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Kirin J Callinan

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.Referred to as the enfant terrible of Australia's underground rock music scene, 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." 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."Callinan has collaborated with a wide range of musicians, including Mark Ronson, 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.

Albums

2008 Am I A Women, Yet?
2013 Embracism
2017 Bravado
2019 Return to Center
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Latest Articles

Reviews / Live
Live Review: TV On The Radio, Kirin J Callinan
"All sorts of freak stirred into the pot with some raga-vibed take on the 'Game Of Thrones' theme music."
Reviews / Live
Live Review: TV On The Radio, Kirin J Callinan
"With their seemingly at odds blend of super-chill attitude and pure energy, the band had everyone up from their seats and dancing by third song, 'Golden Age'."
News / Music
Kirin J. Callinan Will Join TV On The Radio As Vivid LIVE Support
The shows are next Monday 8 June and Tuesday 9 June
Features / Premiere
Donny Benet & Kirin J Callinan Bring 'The Edge' To The Screen
News / Music
Kirin J Callinan Joins Coopers Amp Shortlisted! Performers
He is the final name to be added to the event
Reviews / Album
Album Review: Kirin J Callinan - Embracism
A confronting and artistic record, Embracism is certainly not for everyone. It is, however, an ambitious – and strangely beautiful – release from a talented young man.
Reviews / Live
Live Review: Kirin J Callinan, Standish/Carlyon, Scraps, Jonny Telafone
Three bands with a theme, captured at exactly the right time; tonight is a gig for the time capsule.
Reviews / Live
Live Review: Kirin J Callinan, Standish/Carlyon, Scraps, Per Purpose
Tonight’s set is mostly drawn from Embracism and the sound really complements the band, but what doesn’t is what’s most obvious about the set.
Reviews / Album
Album Review: Kirin J Callinan - Embracism
Give it a shot, anyway. It’s a great album.
Reviews / Live
Live Review: Kirin J Callinan, Standish/Carlyon, Horse McGyver
Twenty-thirteen will undoubtedly be a breakout year for Callinan – let’s just hope local audiences embrace him as much as international crowds already have.
News / Music
Kirin J Callinan Has No Commercial Ambitions For Debut LP
“Well, it’d be nice for it to be successful. It wasn’t really part of the intention."
Features / Music
Behind The Noise
"There’s never been any great expectations or even ambitions for the album, commercially speaking."