The Calling emerged in Los Angeles in 1999 as a post-grunge band that achieved success with their emotional alt-rock ballads during the early 2000s. The duo of lead vocalist Alex Band and guitarist Aaron Kamin established the band during the peak of post-grunge music by creating music that combined sincere lyrics with powerful melodies.

The band released their debut album Camino Palmero in 2001 which contained the successful single “Wherever You Will Go” that ruled Billboard’s Adult Top 40 chart for 23 weeks and became a leading song of the decade. The song's emotional lyrics and grand musical arrangement made it a prominent anthem of the time.