Formula Indie Sessions : Interview with Goddamn Wolves
What is your earliest memory connected to music?
Laura: Probably listening to my parents’ Beatles records as a kid, especially Sgt. Pepper. They also had Blondie’s Parallel Lines and Autoamerican, which were very influential for me.
How did your passion for creating music begin?
Chris: I’ve always liked making things. I used to draw and write a lot before getting a guitar. Once I was able to play a few chords, that energy went into making music.
What’s the story behind your current music project?
Chris: Laura and I were in a band together before and wanted to work on a sound closer to what we’re doing now. Once Drew came onboard everything clicked and we went with it.
How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard your music before?
Chris: Because of our voices, people tend to hear X and the Pixies. I think there’s a lot of 90’s indie sounds in there. It’s sort of what college radio sounded like in the late eighties, early nineties.
What is one thing you’ve learned that completely changed the way you make music?
Chris: When I stay away from trying to be clever or inscrutable, the music is always better.
What tools, instruments, or software are essential in your creative process?
Chris: Most songs start on an acoustic and I throw ideas onto the phone. If the idea sticks with me, I’ll sketch out a demo in Garageband.
Which indie artist or song are you loving right now?
Laura: The new Sorry record – Cosplay. I’ve liked all of their stuff since Chris introduced me to their music a few years back, but I think this may be their best yet. My current favorite off the LP is “Candle.” I’m also currently obsessed with Wet Leg’s “Mangetout,” although I’m admittedly a few months late on that one.
How have your personal experiences influenced your music and artistic vision?
Chris: If you show up, put yourself out there, take risks and are willing to maybe embarrass yourself, all sorts of things will reveal themselves and move you along. My ‘vision’ is that it’s worth following that path wherever it goes.
What emotions or messages do you hope listeners take from your work?
Laura: I don’t think there’s a conscious message we’re trying to convey. I would just hope to give a few listeners the same feeling that I get from the music I love. When music really hits me, something in my chest surges and transcends the day-to-day of life. Currently I get that feeling when we’re coming out of the bridge of our latest single “Sugar Twin.” I hope someone else will too.
What’s the most important lesson music has taught you so far?
Laura: Music can embody all kinds of things. I love totally authentic artists like Kristin Hersh and PJ Harvey, but there’s also space for lighter fare like Wet Leg or the K-Pop Demon Hunters Soundtrack.
What is a dream venue or festival you would love to perform at?
Laura: CBGB’s in the 1970s, preferably with Blondie. Here in Raleigh, we would love to play Kings, Motorco and the Cat’s Cradle Back Room.
If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be and why?
Chris: Laraji. I bet it would be a lot of fun.
Where can our listeners follow and support your music? (Website,Spotify, IG, links)
Laura: Our music can be streamed in all of the usual places: Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, etc. You can also download our music on BandCamp. We’ve also started releasing our singles as 7” vinyl releases. You can order the latest, “Sugar Twin” on BandCamp as well.
Looking toward the future, what’s your dream for the next chapter of your musical journey?
Chris: Lots of pyrotechnics in our live shows.
Laura: We’ve started our own label called Goddamn Records to release our singles on limited edition 7” vinyl. So far we’ve released one EP – Don’t Ask Why: Goddamn Wolves Play The Replacements. The new single “Sugar Twin” is also getting a vinyl release, which will come out in March and is available to preorder on our BandCamp page. In the future, I’m hoping we can do some split 7” releases with other bands.
What do you hope listeners will discover about you along the way?
Chris: That we’ve got some good songs that are fun to listen to.
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