siberia (SIB011CD)
  • Format: CD, LP, digital download
Bravado
  • Released: 9 June 2017
  • Label: Siberia, Terrible, EMI (5735778)
  • Format: CD, LP, digital download
Return to Center
  • Released: 17 June 2019
  • Label: Terrible, EMI (7766194)
  • Format: CD, LP, digital download
If I Could Sing
  • Released: TBA[26]
  • Label:
  • Format:

Backing band

Current

Former

  • Tex Crick – Synthesizer, Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals (2013–2020)[27]
  • Mahne Frame - Drums, Percussion, Backing Vocals (2016-2020)[28]
  • John Carroll Kirby - Keyboards (2018)
  • David Jenkins Jnr. - Drums, Percussion (2013-2016)
  • Daniel Stricker - Drums (2007-2012)
  • Hannes Kaschell - Drums (2015)
  • Tim Koh - Bass Guitar (2015)[29]
  • Jaie Gonzales - Bass Guitar (2013-2014)
  • Molly Lewis - Musical Whistling (2017)

Awards

AIR Awards

The Australian Independent Record Awards (commonly known informally as AIR Awards) is an annual awards night to recognise, promote and celebrate the success of Australia's Independent Music sector.

Year Nominee / work Award Result
AIR Awards of 2013[30] themselves Breakthrough Independent Artist Nominated

ARIA Music Awards

The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music.

Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
2017 "S.A.D." (directed by Danny Cohen) Best Video Nominated [31][16]

Australian Music Prize

The Australian Music Prize (the AMP) is an annual award of $30,000 given to an Australian band or solo artist in recognition of the merit of an album released during the year of award. The commenced in 2005.

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2013[32] Embracism Australian Music Prize Nominated

J Award

The J Awards are an annual series of Australian music awards that were established by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's youth-focused radio station Triple J. They commenced in 2005.

Year Nominee / work Award Result
J Awards of 2012 "Way II War" Australian Video of the Year Won
J Awards of 2017[33] "Big Enough" Australian Video of the Year Nominated

National Live Music Awards

The National Live Music Awards (NLMAs) are a broad recognition of Australia's diverse live industry, celebrating the success of the Australian live scene. The awards commenced in 2016.

Year Nominee / work Award Result
National Live Music Awards of 2016[34] Kirin J. Callinan Live Guitarist of the Year Nominated

References
  1. "Watch Genesis Owusu and Kirin J Callinan perform 'Don't Need You' and 'Drown' for NME Home Sessions". NME. 13 April 2021.
  2. "Kirin J. Callinan Confirmed to Support TV on the Radio at the Sydney Opera House!". The AU Review. 27 May 2015. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  3. Gaca, Anna (8 November 2017). "What Exactly Is Going On With Kirin J. Callinan?", Spin. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
  4. Carew, Anthony (1 June 2017). "Kirin J. Callinan wants to lead a glamorous life", The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
  5. music, Guardian (12 January 2015). "Mark Ronson – Uptown Special: Exclusive album stream". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
  6. Matthews, Alice (7 November 2017). "Jimmy Barnes on becoming a meme: 'I just screamed like a banshee'", Double J. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
  7. "Current details for ABN 72 531 951 065". Australian Business Register. November 2014. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
  8. "'Afrika 1' at APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) | Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (AMCOS). Retrieved 26 September 2019. Note: For additional work user may have to select 'Search again' and then 'Enter a title:' &/or 'Performer:'
  9. staff writer (19 June 2013). "Kirin J Callinan Teams Up with Dad for New Single". The Music. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
  10. "Rock's wild ride takes a solo turn". www.theaustralian.com.au. 25 June 2013. Note: requires subscription
  11. "Mercy Arms Reach Out". Mess+Noise. 7 September 2007. Archived from the original on 3 May 2008. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
  12. "Ausmusic Month 06: Next Crop Artist: Mercy Arms". Triple J. 2006. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
  13. Pearce, Dominic (August 2007). "Music Interviews: Mercy Arms". Rockus Online Magazine. Kirin J. Callinan (interviewee). Retrieved 8 October 2019.
  14. Alessio, Dom (16 August 2006). "Who The Hell: The Valentinos". Who The Hell. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
  15. Wallace, Ian (26 June 2017). "Week Commencing ~ 26th June 2017 ~ Issue #1426" (PDF). The ARIA Report. Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) (1426): 21. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 June 2017. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
  16. "2017 ARIA Awards Nominated Artists Revealed". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). 10 October 2017. Archived from the original on 11 October 2017. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
  17. McCormack, Ange; Dias, Avani (21 February 2018). "Kirin J Callinan: Good behaviour bond over obscene exposure". Triple J. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  19. "'That's the kind of self-important brat I am': Kirin J Callinan's pop crime". 3 July 2019.
  20. "The Voidz share "Did My Best," co-produced by Mac DeMarco".
  21. "Genesis Owusu, the Kid LAROI Win Big at 2021 ARIA Awards". Billboard.
  22. "Genesis Owusu leads this year's 2021 J Awards winners". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 18 November 2021.
  23. "Genesis Owusu has won the $30,000 Australian Music Prize". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 3 March 2022.
  24. "PICTURA DE IPSE : Musique directe".
  25. "In Absolutes by Kirin J Callinan - RYM/Sonemic".
  26. "Ever Wanted to Watch Kirin J Callinan Get Tortured in the Middle Ages?". Rolling Stone Australia. 13 October 2023. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  27. "Kirin J Callinan on stunts, exhibitionism and being misunderstood: 'Is this who I want to be?'". the Guardian. 28 June 2019. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
  28. "Kirin J Callinan on stunts, exhibitionism and being misunderstood: 'Is this who I want to be?'". the Guardian. 28 June 2019. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
  29. "Warm Up With Tim Koh". calypsomag.com. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
  30. "Final AIR Awards 2013 Nominations Revealed, $50,000 Prize Announced". tonedeaf. 1 October 2013. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  31. ARIA Award previous winners. "Winners by Award – Artisan Awards – Best Video". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Retrieved 12 December 2019.
  32. "Winners & Shortlists". australian music prize. Archived from the original on 29 July 2019. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
  33. "The J Award 2017". Triple J. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 2017. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  34. "Nominees 2016". NLMA. 2016. Retrieved 5 September 2020.

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