CALEDONIA–From open mics to online votes, Cabin Boy & The Bad Wolf are riding a wave of momentum as they hit the quarter-finals of America’s Next Top Hitmaker.
The Caledonia-based indie rock trio – comprised of Dylan Maunder (percussion, vocals), Donovan Mossop (lead guitar, vocals), and Cody Romberg (bass) – have been steadily climbing the ranks in the high-stakes talent competition. On the line is a $50,000 cash prize, a feature in Rolling Stone magazine, and a performance slot at the 2025 Global Citizen Festival in New York City before a crowd of more than 60,000.
“We’ve been longtime buddies,” said Maunder in an interview with The Press. “We’ve kind of been playing music for quite a while, but we just recently went professional last year.”
Though the bandmates had been jamming together for years, it wasn’t until 2024 that they decided to take the plunge into the music world with purpose.
“We just decided it was time to try it professionally,” Maunder added. “We started busking, hitting open mics, and then from there we just grew. We got lots of fans, and we’ve been doing shows ever since.”
Their path may have started on local sidewalks, but the momentum quickly built. Their shows have taken them beyond Haldimand and into venues across southern Ontario, earning them a steadily growing following.
All three members are residents of Caledonia and describe their sound as rooted in indie rock, with hints of other influences.
“That’s probably the best genre to describe it,” Maunder said. “But there’s a blend in there for sure.”
Now, their reach has expanded far beyond Ontario. The band had led their group in America’s Next Top Hitmaker, a contest hosted by Colossal in partnership with Global Citizen, the international non-profit working to eradicate extreme poverty.
The competition draws submissions from musicians across North America.
“When I entered the contest, I kind of did it jokingly, not really expecting much out of it,” Maunder admitted. “But we’ve had a lot of people come through and support us, which has really meant a lot. It turned into something that could be pretty real, really quick.”
The contest is entirely vote-driven. Fans can cast one free vote every 24 hours, or they can purchase additional votes with proceeds going to Global Citizen. During select “bonus” hours, purchased votes are doubled.
“During those hours, if you pay $25 for 25 votes, it counts as 50,” Mossop explained.
Cabin Boy & The Bad Wolf are currently ranked fourth place in the quarter finals. Voting for that rounds ends on Thursday, July 17, 2025 at 10 p.m.
The band isn’t sure whether their accumulated votes carry over into the finals, but for now they’re focused on keeping their numbers up and continuing to rally support.
“It would definitely be a game changer for us,” said Maunder. “We’re very grateful for any support that anyone could offer us. People are really helping our dreams come true.”
With a potential breakthrough performance in New York City on the line, the band is simultaneously keeping up with their local momentum.
Cabin Boy & The Bad Wolf are scheduled to perform next on July 11 in Oakville, followed by another appearance in Burlington this August.
Their music is available on all major streaming platforms, including Spotify and Apple Music, and their latest show updates can be found on Instagram and TikTok.
While their sound blends a variety of influences, their name was born from a very specific mix – part solo project, part Xbox username.
“My solo name was always Cabin Boy,” Mossop said. “And Dylan’s gamer tag on Xbox was The Bad Wolf. We made a joke one time that we were Cabin Boy & The Bad Wolf, and it just kind of stuck.”
That offhand joke has now taken them to the edge of something far more serious: a shot at performing in front of tens of thousands, getting featured in one of music’s most iconic publications, and earning the resources to take their band to the next level.
“We just hope people keep voting and sharing,” said Maunder. “This opportunity means the world to us.”
Vote for Cabin Boy & The Bad Wolf in America’s Next Top Hitmaker at tophitmaker.org/2025/cabin-boy-the-bad-wolf-2.
