Fay Wolf

As a classically trained actress, Fay Wolf has worked in theatre, film and television with guest appearances on Law & Order, Numbers, Bones, Ghost Whisperer and NCIS: Los Angeles. And her music has been featured on Grey's Anatomy, One Tree Hill, Covert Affairs, and Pretty Little Liars. Her cover of The Outfield's "Your Love" was released exclusively on the Pretty Little Liars Television Soundtrack in February 2011. This LA based Renaissance Woman is also an accomplished singer-songwriter who has already made an artistic impact with her full length debut Spiders that will grasp the ears of both Tori Amos and The National listeners.

Although Wolf’s website boasts of sad songs- she more proudly associates herself with the intelligent artistry of Sharon Van Etten, The National, James Vincent McMorrow. We recently had a chance to talk to the songstress, actress and professional organizer following the release of Spiders.

What has the general reaction been so far to Spiders? Is there more a sense of accomplishment knowing that your an artist with a full LP recorded rather than just an EP?

I'm very happy to report that the general reaction has far surpassed anything I would have conjured up. In fact, I was so used to the album not being done for so long that I never thought about the part where people would actually listen to it and maybe enjoy it. It’s been lovely. And yes, it feels great having three times as many songs out in the world as I did before. Giving birth to Spiders has felt especially special.

What is the story behind the cover photo of Spiders? – it looks like there’s a deep story behind it or am I wrong?

A deep and true story of love. Featuring a couple I may or may not be related to...

What moments on Spiders are you most proud of and how does it grow creatively from your EP Blankets? Did the songs evolve over a certain period of time or was it gradual?

The songs came over time, and in their own time. A few songs on Spiders were even written before Blankets. Still, Spiders has always felt like a natural progression. I'm proud of the whole record and the talented people I got to work on it with me, especially producers Billy Mohler and Joshua Ostrander.

You embarked on an adventure called Kickstarter that yielded the funds needed to finish and release Spiders and you met your financial goal. Obviously this wouldn’t work for every artist – you had a prior fan base that assisted. What words of advice would you give to another artist thinking about using Kickstarter to help fund an artistic project?

Kickstarter is a super-wonderful platform. I do have a small and awesome fan base, but I still had to make raising those funds a full-time job. I reached my goal because I was basically at the computer or on the phone reaching out to people for 10-12 hours a day, for 30 days. As far as advice for other artists, I would say to be as organized as possible about the task ahead before launching the campaign, do your research on what works and doesn't, ask for and accept help, and get ready to share love and be loved.

You have a strong following...can you talk about building that up? Did you have a residency?

I've not had a residency, no. I'm lucky to have a large friend base on both coasts, and that has helped spread the word about my music. And now I'm lucky to have fans who I've never met before. I'm grateful for every one and do my best to engage authentically with folks over the ol' social networks and at shows.

Your website motto is “Making you Cry since 2008” - how has that worked for or against you? Do you really see yourself as a “Sad” singer-songwriter? Do you ever go for the “happy?”

People seem to enjoy my making-people-cry gimmickry. I write sad songs. Mostly. And so far. if the songs really do make people cry, awesome. If the taglines make people laugh, awesome. "Yours" and "Pull" are happy songs. Kinda. But the light and dark are both just inevitable parts of the ride, right?

You quit music for 17 years and got back to it after working as an actress – was there anything in particular that got you back into music?

Well, I quit piano lessons at 12. And suddenly began writing songs at 29. I believe it was just a case of sitting back down at the piano at the right time. It was time to get all the muck out.

How much does the piano/keyboards play a part in your artistry? Do you see yourself as a piano based artist in the way of Tori Amos or Regina Spektor?

The piano is my instrument. I hope to learn others eventually, but yes - the piano is absolutely a huge piece of the puzzle, and those two lovely ladies are definitely influences.

Which of your contemporaries do you feel most feel a musical kinship with and who would you most like to collaborate with?

