The live in-studio version of Haven by Ryan Calkins, which premiered on January 13th alongside its official video, is a diaphanously commanding performance that instantly invites you into his sanctuary. His voice is enough to lead you to believe in natural talent; the way the emotion floods through his honeyed, warm, and assuring—yet not self-assured—vocals as he lets his listeners into his ‘haven’ is enough to breathe warmth into the coldest of souls.
Accompanied solely by an acoustic guitar that rings around his expansively panoramic harmonies, Calkins uses his magnetic vocal style to beguile while his lyrics spill the ink of a sentimental love-drunk diary entry. The simplicity of the arrangement only amplifies the raw authenticity in his sound, offering an unfiltered glimpse into an artist whose music feels like a direct extension of his heart.
Growing up in rural Massachusetts among porch-side, campfire, and kitchen musicians, Calkins was surrounded by the kind of organic artistry that shaped his goal to write and perform honest music. He creates songs that give listeners the words they may be struggling to find for themselves, all while maintaining a grounded sense of humility. Now preparing to record an EP and performing live whenever he can, Calkins proves with Haven why his journey deserves to be followed.
Stream the live in-studio video of ‘Haven’ on YouTube now.
Review by Amelia Vandergast