There’s something quietly powerful about The Things That I’ve Lost. It doesn’t shout for attention or dress things up for effect. Instead, it feels like a band choosing honesty over comfort, and letting the songs speak from a very real place. Calling All Captains have always balanced emotion and energy well, but this EP feels like a step deeper, both lyrically and emotionally.
Out now via New Damage Records, The Things That I’ve Lost explores burnout, self perception, and the ongoing process of figuring yourself out when life doesn’t slow down. It never pretends those struggles are neatly resolved. Instead, it sits with them, which is exactly why the EP connects so strongly.
When we spoke to the band, we asked what part of the EP was the hardest to write or be honest about. For Luc, the answer came down to turning the focus inward.
“The hardest thing for me to write about would probably be my own shortcomings. I really dive into this in the song ‘Dark Clouds’. Truly putting out into the world that I am struggling on a day to day basis with my own perception of myself, and how I view my actions. To some people these are just words, but to me they are a lens into my everyday struggles.”
That level of openness runs through the entire EP. Many of the songs live in the in between space of burnout, frustration, and self doubt. When asked whether writing the EP helped process those feelings or simply get them out into the open, Luc was clear.
“I think it more so just helped me get it off my chest. These are all things that i continue to work through on a daily basis.”
That honesty is what makes The Things That I’ve Lost feel so grounded. There’s no attempt to offer easy answers or tidy conclusions. These songs exist because the feelings behind them are ongoing.
Sonically, the EP feels bigger and more confident, but still unmistakably Calling All Captains. When we asked whether that was a conscious goal going into the studio or something that came together naturally, the band pointed to how they’ve always approached writing.
“One thing we always say about our band is that we don’t really have one genre. We dip our toes into styles and influences that speak to us, never writing with a mindset of ‘lets make a heavy song’ or ‘lets make this one happy’. It’s more of a natural flow when we get together and write. If we’re all smiling by the end of recording; then it’s a job well done.”
That natural approach gives the EP its sense of balance. It moves between intensity and vulnerability without ever feeling forced, and every track feels like it belongs.
One of the most striking moments on the EP comes with “Blood For Blood”, a track that brings a sharper, angrier edge. Working with Tom Denney played a key role in shaping that sound, particularly when it came to vocals.
“I think his [Tom Denney] involvement laid the groundwork for us to explore the dark/light vocals that Connor and I can pull off. Its like in those old crime shows where they have the good cop/bad cop. We both learnt how to sing for this band and I think having this song included in our repertoire makes the most sense when you think of how we both contribute vocals.”
That contrast adds another layer to the band’s dynamic and gives the EP one of its most intense moments.
Outside of the music itself, Calling All Captains have been noticeably active on social media throughout this release cycle. Their Reels and TikToks have helped the band reach new listeners, and when asked how important that side of things has become, Luc didn’t sugar coat it.
“It’s honestly an essential part of the band now. I know so many groups who only started to see success after they started to post on social media and market themselves. There are a lot of acts doing that these days. The era of waiting for a special someone to see your band and ‘discover’ you at a venue are long gone. If situations like that do happen, they’ll literally find you on their ‘discover’ page. How ironic. I think those glory days skewed lots of younger artists minds on what it takes in the modern era. It’s not just writing recording and touring anymore. Marketing and promoting yourself has become the number one most important thing to be doing as an artist, nevermind musician but all art forms have fallen victim to social media being the main route of building a career and find support for your craft.”
The Things That I’ve Lost feels like a reflection of all of that. A band aware of the realities of modern music, unafraid to be honest about the personal cost, and confident enough to let the songs carry that weight. Calling All Captains might be singing about what’s been lost, but this EP makes it clear they know exactly where they’re heading.