I've been known to say things like, "If Tori Amos, Sara Bareilles, Ani Difranco, Regina Spektor and Feist had a baby..." Sharon Van Etten, The National, James Vincent McMorrow are certainly s - Glide Magazine

Fay Wolf, who doubles as a TV actress and a singer/songwriter/pianist, makes her full-length debut with Spiders following her 2009 EP Blankets. Wolf writes and sings melancholy romantic ballads, her throaty alto floating over piano-based pop/rock arrangements in a style strongly reminiscent of Tori Amos. "I think we fall in and outta love easy," she declares in "Easy," and she demonstrates that opinion repeatedly, as her first-person narrator addresses ex-lovers in songs like "See Monkey" ("I made you a set of keys/Then I broke up with you") and "Backstage Girl" ("Can you start to tell the world/I wasn't just your backstage girl/I threw you off in better days/A forever love that never came"). Wolf sometimes shows perspective on her favorite character, asking in "Mine," "So, what's in store for our heroine?" But her real escape from melancholy lies in her luxuriating in her own music, repeating phrases over and over as she plays attractive piano chords under them to create a hypnotic effect. She may be ruminating about loves that didn't work out, but this is comfort music that soothes both singer and listener, assuaging the hurt even as Wolf indulges her feelings.
-William Ruhlmann - AllMusic.com

..What could be dubbed poetically pretentious coming from other pop/alternative artists is, in Wolf's lexicon, nothing short of rapturous.. - Music Connection Magazine

Mesmerizing debut from Connecticut-born, California-based singer-songwriter. Hard to categorize, impossible to resist. - BLURT Magazine

FAY WOLF
HOMETOWN: Fairfield, Conn.
INFLUENCES: Tori Amos, Ani Difranco, Joni Mitchell
ALBUM: Spiders, out now
WEBSITE: faywolfmusic.com

FAY WOLF FIRST DREW ATTENTION AS AN ACTRESS,
appearing in roles on TV shows from All My Children to Terminator:
The Sarah Connor Chronicles as well as the well-received online
series Rose by Any Other Name... (She is classically trained
in acting, holding a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Boston
University.) But after a few years of being seen on camera, she
began being heard on soundtracks-her music, which she half-jokingly
refers to as "sad piano songs", has been featured on Grey's
Anatomy, One Tree Hill, Pretty Little Liars and other shows. She's
been drawing audiences from coast to coast, filling venues like Hotel
Cafe in Los Angeles and the Living Room in New York City even as
she keeps up a day job as a professional organizer (her high-profile
clients include fellow actress and musician Zooey Deschanel). Her
just-released full-length debut, Spiders, was produced by
Billy Mohler and Joshua Ostrander. - M Music & Musicians

Many of the new artists I discover come from listening to soundtracks for television shows. For example, I first heard Eva Cassidy's cover of Cyndi Lauper's "Time After Time" on an episode of Smallville. I heard Alexi Murdoch's "Breathe" for the first time in an early episode of Stargate Universe. And I first heard Fay Wolf, though I didn't know it at the time, on an early episode of Covert Affairs.
So when I started listening to Wolf's new album, Spiders, I knew I'd heard the voice before but it took me a while to figure out just where. But I shouldn't have been surprised that I first heard her music on TV, as her songwriting and composition style effortlessly combines storytelling and drama in much the same way as some of my favorite shows. Though her style is all her own, my ear can't help but compare her to artists as diverse as Florence + The Machine and Tori Amos, who also tell stories beneath melodies.
I've since discovered that Wolf's songs have also been featured on episodes of Grey's Anatomy, One Tree Hill, and Pretty Little Liars. Beyond that, she is a classically-trained actress who has worked in theater, film and television with appearances on Law & Order, Numb3rs, Bones, Ghost Whisperer, and NCIS: Los Angeles.
Spiders is full of emotional honesty but also includes a bit of wit and humor within its lyrics. Wolf includes a bit of explicit language in those lyrics, though, so while her music is amazing it might be best for a more mature audience.
The album starts with two of my favorite songs, "The Thread of the Thing" and "The Passing," which set things off on the right foot. "The Thread of the Thing" employs the dreamy feel of someone trying to explain how she feels. The lyrics are stream-of-consciousness but hit me like a conversation between lovers as they fall asleep: "And the stories of kings and the needle and the thread of the thing... in a little while I see that I love the way you came on." Between its steady percussion like a heartbeat, its simple chords and the atmospheric effects, the song really got my attention quickly. "The Passing," on the other hand, manages to sound very different, featuring Fay's voice and piano skills. Again, it's like a dreamy conversation: "See here's the thing / I love being in motion and wrapped around you... I can hear you / and I can see the time / The time passing / The time passing by." It's as though Wolf's voice tells the story as her fingers dance across the keys.
In the middle of the album, "Pull" just seems to ring true again about (you guessed it) love. This time it's a bit more outwardly happy in the melody. "But y'figured out that the least you could understand / Your heart is open to someone else's hand." Love sometimes manages to pull the breath from us, just like falling down in the snow. But its almost calliope-sounding keys give this song a strong feel of fun while keeping that atmospheric piano behind the scenes.
"In the Way" bears a melody that is at once sad, but honest: "How did we fall in love in a week / And how do we get away / How do we see if the cracks in the plan / Are the reasons that we play the game." Again, it's simply Wolf and a piano telling an honest story about romance. Sometimes things don't work out and "if it's all not fair, then why are you here." Sometimes we have to look deeper than the fun we're having to see that something isn't good.
Spiders manages to express the complexities of love without seeming trite. I think that's this artist's gift, telling stories of love when it goes right and also when it falls apart.


