Voth

Jeremy's Pick: "I Choose Us," Voth

Comprised of siblings Caleb, Jacob, Hannah and Cody, Voth straddles the line between Americana and gospel on their new song "I Choose Us." Focused on the heavy theme of a marriage going through tumult, "I Choose Us" leverages the group's genetic foundation to wrap the whole song in gorgeous harmonies. The tune also does an excellent job of exploring dynamic range, going from downtrodden to soaring and back again in a matter of bars. - Wide Open Country

Voth is a modern, sibling country group hailing from Tulsa. Caleb Voth (guitar/vocals), the band’s main songwriter, chatted with us about their music and inspiration.

Caleb is one part of the quartet along with Hannah (voth), Cody (vocals) and Jacob (drums). Their band name is their last name and it’s pronounced like “both,” not like “moth.” They grew up singing in church but fell in love with country. Now, they’re a professional band that’s just getting started. They still don’t have plans to leave the city they were born and raised in, though.

Nashville Noise: You grew up singing in church but when did you develop a love for country music?
Caleb Voth: Is it a sin to say we loved country music before church music? Let’s just say that our parents introduced us to John Denver and Roger Miller almost at the same time as “church music.” It was just kind of in our DNA at such young ages. We really credit them for our love and appreciation of all genres of music. They would pull us all into the living room and play some old country artists on cassette throughout our “surround sound” speakers in the house. We would dance for hours listening to all kinds of music from Al Green to Johnny Cash.



Who were your earliest country music influences?
Some of our earliest memories of listening to country music are Roger Miller, John Denver, Alison Krauss — but we were also 90s country babies. So that includes Diamond Rio, Toby Keith, Reba and Pure Prairie League.

Fast forward to today… You’ve seen a rise in music in a city you were born and raised in. How would you describe the Tulsa music scene for anyone who’s never experienced it themselves?
Tulsa is a very interesting place… With Tulsa being right on Route 66, there is some sort of iconic feel in the city that just gives it a historic vibe. There are tons of local artists and bands that play all the time in Tulsa. We have some legendary venues like The Brady Theater and Cains Ballroom that have launched some of the largest acts in music. Unlike other artists, we are hoping to stay in Tulsa and be a part of creating a music scene as opposed using it as a launching out. We believe there is so much untapped potential right here in our home town.

When you write a song, how do come together to make it work for each of you? What’s that process like?
Honestly, I feel like I have a way of making songs personal yet applicable to all of us. Once I have a song completed, we all kind of add our own perspective to it. We all are in different phases of life. Jacob is married with a baby on the way. Hannah is married with two kids. Cody is dating right now and well, I’m single at the moment. It helps having each of our different life perspectives because the songs mean something different to each of us.

I will typically bring a song about 90% done, then Hannah and Cody add the harmonies and also possibly alternate melodies to the song. Jacob then really challenges the song structure making sure it flows and is truly authentic. He is a hard critic and kind of tells me how it is. He will sometimes say — “Yeah, that song sucks.” And I’m like, “OK, I’ll take it back to the drawing board.” With the song, “I Choose Us,” he came to me right after and said, “That’s a hit. I wouldn’t change a thing.”



I’ve been listening to that one, “Sweetest Regret” and “American Rebels” on repeat. I love them all but I definitely think “Sweetest Regret” is my favorite. What’s the story behind that one?
You’re so sweet! “Sweetest Regret” was a song I wrote after a relationship that ended up not working out — but it wasn’t a bad breakup, you know? It’s kind of reflective of those relationships in your life that you knew couldn’t and wouldn’t last, but you look back and have fond memories of them. It was about someone in my life that really pushed me to new heights but it still wasn’t healthy. It’s kind of hard to explain, which is why it’s a sweet regret.

You’ve also said ballads are easier for you to write because they’re more tied in to human emotions. Do you typically rely on your own experiences for these songs?
I definitely rely on personal experiences for our songs. It’s hard for me to write fiction. So almost all of our songs have an element of a personal tie between either myself or an experience of one of my siblings. It’s very hard for me to really own a song or live in it if I haven’t experienced what I’m writing about… I really try to write songs that I would listen to. If it’s not something I like or something I wouldn’t listen to, I will stop the thought train right away and do something different.



Your story of how you stick together as a family is really touching. It can’t always be easy, though. How do you deal with disagreements or obstacles while working together?
We are seriously super close and love working together but we have walked out of the studio on each other before… I would say we agree more than we disagree. It’s a beautiful thing. We have overcome so much as a family to let petty things get in the way of doing what we love.

