The Things That I’ve Lost: Luc Gauthier on Grief, Growth, and Calling All Captains’ New Era
Photo: Karly Watson
The Things That I’ve Lost: Luc Gauthier on Grief, Growth, and Calling All Captains’ New Era
Calling All Captains have always thrived in the space between grit and vulnerability, but their new EP The Things That I’ve Lost pushes that balance further than ever. Fresh off tour and gearing up for their release show, vocalist Luc Gauthier sat down with us to talk about the emotional weight behind the record, the band’s decade‑long evolution, and the friendships that have shaped their journey. What followed was an honest, funny, and deeply reflective conversation about grief, growth, heavy music, and the strange, beautiful life that comes with chasing a dream for more than ten years.
We’re here with Luc from Calling All Captains. First of all, Luc, let me find my questions — they’ve disappeared on me. Hold on one sec.
We got Houdini questions.
Exactly — they vanished. Okay, there they are. So, you have a new EP coming out in just a few days called The Things That I’ve Lost. What was the inspiration behind the title?
It’s just a line from “A New Type of Grey.” The full line is “I can’t change the things that I’ve lost.” I think that sentiment really ties together all the songs. The EP goes through different aspects of grief and that transitionary period in life where you’re figuring out what’s next and dealing with the emotions you already carry. It felt like something we could all get behind — it just felt right to name it that.
Let’s talk about the opening song, “Stay Away.” What inspired that one?
It’s a really reflective track — honestly super raw. It’s about acknowledging the flaws you carry and not wanting anyone else to get wrapped up in them. Whether it’s a partner or a friend, it’s that feeling of, “Maybe I’m better off alone or isolated. I don’t want to drag anyone into my bullshit.” It’s a negative way to think, of course, but hey — it’s a song, baby.
Another track, “Blood for Blood,” was co-written with Tom Denney. What’s the story behind that one?
That one’s also very introspective. Without sounding exactly like “Stay Away,” it’s another example of looking inward and realizing you can’t escape yourself. You’re stuck with who you are, and you have to decide what kind of person you want to become. How you see yourself needs to be positive — otherwise you can become the very thing you detest.
My favorite songs on the EP are the last two, and I don’t know how much you’ve talked about them, but let’s get into them. First, “Dark Clouds.” What inspired that one?
Honestly, just vibes. The instrumental came first. We wanted something fast‑paced and fresh. It has some elements we don’t normally do, and we doubled down on them. There’s a ripping guitar solo — I think that’s sick. Lyrically, it continues the theme of dealing with your own emotions and how death can feel tantalizing when you’re disillusioned with the world — not in a literal sense, but in how your outlook can become poisoned.
One of my favorite lines on the EP is “I’m a product of my nature, I turn lovers into strangers.” It’s from the final track, “Salt Lines.” Tell me about that song.
Tim wrote that line. For this album, we all made it a point to make the songs the best they could be. Everyone gave suggestions for every instrument — we were all pushing each other. That line really changed the meaning of the song. It felt right to have it be the last lyric on the EP.
As musicians — or anyone obsessed with a passion or career — you get pulled away from loved ones. Friends, partners… things fall by the wayside. A lot of people can relate to that. It’s rare you stay with that fairy‑tale first love. Tim summed up something we’ve all felt in such simple words. Over time, that can take confidence away from you and make you think less of yourself. Nobody is immune to that.
“Salt Lines” is also the first song I’ve ever done where the chorus is screamed, and that was important for us. We all love heavy music and want to incorporate that. I love screaming. Tim’s oddly profound here and there. It’s a great combination of what our team brings — the band, our co‑writers, producers, engineers. It feels like we’re really honing in on our sound.
You’ve got a record release show coming up. What are you looking forward to most, besides playing these great new songs?
Seeing all the people, man. Getting to do it with everybody. It’s dope playing these songs in the jam space, and we love them, but it’s always better when other people are there to enjoy them too.
The first time I saw Calling All Captains was here in Los Angeles with Chief State at Los Globos in 2022. You just wrapped another tour with Chief State — how did it go, and what makes you work so well together?
Oh, we’ve just been friends forever. As long as we’ve been doing this, they’ve been doing it — and vice versa. They’re from BC, we’re from Alberta, and we were basically the only pop‑punk‑ish bands in our area who stuck with it. We toured a lot when we were younger. We went to the UK together in 2017, and that was super bonding. We didn’t even have two separate vehicles — just one nine‑seater with ten people on tour. So between every date, someone had to take the train with someone else. Honestly, they’re just the boys. We work so well together because we’re literally friends. They’re some of the greatest people. I don’t have a lot of friends personally, but the ones I’ve made on the road — especially Chief State — those are top tier. Those are the OGs.
Let’s go way back. Your EP Disconnect has its 10‑year anniversary coming up. When you look back on it now, what do you think?
Oh my God, I’ve never even talked about this in an interview. Listening to old Captains feels very foreign to me. It’s the same band, but it feels like looking at a diary from 10 years ago and going, “Oof.” It’s wild how tastes change over time. Disconnect was the first era of Calling All Captains where I started contributing to the instrumentals and some vocals. I was figuring myself out — never mind figuring out the band’s sound. I think we all just wanted to try new things, get a little heavier, get more creative. I can’t believe it’s been ten years.
Luc of Calling All Captains via Zoom!
What goes through your mind knowing you’ve been doing Calling All Captains — or anything — for over a decade now?
Low‑key, it’s crazy. That’s a lot of what “Dark Clouds” is about too. There’s something wild about dedicating your life, your time, your energy, your effort to a dream that isn’t guaranteed. None of us in the band get paid — we do it for the love of the game, baby. We make just enough to keep the band going and cover costs.
Doing it this long, it’s like… holy frick. I’m starting to recognize highways in foreign places. If you asked me how to get to Seattle, I’m good — I just know. When I go to Salt Lake City, I literally know where the venue is off the interstate. It’s such a strange thing. The life I’ve lived the past 10–15 years has been bonkers. I can’t believe I’ve done so much.
Are you involved with any other bands or projects outside of Calling All Captains?
Just Gaffwood, baby. It’s not a band — it’s just me. I do some singing, some rapping, some more singing. It’s a side project: SoundCloud rap, emo trap, hyperpop, dance music — whatever I feel like making. That’s the music where it’s like, “Forget the band — this isn’t band stuff.” Don’t come to Gaffwood if you only listen to pop‑punk or rock. You’re not gonna like it.
Do you have any messages for Calling All Captains fans reading this?
Yeah — the absolute best way to support us, if you want us to keep making music, is to grab the music. Grab a vinyl from our merch store. We do all the packing and shipping ourselves. We like to throw in a little treat — some candy, maybe a sticker. It’s the best way to support us, and it counts toward record sales too. If we get enough of those, that’s how you get the gold‑record‑type stuff. One day for us.
📌 Outro
As The Things That I’ve Lost marks a new chapter for Calling All Captains, it’s clear the band isn’t just refining their sound — they’re redefining what it means to grow, to struggle, and to stay committed to something you love. Luc’s honesty about the highs, lows, and long highways of the past decade shows exactly why the Captains’ music resonates so deeply: it’s real, it’s lived‑in, and it never shies away from the messy parts of being human. With a new EP, a renewed sense of purpose, and a fanbase that continues to show up, the band is stepping into their next era with heart, grit, and a whole lot of momentum. If this record is any indication, Calling All Captains are far from done — in fact, they’re just getting started.
(Interview by Ken Morton)
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