Today we’d like to introduce you to Wolf Woodcock.
Wolf, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
I was born and raised in Los Angeles, ping-ponging back and forth between Mid City, the Arts District, and Los Feliz from elementary through high school. I was raised in an artistic family that featured poets, painters, musicians, sculptors, and a gallery manager. Because of that, I felt like I had the freedom to explore my musical passions with complete backing from my family. As an only child, I turned to guitar pretty quickly as my mode for expression and entertainment. I had a punk band in high school, and from playing around a bunch I got involved with the VS Colour guys. They were all between eight and twelve years older than me, but they treated a snotty seventeen-year-old kid like me as their equal and taught me a lot about music at an important time in my life. So, did Jenny Lindberg and the rest of the Warpaint crew. From there, I spent the last couple years of my teens and early twenties playing and touring with the aforementioned folks.
Once touring started to calm down a bit, I felt the urge to finish the degree I had started a couple of years earlier. I spent the last couple of years getting my BFA in Music Composition from CalArts where I scored animated shorts and wrote a few records. I had a great experience there, and now I am glad to be back out in the world. Since then, I co-founded a music/animation festival, started an independent cassette label, and have been trying my hand at producing for other folks.
Can you give our readers some background on your music?
I make music! My main two vehicles for that right now are VS Colour (who will be releasing our debut album November 29th) and my solo project, Wolf Woodcock. At the end of the day, I know folks will take whatever they want from my work and performance, but I do want it to reflect the hard work I’ve put into it and the fun I had while doing and making it. Making music is a good time.
Given everything that is going on in the world today, do you think the role of artists has changed? How do local, national or international events and issues affect your art?
I am not sure if “changed” is the right word. I have always felt that the role of the artist ranges from touching on the personal, the political, the surreal, and much more. I think we are in a time where political art is cutting through and resonating more due to the social unrest many are experiencing. It seems what is changing are the voices that are highlighted. To speak purely on a local level, I am seeing more and more underrepresented voices having larger reaches through various platforms and I am happy to see it. The more experiences that are being heard are allowing current and future artists to craft their individual art.
In regards to world events informing my own practice: My more recent work is a reflection on dreams and of the inner self. I cannot say that my art is necessarily informed by the outside world except locally, the people and the city I interact with daily. As time passes, I am sure that will change, it is hard not to comment on the world we are living in. But for now, I would like to hear what others have to say on those topics.
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
One can usually see me performing a couple of times a month at venues around the Eastside of Los Angeles (Echo Park, Highland Park, DTLA). I usually funnel that information through my socials or my fresh new MAILING LIST (which I am trying to use more frequently so I’m not screaming into the Instagram void as often). Supporting my work could be just listening to what I make, perhaps purchasing some of it physically or digitally if you feel inclined, or sharing it with a friend. I like the last one a lot, sharing local music with friends is important and fun.
Contact Info:
- Website: wolfwoodcock.bandcamp.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wolfwoodcockmusic/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wolfwoodcockmusic/
Image Credit:
Sam Lane, Sarah Plenge, Kelsey Talton
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