Our brother, Jacob, used to be a strung out heroin addict. Life was hard and we kept believing and praying for him to come back. He was told he would probably never play the drums again because of all of the drugs he put into his body. Let me tell you what, they didn’t know our brother. Jacob is one of the strongest individuals I know… Shortly after an overdose in Tulsa, paramedics resuscitated him and his life took a complete turn for the best. Fast forward to now, him and his wife took a missions trip to Africa and it changed everything for them. Now he’s running ultramarathons to raise money to help build water wells for people in Africa. He’s a new man and plays the drums with more fire than I have ever seen anyone play in my life.

Wow. That’s such an amazing story. It’s no wonder you’re such a tight knit family. Lastly, what are your 2019 goals for Voth?
We plan to release our first EP and do series of shows throughout the country. The writing process never stops though. I honestly feel like I’ve been writing songs lately for where Voth is going to be in like five years. It’s exciting but also overwhelming because I see where we are and where we can be. We have had some success, but we haven’t even started yet. - Coti Howell

Voth is the best new band you haven’t heard of yet. Caleb, Jacob, Hannah, and Cody are siblings that sing in perfect harmony while executing what can only be described as exciting, new country music. Growing up in Oklahoma, the same state that gave us Blake Shelton and Garth Brooks, the band has a sound that can only come from the red dirt of Tulsa. We caught up with the new musical act to ask them a few questions, read more below!


CF: How would you say that your sound is different from other bands or artists in the country music scene right now?

Voth: Being that we are all siblings, our family dynamic creates a real synergistic element to our music. Some people call it “blood harmony”. When you grow up together with long family karaoke car rides – music just becomes second nature. And shout out to mom and dad for putting us in music lessons.


CF: You have been compared to Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, and because of the family dynamic – The Band Perry. How do you all feel about that?

Voth: Well first of all, that is super flattering. If people hear our music and think of them, then we are doing something right for sure. But I think what people see is the ability for each of us to take lead on vocals. A lot of times you hear a voice and you’re like “Ya, that’s Kings of Leon” or “Yep, that’s Carrie Underwood.” What we are trying to do is create a musical sound with our writing and production that when someone hears our music they say, “Ya, that’s Voth”. Not necessarily just one vocal.

CF: You mentioned Kings of Leon and Carrie Underwood in your last answer – what are some of your musical influences?

Voth: Kings of Leon is one of our favorite bands. I wouldn’t compare ourselves to them just because they have their own sound completely, but they have definitely shaped me as an artist and how I write. Being in an alternative country sound, I honestly grab inspiration from other genres and try to bridge the gap for listeners. Inspiration for us comes from artists like John Mayer, The 1975, Leon Bridges, Allen Stone and others that I feel push the limits in their own genre. I feel Kacey Musgraves has done that with country, as well as artists like Chris Stapleton. If you aren’t pushing the boundaries, I don’t feel you are growing as an artist. I hope that those who don’t listen to country music will like our sound, and those that do will tip their hat to us.


CF: How did you all come to create the sound that you have right now?

Voth: It takes writing a bunch of bad songs to get to the good ones. I think that’s how it is for everyone. We would write a song and say, “Oh this is a hit”, to only listen to it a week later and say, “This is horrible.” haha. I think when it came down to it, we wrote from the heart – real experiences or emotions. Then as an artist, you have to learn to blend authenticity with commercial. That’s a hard thing to do. You always want to create authentic music as an artist, but the harder part is creating authentic music that people want to listen to. We hope that when people hear our music, it’s easy on their ears and soothing to their soul.

CF: Are there plans for a full album release or tour?

Voth: Absolutely. We are always writing new material and caching it away for next projects. We step into the studio here in a few weeks to work on our first album. We are very proud of our four single releases, but this new music we feel really drills down on who we are and the sound we want to project. As far as touring, we have shows planned for the rest of 2018, but are looking to hopefully hit the road in 2019.

You can learn more about Voth by visiting their website HERE. - Tiffini Brock

Which artist has influenced you the most … and how?

For me personally, it has been John Mayer. With older siblings, I was always listening to music that was different than my peers. I remember when the album Heavier Things came out. I was only 11 years old and was captivated by Mayer’s ability to create alternate melodies with his guitar that were different than what he was singing. I didn’t even play an instrument yet but I was picking up on the intricacies of his songwriting and it captivated me. He has a way of making you feel and reminisce about things that you haven’t even experienced.

What was the first moment that you knew you wanted to be a musician?

