We’re breaking our usual Friday release format this week to give you an extra special BONUS episode with Brooklyn-based singer and songwriter Elijah Wolf. The up-and-coming purveyor of “psychedelic folk” is set to release Brighter Lighting—his sophomore album and the studio debut under his own name—on February 26. Weeks before its release, the album has already received well-deserved attention from some respected sources. Though it seems like there are big things in store for Wolf, the 27-year-old musician has actually amassed quite an impressive list of artistic accomplishments already.
Recently, Wolf spoke with My First Band host Tyler Maas about recording his forthcoming album with Sam Cohen, along with accompanying players who have direct ties to Wilco, Angel Olsen, and Fleet Foxes. Of course, the conversation eventually turned to Wolf’s musical past, which includes a memorable stint in a high school hardcore band that opened for The Misfits, an internship at the famed Dreamland Recording Studios in Woodstock, as well as a college folk project that earned him an opening slot on a nationwide theater tour and found his music being featured on a Subaru commercial. Before episode’s end, Wolf also talked about playing shows in Europe, taking time to find his place in New York’s music scene, and his hopes for both this album and his career when he’s able to tour again.
My First Band is sponsored by Mystery Room Mastering and Lakefront Brewery. The show is edited by Jared Blohm. You can listen to My First Band on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, and wherever else you get podcasts. You can also listen to rebroadcasts of previous My First Band episodes on WMSE every Wednesday from noon to 12:30 p.m. CST. Music used in this episode comes courtesy of Devils Teeth (“The Junction Street Eight Tigers”) and Elijah Wolf (“Brighter Lighting”).