 Courtesy of the Artist
L.A.-based (by way of NYC and the U.K.) singer-songwriter, composer and producer Wolfe Jackson is preparing to release his new project, Nobody Knows Me (Better Than You). Recorded and co-produced with GRAMMY & Oscar-Award winning producer Leo Sidran, the new album, which contains Jackson's soulful, piano-driven ballad "Photograph", is an intimate live recording that captures a beautifully raw and honest performance. Ahead of its release, Jackson took the time to answer his Essential 8 and talk about the album, the importance of staying true to yourself, road tunes, and more.
Is there a story behind your album’s title? I think that the title "Nobody Knows Me (Better Than You)" made a lot of sense to me on a few levels. The album itself is like an open love-letter to anyone who touched me and had an impact during my life in New York City. So the title speaks to them in the sense that nobody knows me better than they do. I'd also say that anyone who listens to this record will probably have a much better understanding of me and my story, so the title speaks to the listeners too. Why did you choose to anchor the album with the songs you did? I think around the time all the material was coming together I noticed this recurring theme of intimacy, honesty and raw expression. I was also playing a lot of live, acoustic and intimate shows at the time. That ended up shaping both the concept and the musical/ production style of the record too. It's all recorded live, real instruments, no edits, no auto-tune - as real and intimate as it gets. Where do you draw inspiration from when writing? Anything that I find difficult to deal with or to talk about in real life, I deal with and convey through my music. I look back and I realize I've never needed a therapist as my music and songwriting helps me process so much of what I have going on in my life. Musically, when I hear a killer song or see a dope live performance it makes me want to get in my studio and play some guitar. Lyrically, often one line or idea comes to me and the whole song builds from there. That's exactly how my next single "Comfort Love" came about.
What’s the best advice you can give a musician starting out?
I think the best advice I can give anyone based on my own experience over the years is "Always stay true to yourself." - I think in an era where everyone wants to be photoshopped & filtered on Instagram or written for & auto-tuned in the studio to be accepted by mainstream society; now, more than ever, it takes a lot of courage to stick to your guns and be yourself. I spent years trying to do something someone else would like and I got nowhere doing so and I didn't even like my own music! In the words of Jim Carey: "You can fail at what you don't want, so you might as well take a chance on doing what you love." What do you love most about being on the road? I was so lucky because I got to travel all the way from East to West Coast on my last tour and we road-tripped so I got to see Philly, Nashville, Austin, The Grand Canyon, Vegas, Joshua Tree. It was incredibly awesome to experience so much of the country, soak up the inspiration and then go on stage and perform each night to a whole new crowd of people. Feeling that much love and support all over the U.S. was amazing. What are your must-have albums for the road? When I toured last summer I remember sticking on everything from "Abbey Road" and "Pet Sounds" to "Red Hot Chili Peppers" & "Jeff Buckley." I think for me it's all about listening to those special few artists & records that remind you who you truly are and where you've come from. It really helped me stay grounded, humbled and inspired. Which songs of yours are getting the best response? I think my latest single "Photographs" is really connecting with people. I've had a lot of messages and emails from friends, family and just people all over the world reaching out just to say how touched and moved they were by the track and that they could really relate to it. Also my next single "Comfort Love" always gets the biggest response live; again, I think a lot of people can relate to it. That makes me happier than anything knowing that there are other people out there that feel the way I feel. That's why I make music. Is there a professional bucket list item you’d like to check off? Festivals! Whether it's back in the U.K at Glastonbury or here at Red Rocks or Coachella it's definitely a huge aim of mine. That and jamming with John Mayer & Paul McCartney at some point... Website / Facebook / Instagram / Twitter
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