{{Short description|American contemporary Christian music group}} {{Use mdy dates|date=September 2020}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Citizen Way | image = Citizen Way St. James MO 2014-02-09 (cropped).jpg | landscape = yes | alt = | caption = | alias = The Least of These | origin = Elgin, Illinois, U.S. | genre = Indie rock, Christian rock, Christian alternative rock, Contemporary Christian music, worship | years_active = {{start date|2004}}–present | label = * Generosity Rocks | associated_acts = | website = {{URL|citizen-way.com}} | current_members = * Ben Calhoun | past_members = David Blascoe * Ben Blascoe * Josh Calhoun * Daniel Olsson }} '''Citizen Way''' is an American contemporary Christian music and Christian worship band from Elgin, Illinois.<ref name="FACEBOOK">{{Cite web |url=https://www.facebook.com/citizenway/info |title=Citizen Way: Info |date=February 1, 2012 |publisher=Facebook |access-date=November 8, 2012}}</ref>

==Background==

The band originally formed in 2004 when Ben Calhoun and Ben Blascoe met one another at Judson University. "As a freshman, Ben Blascoe was playing his bass in the dorm one day when the Ben Calhoun poked his head in. There was a connection and so when Ben Calhoun was ready to record some songs he had composed, he asked the other Ben to join him in the studio. He also recruited his brother Josh, on drums then, who had been playing with Augustana (band) while in college. After the project was completed, the trio continued to play together."<ref name="Citizen Way">{{Cite web |url=https://www.louderthanthemusic.com/artist.php?id=769 |title=Citizen Way |publisher=Louder Than The Music |access-date=August 18, 2025}}</ref> The band originally went by "The Least of These". In 2004, they released their self titled debut album. On August 11, 2009, They released their second album, also self titled. The album was produced by Joel Hanson, member of Christian rock band PFR (band). The tenth track on the album titled "No Matter What" was inspired by PFR's song "Fight" on the album "Them" released in 1996.<ref name="PFR">{{Cite web | url=https://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/interviews/CitizenWay2014.asp |title=Citizen Way Interview, Citizen Way 2014 |website=jesusfreakhideout.com |access-date=August 18, 2025}}</ref> Sometime in 2010 David Blascoe joined the band as the new Drummer. This resulted Josh Calhoun switching to the keys. In 2012, the band decided to change their name to "Citizen Way". At that point, other bands going by the name "The Least of These" were increasing, so the group decided to change their name to avoid confusion. The group was signed by the label Fair Trade Services. The band released their debut single under their newly formed band name titled, "Should've Been Me", on the Fair Trade Services label on June 26, 2012.<ref name="AMAZON">{{Cite web |url=https://www.amazon.com/Shouldve-Been-Me/dp/B008DB1D2M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1352347988&sr=8-1&keywords=citizen+way |title=Should've Been Me |website=Amazon |date=June 26, 2012 |access-date=November 8, 2012}}</ref><ref name="ITUNES">{{Cite web |url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/shouldve-been-me/id536606167?i=536606591 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140616161305/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/shouldve-been-me/id536606167?i=536606591 |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 16, 2014 |title=Should've Been Me |date=June 26, 2012 |publisher=iTunes Store |access-date=November 8, 2012}}</ref> Their second single, "Nothing Ever (Could Separate Us)", was released in June 2013.<ref name="mstarz">{{Cite web |url=http://www.mstarz.com/articles/15193/20130626/citizen-way-nothing-separate-silly-video-released-celebration-new-single.htm |title=Nothing Ever |first=Anna |last=Dinger |date=June 26, 2013 |publisher=mstarz.com |access-date=June 3, 2014 |archive-date=June 6, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140606233124/http://www.mstarz.com/articles/15193/20130626/citizen-way-nothing-separate-silly-video-released-celebration-new-single.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> Their third single, "How Sweet the Sound", was released on September 27, 2013,<ref name="DailyPlayMPE">{{Cite web |url=http://daily.plaympe.com/citizen-way-how-sweet-the-sound/ |title=How Sweet the Sound |date=August 28, 2013 |publisher=daily.plaympe.com |access-date=June 3, 2014}}</ref> and has gone on to become their first No.&nbsp;1 single. It has charted on Christian AC Indicator and Soft AC/Inspirational, reaching No.&nbsp;1 on the Christian Soft AC/Inspirational chart on April 3, 2014.<ref>{{Cite magazine |url=http://cclamp.radioandrecords.com/rrwebsite20/Members/Charts.aspx?ChartId=23 |title=Soft AC/Inspirational 2014-04-03 |date=April 3, 2014 |magazine=Billboard |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090412143012/http://cclamp.radioandrecords.com/RRWebsite20/Members/Charts.aspx?ChartId=23 |archive-date=April 12, 2009 |access-date=June 3, 2014}}</ref> The single spent four weeks atop the Christian Soft AC/Inspirational chart.<ref>{{Cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/biz/charts/2014-04-26/soft-ac-inspirational |title=Soft AC/Inspirational |date=April 26, 2014 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=June 4, 2014}}</ref>

