Spotlight Magazine interview

“So let’s talk about the Grammy Awards and your very public display of affection on the red carpet.” Spotlight Interviewer Daijah Diamond said continuing a twenty-minute conversation that had only been scheduled for five. Kaya and Caleb both laughed and he squeezed her hand in his. “What was that all about? Were you sort of staking your territory there? ‘Back off guys she’s mine!’”

“That’s it exactly,” Caleb laughed, rubbing a hand over his five o’clock shadow. “I wanted to put an end to the rumors concerning the father of Kaya’s baby. You know everyone suspected Connor was the culprit or uh…Rafe,” he said, clearing his throat and glancing at Kaya with a grin. “But no. Neither of them are responsible for the constant smile on this woman’s face. It was all me.”

He kissed her hand and a tinge of red filled her cheeks. “And how long have you two been an item?”

“Caleb and I have been dating for a little while now. It started I’d say sometime before the release of Black Moon.”

“Well that’s her story anyway. I like to think Kaya and I’ve been together since birth,” Caleb said with a smile, leaning over to plant a kiss on the Night Shift lead singer. “We’re soulmates and were destined for each other.”

“And that definitely comes through in some of your most recent music. Night Shift has been blazing some new trails with songs such as ‘Scorn,’ ‘On the Rocks,’ and ‘Taint the Thing You Love.’  Tell us are there plans to continue with romantic rock ballads such as these?”

“Well we’re definitely not some ‘80s hair band blasting out with those hard-hitting love ballads but there are times when we’ll be sitting in the studio and one of us would go ‘Hey, let’s try something else instead.’ Often times those tracks never make the cut but every once in a while we’ll create something that everyone just agrees HAS to be heard by our fans. And we’re just so lucky to have a label like Moonlight Records that allows us the kind of freedom and creativity where we can explore these new routes.”

“Kaya’s right. And many of these songs are great but if we feel they just aren’t on par, you know, just shy of reaching the level we feel makes for great music then they will just simply go unheard. I couldn’t tell you how many unreleased songs are just lying on the cutting room floor somewhere never to see the light of day.”

“Probably enough to make four whole albums alone,” Kaya added. “And here recently, Connor has been writing some amazing stuff. He and Caleb collaborated on a few of the songs on Black Moon. They even surprised me with one written specially for me, although it’s also not on the album. It’s sad that this happens but also it gives us a sort of outlet to purge some of the lesser ‘awesome’ songs and make room for ones that will be listened to for years to come.”

“Being on the road must be hard for relationships. We know that there are occasions where band members may hook up; case in point Kaya and Caleb. How do you deal with loneliness on the road and are you actively looking for someone to call your own.”

“Wow. You just get right to it huh?” Connor laughed as he leaned forward a little on his seat. “It is hard finding the perfect someone you wanna be with. That fact is only exacerbated by life as a musician. There are certain stigmas that come along with pursuing this kind of career; many pertaining to groupies and drugs. So trying to find a woman that can deal with that type of pressure can be really difficult. I, personally, have been very fortunate enough to find such a woman. Her name is Karri. She’s smart. She’s gorgeous. She’s funny. She has a love for music which may be one of the most attractive things about her. She’s…feisty. She probably has a bit of a jealous streak and I only say this because she’s Irish. I’m kidding, Babe, I love you,” he laughed. “But above all she understands who I am and trusts me completely. She’s…she’s amazing.”

“So what about the rumors that you and Kaya were at one point romantically linked?”

“Can we just squash those rumors right here and now? I’d really like for this to not continue being a question asked whenever I’m interviewed. Kaya and I have always and forever been friends. I’ve known her since I was a scrawny, little high school dweeb getting picked on by the jocks. We have the kind of love for each other that transcends sex. She’s a beautiful woman. You’d have to be blind not to see that. And admittedly at one point, very, very, VERY long ago, I had a teeny, tiny bit of a crush on her. But that has LONG since passed and we’re just comfortable, you know? She’s like my big sister. My smarter, funnier, overly protective big sister who I can confide anything and everything to and not fear that she’ll judge me or ever stop loving me. And as I said earlier, I’ve found someone to be with that I believe is equally as unconditionally loving.”

“That is very sweet. And I do hope this will help put an end to the rumors that seem to follow the two of you throughout your career. Eli, as Connor said finding love is quite a difficult feat. And until recently, I don’t think you have ever been photographed with a lucky lady on your arm. Have you also found it daunting exploring the realm of love?”

“Connor I believe said it succinctly. I think it is an amazing thing to find love and most definitely something to cherish and hold on to once you have.”

“And who was the woman we saw escorting you on the red carpet at this past Grammy Awards? Anyone special?”

“Amanda? She’s special, absolutely, but we’re just friends.”

“So no wild groupies or stories of ‘on-the-road’ sex that Night Shift’s keyboardist Connor has been known for?”

“Me?” Eli asked, pointing towards himself. “Oh I’m new to this whole band thing. I don’t think I have groupies of any kind just yet so no wild stories to share. No backstage sex antics for me, I’m afraid to say. Not that I would; share that is. I like keeping that sort of thing private. I am just sort of dealing with a pretty hard breakup though so I’m not really looking for anything right now.”

“Is there anything else you’d like to add?”

“Nothing except I’m gonna be an uncle soon,” Connor grinned proudly. “And I just…I can’t wait to meet him or her.”

“We are also enormously excited to see the, I’m sure, gorgeous mini-Kaya or Caleb as well. I’d like to thank you for taking the time to come into the studio today. Stay tuned to Spotlight for exclusive behind the scenes news on some of this summer’s blockbuster movies.”