I would have to say it was hearing John Mayer’s Heavier Things album. Like I said, I was 11 when it came out and picked up a guitar at the age of 12. “Neon” was one of my favorite songs so I thought, “I’m going to have that be the first song I learn.” Oh boy, was I in for a treat. I actually still to this day have never mastered that song fully. I literally don’t know how he plays that song with its alternate melodies AND sings it. It truly amazes me.

What’s the toughest time you ever had writing a song?

Probably a song that we haven’t cut yet. It’s called “Show Myself to the Door” and it was written from a real and raw experience I was going through. I really liked this girl and thought there was going to be something there. I completely shared my heart and feelings with her–and there was nothing back. The song describes the guy saying everything he could possibly say, her not feeling the same way, then him showing himself to the door. The showing myself to the door never physically happened, but it was a metaphor of putting yourself out there, not being accosted, then having no choice but to walk away.

Since food and music go so well together, what is your dream pairing of a meal and a musician?

Man, that is a tough question. I would have to say probably right now–a fat juicy cheeseburger while listening to Chris Stapleton melt my face off. He has inspired me as a songwriter to not care about what is on the radio or what is popular, and just write from the heart. And I love burgers.

How often do you hide behind a character in a song or use “you” when it’s actually “me”?

Honestly, we don’t hide much behind our music. I think the most authentic music is written from personal experiences. So when you hear us saying “me” and “you” — it probably truly is a “me + you” experience. It’s hard for me to write and talk about things I haven’t been through before. A lot of people can pull it off–but for us, it’s a personal thing. - BGS Staff

Sometimes, the end of a relationship can flash before your eyes like a vision in the midnight hour. Its charcoal embers cast off a faintly orange glow, potent and thrilling, and you stoke the scorched ash in the hopes it’ll reignite somehow, someway. But it’s an act of desperate vanity. When you can muster up the willingness to accept the reality that’d bite your neck if it were a snake, you can come to terms with the pain, which quakes through your ribcage with monstrous force. A sibling quartet out of Tulsa, Voth wax poetic about such a dying connection on “Sweetest Regret,” mournful harmony weaving in and out of their teardrops with a production that thinly veils the truth.

“She hits you like a shot of whiskey / Bring you down like a sunset / She’s my sweetest regret,” the first chorus rings out in clear, metallic echoes. The Americana troupe, made up of Caleb Voth (guitar, vocals), Hannah Voth (vocals), Cody Voth (vocals) and Jacob Voth (drums), stands tall in the aftermath, despite the smoke swallowing their bodies whole. The darkness fills their lungs and injects their vocals with a gnarled but smoothly caramel texture. “Looking back now, I didn’t want you / But now I need you / You’re my sweetest regret,” they later surmise on the bridge, allowing the acoustic guitar to claw its way through the misery in fragile sweeps. The simplicity in their lyric plants them directly in the path of emotional destruction, so there’s little wonder why they’ve begun picking up gallons of streams on Spotify.

“Sweetest Regret” follows on the heels of three other singles this year, including “American Rebels” and “I I Choose Us.” The band is eyeing a swath of more music in the new year. - Jason Scott