In 2015, Bass guitarist Ben Blascoe announced his departure from the band as Ben Calhoun and his family moved from their home base at Judson to Nashville, Tennessee so that Ben Calhoun could focus and invest in the group’s new record. In 2016, Josh Calhoun left the band and eventually started working on a solo music career. That same year, David Olsson joined the band on keyboards. In December 2019, David Blascoe announced on his social media that he was departing from the band. Olsson left the band around the time of David Blascoe's departure, leaving Ben Calhoun to continue the band name all on his own.

==Discography==

===Albums=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |- ! rowspan="2"| Year ! rowspan="2"| Album ! colspan="3"| Peak chart positions |- style="font-size:smaller;" ! style="width:40px;"| US<br /><ref name="TAS">{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/citizen-way/chart-history/top-album-sales |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190702113038/https://www.billboard.com/music/citizen-way/chart-history/top-album-sales |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 2, 2019 |title=Citizen Way Chart History (Top Album Sales) |magazine=Billboard |access-date=July 2, 2019}}</ref> ! style="width:40px;"| US<br />Christ.<br /><ref name="CA">{{Cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/music/citizen-way/chart-history/christian-albums |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190702115115/https://www.billboard.com/music/citizen-way/chart-history/christian-albums |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 2, 2019 |title=Citizen Way Chart History (Top Christian Albums) |magazine=Billboard |access-date=July 2, 2019}}</ref> ! style="width:40px;"| US<br />Heat.<br /><ref name="HA">{{Cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/music/citizen-way/chart-history/heatseekers-albums |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190702114138/https://www.billboard.com/music/citizen-way/chart-history/heatseekers-albums |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 2, 2019 |title=Citizen Way Chart History (Heatseekers Albums) |magazine=Billboard |access-date=July 2, 2019}}</ref> |- | 2013 | style="text-align:left;"| '''''Love Is the Evidence''''' * Release date: April 23, 2013 * Label: Fair Trade Services * Formats: CD, digital download | — | 22 | 4 |- | 2016 | style="text-align:left;"| '''''2.0''''' * Release date: March 11, 2016 * Label: Fair Trade * Formats: CD, Digital download | —{{efn|group=upper-alpha|''2.0'' did not chart on the ''Billboard'' 200, but peaked at No. 94 on the ''Billboard'' Top Album Sales chart.<ref name=TAS/>}} | 9 | — |- | 2019 | style="text-align:left;"| '''''Love Is a Lion'''''<ref name="LoveIsALion">{{Cite web |url=https://www.newreleasetoday.com/albumdetail.php?album_id=21514 |title=Love Is A Lion by Citizen Way |website=NewReleaseToday |access-date=August 29, 2019}}</ref> * Release date: October 18, 2019<ref name="NRT">{{Cite web |url=https://www.newreleasetoday.com/news_detail.php?newsid=4240 |title=Citizen Way to Drop New Album 'Love Is A Lion' October 18th |website=NewReleaseToday |access-date=September 21, 2019}}</ref> * Label: Fair Trade * Formats: CD, digital download | — | —{{efn|group=upper-alpha|''Love Is a Lion'' did not chart on the ''Billboard'' Top Christian Albums chart, but peaked at No. 30 on the ''Billboard'' Christian Album Sales chart.}} | — |}

