Photo courtesy Callum Maudsley
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In the quiet, claustrophobic stillness of lockdown, when the pandemic silenced the world of live music, a young songwriter named Callum Maudsley was creating something that was about to get very loud. In a messy bedroom on Summerhill Avenue in downtown Toronto, with roommate and longtime collaborator Stu Walker and his sister Jenna of The Reklaws, Callum wrote and produced a hit single that took Universal Music by surprise and social media and streaming by storm.
“What The Truck” is an explosive anthem that soon became that year’s highest-selling Canadian country single and the fastest to go Platinum there in the streaming era.
Maudsley’s story, like the creation of “What The Truck” is a tale of creative spontaneity, relentless hard work, and the magic that emerges when you say yes to every opportunity, even in the most difficult circumstances.
A bedroom hit
By 2020, Maudsley was already working as a guitarist and musical director for Platinum-selling artists like Scott Helman, Johnny Orlando and Alec Benjamin. But the pandemic ground everything to a halt. Shows were cancelled. Tours postponed. Studios shuttered.
Yet for Maudsley, lockdown wasn’t an obstacle, it was an opportunity that ignited a career-defining moment.
Living with Stu Walker in Toronto, and with Jenna Walker sneaking over to beat cabin fever, the trio started jamming again. One day, bored and restless, Callum came up with a riff that would become the bones of “What The Truck.” The concept was cheeky, catchy, and perfectly-timed: people needed a laugh, a break, a burst of energy.
They recorded a demo in Maudsley’s bedroom, shot a TikTok video asking fans to help them finish the song, and posted it without the blessing of The Reklaw’s label at the time, Universal Music. Within hours it went viral, reaching a million views in under 24 hours.
Universal still wasn’t biting, but the overwhelming reaction on social media forced their hand. Even without a marketing push, the song soared, breaking streaming records and rising to the top of the charts.
It also earned Maudsley and The Reklaws a Platinum plaque. More importantly, it showed the music industry something it often forgets: great music doesn’t need a fancy studio or a million-dollar budget, just the right collaborators and the courage to put it out there.
From Mayer covers to Mayer tours
Maudsley’s musical journey began in Toronto. At just seven, he picked up a guitar and never let it go. By eight, he was in a band. By 14, he was skipping school to learn John Mayer songs. Just a decade later, now 25 and living in L.A., he was musical director for artist Alec Benjamin, the opening act on John Mayer’s U.S. tour.
“That was a full-circle moment for me,” Maudsley remembers. “I started by lifting solos from John Mayer’s live albums in my bedroom and ended up arranging a show that was part of his tour and I finally got to meet John.”
His early passion for Mayer’s music led him to create a YouTube channel called The Lightshere, where he posted covers and experimental arrangements. The channel brought him attention and so did his guitar skills. At just 15, Warner Music Canada tapped him to join the band of rising star Scott Helman.
What followed was a whirlwind: tours with Vance Joy and Walk Off The Earth, and high profile TV spots on the Junos and MMVA’s that featured performances by Shawn Mendes and the Weeknd. Eventually, he was leading the design and direction of live shows for artists across Canada. By his early 20’s, Maudsley wasn’t just a guitarist; he was a trusted musical director, producer and songwriter.
The power of saying ‘yes’
If there’s one thread that connects every chapter of Maudsley’s career, it’s his willingness to say ‘yes’ to every gig, every challenge, every late-night recording session.
“I never said no, even when it wasn’t sexy,” he declares. “I acted as musical director for a group of 12-year-old girls. I played tiny shows at local music schools. I recorded vocals in my closet for Dean Brody. Every ‘yes’ led to something bigger.”
That philosophy has brought him to some of the biggest stages in music. He’s performed on The Ellen Show and was the musical director for performances that aired on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, The Late Late Show with James Corden, and Jimmy Kimmel Live. He’s played stages alongside artists like Ed Sheeran, Drake and Keith Urban. His credits include Gold and Platinum records, multiple #1 songs on Canadian radio and songwriting and production awards.
Despite the accolades, Callum remains focused on the music, not the spotlight. “I’ve always enjoyed working with artists. It’s easy to get inspired by one another and I’ve been lucky to be part of some amazing projects so far.”
The next chapter
Whatever’s next, one thing is certain: Maudsley will keep saying yes. Yes, to new sounds. Yes, to untested artists. Yes, to ideas born in bedrooms and voice memos and late-night jam sessions.
Whether it’s directing a world tour, writing a radio # 1, or producing the next indie breakthrough, Callum Maudsley has an unstoppable drive to make music and help artists sound like their best selves.
Sometimes, all it takes is one riff in a bedroom to change everything.
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