Thanks for your time! What is on tap for the rest of your day?
– Well we actually are rehearsing for a TV segment we have that will air on “Good Day Tulsa” the day after Thanksgiving. This will be our first TV debut so we are really excited and if you tune in, we have a big announcement about an upcoming show after the segment.
Since we are now at the back-end of 2018, how has this year treated this band? What is one musical goal that you have had for this year? How close are you to reaching it?
– This year has been full of all “ups” for us. We released four consecutive singles in June, July, August and September. Each doing a little bit better with one of ours, “I Choose Us,” topping over 80,000 streams on Spotify. This is huge for us being an independent band. Our goal was just to get our music out and let it marinate then plan to release a full EP in 2019. We reached our 2018 goals and are right on track to release our self-titled EP in 2019.
Can you recall the moment when you thought you could be in this group together? Was it hard to think of a name that you could agree on?
– I remember the moment exactly. I came home from college in 2015 and had a handful of songs that I thought were pretty good, which all of them we ended up recording. But after I played them for my siblings, we started seeking out how to actually do this thing. The music industry is so vast and there’s many aspects that a lot of young artists don’t consider. Things like studio costs, engineering costs, mastering costs, distribution, publicity, etc. We learned as much as we could before we made a decision to step into the studio. Our first time in the studio was a round of work tapes we did at Oceanway in Nashville. Once we saw the process, we felt confident to take it to Tulsa and create a sound that was unique to us. The name came natural – it is our last name.
How do you think your hometowns have influenced the sound and how you all carry yourselves in this group?
– It has honestly influenced everything. We are from Tulsa and want to do everything we can to pour back into this growing industry. Everyone is fleeing to Nashville and L.A., thinking that is the key to success. And for some, it is. But we knew that we wanted to root down in Tulsa and work on creating an industry right here so that we wouldn’t have to pay tons of money running back and forth to record and produce. Everything we do is now with Tulsa in mind and it is exciting to be a part of.
How has your various musical backgrounds helped shape the sound of this band?
– We all love different music. Everything from blues, rock, country, folk and even gospel. It may sound odd, but when putting a song together – we try to look at the harmonies like gospel, the hooks like country, the vibe like rock, the songwriting like folk and the instrumentation like blues.
Let’s talk about your latest single “Sweetest Regret.” What was the inspiration for this song? How would you say it compares to your previous tracks, “I Choose Us,” “American Rebels” and “Boot Stomp”?
– Sweetest Regret was written out of a relationship I had that didn’t end up going anywhere. There was definitely heart break involved, but I had such sweet memories from the experience that I wanted to write a song about the relationships that don’t end in slamming doors and throwing fists. It was our second most popular song to “I Choose Us.” We discovered that people like upbeat songs when they are with their friends, but most of the time – you’re alone. And when you’re alone, you want the feels. “Sweetest Regret” and “I Choose Us” let people feel and that has shaped the direction of our EP releasing in 2019.
Generally, how do you all go about writing your music? Do you write together or separately?
– I write all of the songs mostly by myself and bring them to the group about 90% complete. Then everyone pitches in and helps to finish it. Most of the time I write by myself with no guitar or music. I don’t like to jump ahead and create melodies too soon. I like to get the lyrics down, create the story, then see what the sound should be. Rarely is it ever the opposite.
When do you hope to release more new music and a full album of new songs?
– We will release our first full EP in 2019. We are super proud of these first four songs, but we are more excited about these next round of songs.
What would you say is the best and most challenging part about being in a group with your siblings?
– Honestly, it’s not challenging at all. If anything, it’s easier. We have grown up doing music together so we have got to a point where we know how each other functions and how to accommodate to each other’s needs. It’s a really beautiful thing.
Where do you think you are all happiest- in the studio recording new music, on stage performing or elsewhere?
– Easily when we are all on stage playing together. There is nothing like looking out into the audience and seeing hundreds of people singing the songs that you have labored on for so long. It truly is the cherry on top.
Do you find that all of social media and keeping up with your fans has gotten so overwhelming? Or do you rely heavily on others to take care of that for the band? Which platform would you say that you enjoy engaging with the most?
– I enjoy hearing for people who listen and relate to our music. We aren’t at a point yet to where it’s overwhelming and honestly, I hope it never gets that way. We make music so that people can put themselves into your songs – so it’s truly oxygen to our lungs when people reach out to us and say that they have connected with a song or lyric. Our favorite platform is probably Instagram. They have made it so easy for people to share music directly to their followers. You can share Spotify songs, playlists or profiles right to your story with just a click of a button. Sharing music has never been so easy and it’s so much fun to be right in the middle.
We are currently living through a very trying and politically charged time right now so I am curious to know how you all think being musicians and in this band still gives you the most joy in life today? Do you find that your music is an escape to all the current events?
– Music has always been a way for people to escape what’s going on around them and what’s happening in the world. Not only is it a way of escape – but it’s a way to bring people together from all different beliefs and backgrounds. Good music is good music. When you put out good art regardless of what you believe, people will connect with it. So how do we fight the craziness in this world? Defy culture with good art.
What musicians would you love to work with in the future? What artists have really been inspiring this group and your music since day 1?
– This is so hard because the artists I pull from the most are not even in our genre. Haha. I would love to work with Kings of Leon, mainly because I love their music – but also because of their Oklahoma ties. John Mayer has changed the way I see songs and lyrics, so I would relish the opportunity to even be in the same room as him. But Day 1 artists have been some of the rock solid oldies like John Denver, Johnny Cash, and groups like Pure Prairie League. Our parents raised us on some pretty legendary music so our appreciation is mainly credited to them.
What do you hope is the message of your music? What do you hope people continue to take away from your songs?
– The message we want to convey: HOPE. There is always light at the end of the tunnel. Music is always a way for people to relate and find out that they are not the only ones going through a situation or an experience. We hope that people will hear our music and think, “Well if they got through it – I can too.” There’s always a way out and a way up. We hope to provide an avenue for people to escape for a bit and find that relief they are looking for. - Leah Brungardt

Hailing from Oklahoma, alternative country four-piece (and siblings), VOTH - Caleb (guitar/vocals), Hannah (vocals), Cody (vocals), Jacob (drums) -recently released their latest single, "Sweetest Regret,” which showcases the foursome's finely-etched harmonies and detailed songwriting. Here, Caleb answers his Essential 8 where he speaks about songwriting and Rodeo Houston, shares the story behind "I Choose Us," and much more.

