The Wldlfe are a Nashville-based Pop Rock group that has found a format of being able to perform stadium-sized anthems in small clubs, totally blowing live audiences' minds from city-to-city. They've built that audience into a loyal fan base over a few years of hard touring, and their next record, Revolver which hits shelves on October 2, is a reflection of everything they've learned along the way from a songwriting perspective.
On Revolver, the band draw from a broad swath of influences; from classic ‘80s rock to top 40 pop to alternative and indie. Their eclecticism and instinctive, unforced approach to songwriting come together in a sound equally defined by buoyant hooks and emotional directness.
I wanted to learn more about the band's writing and performing processes, so I asked! Here's our conversation. Enjoy!
Hypebot: Hey Wldlfe gang, thanks for taking the time to answer some questions. Congrats on Revolver, which comes out in October and you’ll be on tour in support. What makes this record different from past records? What did you try to communicate with this one, this time?
The Wldlfe: "We definitely went into this record with a better idea of who we are and where we wanted to go. So much of the history of this band has been self discovery and learning about what kind of band we wanted to be in real time. Making our last record Heaven is a place felt like we finally found who The Wldlfe is in a lot of ways."
We all felt really good about those songs and the sonic space we found ourselves in. Going into this one we knew there were sounds that we wanted to continue to build on, but we also have never been a band that shied away from experimenting and trying new things. There are definitely songs on this album that are sonic firsts for the band and that’s always super exciting."
We also worked with some new producers on this one and co-wrote some songs with people we had never worked with before, so it felt like we got to push ourselves in some really fun directions, while now knowing the ethos of the band and what it was that we wanted to achieve with this album."
H: What kinds of themes are at play on this record in the songwriting?
W: "I don’t think that it was the first song written for this album, but 'Ruby' was kind of the catalyst for what the album became thematically. It’s not a concept album exactly, but we did want a narrative through line inspired by, more or less, a coming of age story that touches on themes of love and loss, hope and longing, and ultimately acceptance."
H: What’s different about the way the band operates now than before?
W: "It’s a bit more streamlined now. We’ve been doing this long enough that we know what our roles are, what we need from each other, and how to help each other where we can."
"That exchange of energy is something that I’ve always thought is very particular to live music — the sort of interactive nature of it. That’s something that can never be faked or replicated."
H: How was it to start this band in Indianapolis? What makes the midwest special to you compared to the rest of the country?
W: "From a touring standpoint, it proved to be a great center for the early days of playing shows and building fan bases outside of Indiana. We were about 4 hours from Columbus, Cincinnati, Chicago, Grand Rapids, St Louis, Louisville, and Nashville."
From a personal standpoint, it allowed us to grow in an environment that wasn’t hyper-competitive or oversaturated and allowed us to get a bit of our footing before coming to a place like Nashville, which is where we've lived for the past several years now."
H: In the same vein, what’s something memorable or special that’s happened at one of your concerts?
W: "Any time a parent tells us that we're their child's first concert — that always feels so special."
H: With so much attention paid to streaming and socials, why is live music still essential for you as a band (and fans of other artists)?
W: "It’s where it all comes to life. These songs go on to have lives of their own once we put them out. They live with you — soundtrack your lives, and take on entirely new meaning and purpose. That’s what makes live music so special. It’s the center point for all those experiences and emotions from us and the audience."
We all get to experience that together. That exchange of energy is something that I’ve always thought is very particular to live music — the sort of interactive nature of it. That’s something that can never be faked or replicated."
H: Is the road destructive or constructive usually for you. How important is staying healthy on the road for you guys?
W: "It really is what you put into it. The older we have gotten, the more emphasis we have put on making that time as constructive as possible. Staying healthy physically and mentally are probably THE most important things."
I think that looks a little different for each of us, but for me personally I try to eat as well as I can, sleep with some level of consistency, go to the gym as often as I can manage, and take time to be outside if the weather isn’t horrible."
"You want your audience to love what you're doing, but we have found that usually the things we believe in the most are always received the best by our fans."
H: What’s something you’ve learned by spending time on the road over the years?
W: "The value of community and supporting each other."
H: Has touring helped reshape the way you write music?
W: "I don’t really think it’s reshaped the way we write, but I think we might have a better idea of what our audience responds best to live. We always want to make sure that we are making things we love and that we are excited about. Obviously, you want your audience to love what you're doing, but we have found that usually the things we believe in the most are always received the best by our fans."
H: What do you like to do on your days off on tour?
W: "It really depends on where we are. If we are in a major city, we might go in and explore a bit — hit up some coffee shops, find a thrift store, all that fun stuff. If not, then maybe just hit a movie and get dinner somewhere."
I always tell myself I’ll go to more museums on off days where I can. Maybe that will be my goal for this tour."
H: What was one live concert you saw as a kid or young adult that shaped you, and what’s a live show you went to recently that blew your mind?
W: "I grew up going to Warped Tour every year. Not only did that music have a massive impact on me, but seeing how young a lot of those bands were at the time really made me want to be in bands and play shows."
I don't go to shows that often anymore, but one of the last bands I went to see was The Story So Far. They're one of my favorite bands and I surprisingly hadn’t seen them headline properly before that, so it was a real treat for me."
H: Favorite items to pick up at the gas station. Go!
W: "Dr. Pepper Zero and Extra Toasty Cheez Its"
