Introducing #114 - Sara Wolff
Let us introduce you to Liverpool based artist Sara Wolff, who creates her own homespun alt-folk filled with cautionary tales about days in bed, struggling relationships and social interactions. Sara took a moment to talk to us about her latest track ‘Bad Thoughts Compilation’, the latest taster from her forthcoming debut EP.
Hey there Sara, how are you? So your track ‘Bad Thoughts Compilation’ - can you tell us what it is about?
Hi there, I’m good, I’m hanging in here! I’ve had a really exciting week with the release of my single. ‘Bad Thoughts Compilation’ is exactly what the title says - a compilation of all the negative thoughts you feel sometimes. It is a description of a particularly bad day when nothing feels right and doing nothing makes you feel guilty. It is a reflection on how I felt a few years back when I was going through a tough time. It’s so strange to be in that state of mind where you know exactly what you need to do to get out of a rut, you just need to start your day and put your clothes on, but somehow it is so. bloody. difficult.
Where was the track recorded? Any behind the scenes stories from the process?
The track was recorded in Eve Studios Manchester, a lovely residential studio. It used to be a vicar’s house back in the day, and now this old mansion is transformed into a cosy studio. It’s got a kitchen and bedrooms and a cat called Adam and a lovely team of people working there. It was such an inspiring place to be - we got to immerse ourselves in the process for five days. My friend Adam Rothschild co-produced, engineered and mixed it, and after recording the most important bits in the studio we went home and did the rest from our bedrooms. I recorded all the vocals during the first lockdown, in my bedroom under my duvet over the sound of construction work and lockdown puppies barking in the garden.
It is the newest track to come from your debut EP ‘When You Left The Room’ - when can we get to hear that?
‘When You Left The Room’ will be out everywhere on March 18th, and I’m so excited! There will also be some new merch out so make sure to follow my bandcamp!
The EP is a little collection of songs gathered over time - one of the songs on the EP is as much as six years old. It is definitely really nice to finally let my little creations out in the world, who knows where they will go and who will listen to them!
You are originally from Bergen in Norway, do you feel that living there has influenced your writing style at all?
I love Bergen, the music scene, the people, the coffee shops, the little wooden houses, steep hills and cobbled streets. I grew up around a lot of inspiring people, and it has definitely shaped who I am and how I write today. There were always lots of gigs happening, lots of jazz gigs to sneak into when you’re not 18 yet, and the student house always had many cool bands playing (and the cheapest beer). I was also very involved in politics back home, which is definitely something that has influenced my songwriting. Oh and all the nice mountains. Nothing’s like a good mountain.
So you left Bergen to move to Liverpool - what led to that move? What do you love about your new city?
I moved here to do a degree in music, which I’d always dreamed of doing. It led to me meeting my band, some great friends and a lot of great collaborators. It also led to me finding who I am as a musician - I feel like moving countries does that to you - it gives you a whole new perspective on relationships, the passing of time and who you are as a person. I was always so scared I would lose Bergen as a home when I left but I have actually just gained an extra one - I have two homes now, your heart just grows bigger!
Who are your key musical influences? How would you describe your sound to someone who has never listened to you before?
That’s a difficult one! I love bands and artists that mix genres. I like clever, intimate lyrics and good juicy chords. The main influences for ’When You Left The Room’ were bands like Radiohead, Fiona Apple, St. Vincent, Broadcast and Rozi Plain, and I love them all!
I like to describe my music as lyrically focused alt-folk with some bigger, louder bits mixed in. I love to play with contrasts - the contrasts between quiet and loud, intimate and angry, sad and happy.