Did you bring your silver headphones? Get them ready, because we got an acoustic artist that turns into a wrwlf!
Bio: Eric Mason, better known as wrwlf, is a singer-songwriter based out of Indianapolis, IN. He has been writing and performing music for fifteen years. Eric was the frontman for Jamie’s Ghost from 2008-2012. After Jamie’s Ghost, he went on a musical hiatus to reemerge as wrwlf with his November 2019 EP, Wanderer. In November of 2019, wrwlf began to write a follow-up to Wander in the form of a full-length album known as Villain to be released on 01/10/20. Dull was released in 2020.
First off, tell us about your musical past, would you tell us about your early years?
I grew up with my mother who (I didn’t know it at the time) has fantastic music taste. I was blessed with great music constantly from day one.
I got my first guitar at about ten years old and immediately started trying to write music. I never bothered to learn other people’s songs until much later.
How would you describe your sound?
Probably early 2000s emo bands haha.
Which artists have the biggest influence on your sound?
Margot & the Nukes, Copeland, The Early November, Band Of Horses, Say Anything, The Spill Canvas, Bright Eyes. Stuff in that vein.
What’s the last song you listened to?
I listened to “Black Honda” by Casey Mo. A really fantastic song from an amazing songwriter.
What’s your source for hearing new music?
I actually don’t search new music out often but it is always nice when it jumps out at me.
Who is your dream producer?
I actually don’t have any idea, but someone who is interested in the music and not just doing it for money.
If you could collaborate with anyone, who would it be?
Dallas Green.
What led you to music, and what motivates you to keep making it?
There is just something so beautiful about the art form. I love it and I keep creating music because it is all I know; it’s my only outlet. It’s nice when people relate to it. You kind of feel like maybe whatever (in my case usually) hard time you have gone through was worth something.
Tell us about the songwriting process. How does it all come together?
Chord Progression: Melody: Words: Words again LOL.
How do you connect with your audience? What is the easiest way for them to connect with you?
Right now, I am basically using Instagram to slowly connect with people and hope they follow links to my work. I don’t have a big promotional budget or record company backing me so I am basically word of mouth. I like to tell myself that my music is very ‘exclusive’ on a need to know basis haha.
Connect with wrwlf on Spotify, BandCamp, and Instagram! Check out Villain here!
Where did you record this album?
This album was recorded in my house in Indianapolis over about a month’s time frame.
Did you do it yourself? Who mixed it?
I do all my own recordings and mixes- which is why they are fairly rough. I like to say it makes them more ‘artsy,’ but the truth is I just don’t know what I’m doing.
What inspired you to write a whole album directly after an EP?
Well, I actually wasn’t a fan of the EP for the most part. I wanted to showcase what I felt like I could do lyrically better than the EP did.
What were the challenges?
Literally everything. I had a thousand mental breakdowns during this.
Who did the art on Wander? How about on Villains? If an artist did the art, did you give them direction, or did you let them create what they felt?
They were just photos that I had lying around to be honest.
You had David Jason Bruno on your track, “Hello.” What inspired the collaboration? What did he do on the track?
David is a fantastic guitarist and person. I felt the song was a little flat so I had him compose and add the lead guitar.
Tell us about your favorite track on the album. What’s it about?
My favorite track is “Golden,” and all my songs are about relational problems pretty much. I am really a one-trick pony.
What are your favorite lyrics from the song and what do they mean to you?
‘You are a siren, calling me out to drown; don’t think about the bitter winds or swirling clouds.’
They are basically about seeing someone that you know could be bad for you or you bad for them but you can’t resist them anyway.
What’s next for you?
Promote this album, keep writing, as usual, show booking/ finding new ways to write about one subject all the time haha.
Anything else you’d like to add or let us know about?
Just follow me on Instagram or Spotify to keep up to date with stuff; this is only the beginning!
Instagram is @wrwlf_indy
Also, search wrwlf on your preferred music outlet to hear my work! Thank you so much for your time and doing this for me you guys rule.