What’s the best advice you have ever gotten from another musician?
- I remember sitting down one night and saying to myself, "I'm going to write a hit." I had the biggest writers block for days and couldn't get anything down worth sharing. I was super bummed about it. So I got on Facebook and was scrolling and stumbled upon an article that interviewed Brent Cobb and he said that when he stopped trying to write a "hit" and truly wrote from the heart, that's when the best songs came out. That night I waited until I was super tired and then thought about what my heart was feeling. A line came to me about love and I wrote it down. It was, "They say that love is a give and take so, take it out on me." I started to think about all of the songs that are written about Hollywood love stories or the songs that are written about horrible breakups. I thought, not many songs are written about the in between - you know the struggle. So "I Choose Us" came out from deciding to write from the heart instead of writing for a hit. So to answer your question, if I was to give one piece of advice, it would be to truly write from the heart.

Please choose one song and tell the story behind it.
- The song, "I Choose Us", was written about a couple that is fighting for their marriage. I was writing what I thought would be a fictitious song and actually titled it, "Take It Out On Me." After I showed it to my siblings, we actually realized that it was very similar to my parents' story. It was kind of an epiphany that I wrote a song subconsciously about my parents' early marriage. They really fought to stay together and later on decided to tell each other - "I Choose Us" on a regular basis to signify their commitment to each other. So we decided to re-title the song, "I Choose Us". It has since been our most successful song.

Do you write about personal experience, the experience of others, observations, made-up stories, something else or a combination?
- We mainly write from personal experiences or personal experiences from people close to us. I never understood how some people could just write complete fiction. There has to be some element of personal experience for us to really get into the song. I believe emotion drives so much of the feel and atmosphere of a song and in order to have emotion, you have to have some attachment. We try to really attach ourselves to our music.

With any particular song, was there an “a-ha” moment when you knew the song was completed and perfect?
- Definitely our song "American Rebels." It actually came about so quickly. I was at the Rodeo Houston with my brother and some friends and the second we walked into the stadium, the lights came on and I had an epiphany that we would be playing there someday. I sat down in the stands among all the noise and chaos, pulled at my phone, turned on the recorder, and wrote the chorus for American Rebels - purposely for a stadium feel. Got back to my buddy's trailer (who was in the rodeo that night), picked up my guitar and finished the song. I looked at him and said, "You'll hear this song someday at Rodeo Houston."

What’s your dream venue and why?
- I think honestly Rodeo Houston. We have grown up such fans of rodeo and Rodeo Houston is one of the largest rodeo's in the nation. There's almost 80,000 people there each night for the different concerts after the rodeo. There have been so many greats to play on that stage. Everyone from Garth Brooks to George Strait. We think it would be the most exhilarating event ever. But outside of country - Coachella. haha

When/where do you do your best writing?
- For me personally (Caleb Voth), I write best on the road when I'm driving. I turn all the music down, no guitar in my hand, and I write melodies for new songs. Once I get at least a verse and a chorus, I put it in on my recorder on my phone then put it down on guitar when I get off the road. There is something beautiful about the quiet and moving road at the same time. It just allows me to pull from a blank canvas things that I'm seeing, experiencing and thinking. Some of my best songs have come out of complete silence on the road.

What’s the best advice to give to a musician just starting out?
- Just start. I think that so many people want to have their ducks in a row (like me) but instead of trying to piece together the beginning and the end, it's so important to just start. Start the writing process, get experience in the studio with demo's, take advantage of small stages to work your craft. Many artists are waiting for the labels to come to them when labels are waiting to see what you are willing to put in first. Never be above the grunt work. Grind it out and learn along the way. Never stop educating yourself on the process. There is always something to learn.

Which song of yours gets the best crowd response?
- Our audiences love "American Rebels". It is just such an anthemic song that people can just scream and jam to. It is kind of our anthem and story as a band. We want to always be rebels. It's important for us to go against the grain and pave our own way. It's also probably one of our favorites to play live. The second we hit the chorus whether the people know the song or not, they somehow seem to sing along - and for us that is always a good sign that it is a catchy song. -