Interview With 'Wolfe Sunday'

Firstly, introduce yourselves and tell us a little bit about the band and how you came to be?

So my name is Laurence and I'm the writer behind Wolfe Sunday. Most gigs it's just me, although I've got a bunch of people that help me out when it comes to recordings. I have to shout out to Will Cummings, who is my drummer at the moment and all round best dude.

I started Wolfe Sunday when the last band I was in began to split. I was also going through a really rough break up, so I had nothing to do except write songs, and with no band to perform them in, I picked up an acoustic guitar and started venting. The songs came out really pretty full of anger, I guess because of the situation I was in, and so the project has taken on a more punk edge than most acoustic singer-songwriters.

What were you all up too prior to the band, was this always the chosen path or did you have other dreams and aspirations?

I've always loved music. I've been playing in bands (most of them pretty rubbish) since I was in my early teens, just fooling around with my mates that could also play music. We used to cover the angsty punk songs that we loved at the time. I had actually just started going to university when Wolfe Sunday began to kick off, which meant that I ended up missing alot of lectures to go on tours. I still passed though, which is all that matters.

I do, however, have to thank university for helping me record my first album. Not that they know it... Back when I had thrown my first few demo songs together, I recorded them by sneaking into my university's radio station late at night, and using their equipment. Their team would finish for the day at 10pm, and I would be in there from midnight until 6am, when I'd take all the files and leave. I did that for a few weeks. They still don't know to this day. That's true DIY.

Tell us about your latest Album and why our readers should check it out.

So my latest album came out earlier this year and it is called 'Empty Bottles, Broken Bones'. I really am so proud of that set of songs. I also had the pleasure of working with a real life producer and a real life drummer (Will Cummings, one of the most talented dudes), and their contributions to my songs really take them to the next level. the songs are beefed out and take on alot more of the Punk elements of what I do.

Who would you say is the bands main song writer or is it a group effort and where do you draw your inspiration lyrically and musically from?

I'm inspired by alot of Folk-Punk artists from the UK, Frank Turner being the most obvious. He really speaks to me as an artist and so I draw alot of my own lyrical elements from his music. I try to make my songs accessable to everyone, so alot of my inspiration is drawn from the everyday. I have a song about how I'm a truly terrible driver, and another about just drinking until you can't think. Just the important stuff!

As a band what do you believe is your greatest achievement to date and why?

I'm honestly so proud of how far Wolfe Sunday has come to date, and I never thought that I would make it this far. In the last four years, I have performed nearly 500 gigs, which is an achievement on it's own in my eyes. I think I was most proud of being invited to play a 10 date tour of Eastern Europe, sponsored by Beefeater Gin, along with a bunch of other UK acoustic artists. It was one of the most fun experiences I've had and one I never imagined happening. I think the sheer amount of cool friends that we've made around the country is an amazing achievement too. That's important stuff too!

Have you ever come face to face with someone within the music scene who has left you awestruck and why?

There's a whole bunch of people that I've played gigs with who I never thought I'd ever be able to be on the same bill as, let alone friends with. One of my closest friend's from school now performs in a folk act called Loreley that has played with some really famous people in some amazing theatres, and seeing that happen and being able to catch up with him really does make me feel so lucky to know him.

What do you enjoy most about touring?

Touring is so important to me, which I guess is why I do it so much. I love being able to meet so many cool people and see so many places. I've managed to go to so many cities I'd never been to before, thanks to music! I love being able to see people I wouldn't otherwise know, hang out with them and crash on their floors at the end of the night. Music really does bring people together! If we were to head out to one of your live shows what can ourselves and others expect?

My live shows are extremely energetic. I don't tend to stay on the stage, or in the same room. You'll have to come down and see one to really find out!

If you had one artist/band that you could go on tour with tomorrow who would it be and why?

I'd probably have to say my biggest heroes from back in my teen years, who really got me into music, the punk band Billy Talent. I've always said my single goal in life is to tour with one of my favourite bands, and that would make me the happiest dude in the world. They seem like such cool guys too. It would definitely be fun! You can spend an hour with a musical icon living or dead, who would you pick, why and what would you speak about?

I'd love to get a chance to speak to Tom Waits... random choice I know, but he is another one of my all time heroes. I'm sure he has alot of stories of life as a musician. I used to listen to his albums on repeat, taking in all the stories and rambling's he told. Those have been big inspirations for some of my own musical creations. What an incredible man.

And finally and most importantly is Die Hard a Christmas Movie?

It definitely is.

Check out new single 'Damage Control'

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/wolfesunday