=== Singles === {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |- ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:20em;"| Title ! scope="col" colspan="5"| Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:10em;"| Album |- ! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;"| US Christ<br /><ref name="billboard.com">{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/citizen-way/chart-history/christian-songs |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190702115125/https://www.billboard.com/music/citizen-way/chart-history/christian-songs |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 2, 2019 |title=Citizen Way Album & Song Chart History (Hot Christian Songs) |magazine=Billboard |access-date=June 5, 2018}}</ref> ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"|US Christian Airplay<br><ref>{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/citizen-way/chart-history/christian-airplay |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190702114149/https://www.billboard.com/music/citizen-way/chart-history/christian-airplay |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 2, 2019 |title=Citizen Way Album & Song Chart History: Billboard Chart Archive |magazine=Billboard |access-date=June 5, 2018}}</ref> ! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;"| US<br />Christ Digital<br><ref>{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/citizen-way/chart-history/christian-digital-song-sales |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190702115104/https://www.billboard.com/music/citizen-way/chart-history/christian-digital-song-sales |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 2, 2019 |title=Citizen Way Album & Song Chart History (Christian Digital Songs) |magazine=Billboard |access-date=June 5, 2018}}</ref> ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| US<br />Christ AC<br><ref>{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/citizen-way/chart-history/christian-ac-songs |title=Citizen Way Album & Song Chart History: Billboard Chart Archive |magazine=Billboard |access-date=June 5, 2018}}{{dead link|date=December 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"|Christian AC Ind.<br><ref>{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/citizen-way/chart-history/christian-ac-indicator |title=Citizen Way Album & Song Chart History: Billboard Chart Archive |magazine=Billboard |access-date=June 5, 2018}}{{dead link|date=December 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> |- | style="text-align:left" | 2012 | style="text-align:left" |"Should've Been Me" | colspan="2"| 14 | — | 10 | 4 | rowspan="4" | ''Love Is the Evidence'' |- | style="text-align:left" | 2013 | style="text-align:left" |"Nothing Ever (Could Separate Us)" | colspan="2"| 13 | — | 16 | 7 |- | rowspan="2" style="text-align:left" | 2014 | style="text-align:left" | "How Sweet the Sound" | 11 | 5 | 10 | 2 | 3 |- | style="text-align:left" | "Evidence" | 23 | 20 | — | 16 | 17 |- | style="text-align:left" | 2016 | style="text-align:left" | "When I'm with You" | 22 | 12 | 17 | 10 | 16 | rowspan="3" | ''2.0'' |- |rowspan="2"| 2017 | style="text-align:left" | "I Will" | 46 | 39 | — | — | 23 |- | style="text-align:left" | "Bulletproof" | 9 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 1 |- | 2018 | style="text-align:left" | "WaveWalker"<br>{{small|(featuring Bart Millard of MercyMe)}} | 35 | 38 | — | 25 | 17 | rowspan="3"| ''Love Is a Lion''<ref name="LoveIsALion" /> |- | 2019 | style="text-align:left" | "The Lord's Prayer"<ref name="TheLord">{{Cite web |url=https://www.newreleasetoday.com/news_detail.php?newsid=4015 |title=Citizen Way Follows Up Breakout Hit With New Single 'The Lord's Prayer' |access-date=July 2, 2019}}</ref> | — | 41 | — | — | 22 |- | 2021 | style="text-align:left" | "Love Has Won" | — | 46 | — | — | — |}

=== Promotional singles === {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |- ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:20em;"| Title ! scope="col" colspan="1"| Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:10em;"| Album |- ! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;"| US Christ<br /><ref name="billboard.com"/> |- | 2019 | style="text-align:left" | "Love Has Won"<ref name="NRT" /> | — | ''Love Is a Lion'' |}

==Notes== {{notelist-ua}}

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * {{Official website|http://www.citizen-way.com/}} * [http://www.allaccess.com/christian/10-questions/archive/14751/10-questions-with-citizen-way All Access Interview]

{{Authority control}}

Category:Christian rock groups from Illinois Category:Fair Trade Services artists Category:Musical groups established in 2004