Read more: http://blogcritics.org/music/article/music-review-fay-wolf-spiders/page-2/#ixzz1fXG2MYU1

Read more: http://blogcritics.org/music/article/music-review-fay-wolf-spiders/#ixzz1fXFx9w3v - Blogcritics.org

Last week I neglected to include singer/songwriter Fay Wolf's beautifully melodic piano-driven album. This is not what you listen to on a sunny day when all is right with the world - save it for when you're in the mood to emote. If you think I'm kidding, I just realized she has shirts for sale that say, "Fay Wolf Made Me Cry." Hilarious! - AfterEllen.com

Let’s hear it for these out female singer-songwriters: L.A.-based Wolf imbues her piano-driven songs with melancholy drama on her full-length debut; endorsed by Gibson guitars, Seattleite Bloom pop-rocks with passion on her latest album; Ndegeocello asks “Who’s your daddy?” on a disc full of defiant attitude and deep introspection; and lesbian twins Tegan and Sara present a live CD-DVD set that includes two short documentaries. - The Advocate

Actress/comedian, singer/songwriter Fay Wolf's Spiders (Hermonica Music) weaves a web in which you won't mind getting tangled. Already a staple on the soundtracks to various TV series, Wolf narrows the focus to her songwriting and singing over the course of the disc's 11 tracks. Songs such as "The Passing" and "Backstage Girl" put her in the company of Regina Spektor and Tori Amos without ever compromising her own distinctive musical identity and perspective. - The Bay Area Reporter / Baltimore OUTloud

Fay Wolf’s musical innovation comes mainly in the form of an impressive range, using the canvas of standard singer-songwriter compositions on her debut full-length Spiders to touch on everything from sultry chamber pop (“The Thread of the Thing”) to heartfelt ballads (“Backstage Girl”) to the boundaries of tinkly indie-pop (“See Monkey”) and ethereal dream pop (“Easy”). Wolf reminds me of Tori Amos in her prime or, more precisely, Tori Amos if she had come along a decade later and been influenced by Rufus Wainwright and the early work of Ingrid Michaelson, with whom Wolf shares a certain vocal similarity.

Even the relatively weaker moments, “Black people” in particular, show Wolf’s ability to create a lush soundscape, though the shifting tone of that track feels schizophrenic and confusing. What’s surprising is that, with all of the subtle but disparate styles thrown into Spiders, that the whole album doesn’t feel more disconnected; it’s a testament to Wolf’s tenacity and fresh-eyed approach. The careful, loving construction of the songs, the relationship between the languorous guitars, moody piano, and half-whispered lyrics, all speak of a songwriter with endless artistic and commercial potential.
- Pop Matters

Her music has been featured on Grey's Anatomy and One Tree Hill. She's performed in venues all across Hollywood. And her lyrics will touch you (down there...just kidding).
You may remember Fay Wolf as one of our Get To Know artists from last year, and now we want to fill you in on her upcoming full-length album, Spiders, arriving this fall.

We're sure it'll be chock-full of Adele-ish tunes perfect for getting over that messy break-up, curling up under a blanket on a rainy day, or putting you in the mood to get some -- whether that "some" is ass, inspiration, or overall love. - HotterInHollywood.com

Koffeehouse Sessions: March 4 @ Harvelle’s
By Melissa Evalle

On the first Thursday of every month, Harvelle’s Blues Club in Santa Monica plays host to the featured artists of Koffeehouse Sessions. This month’s talented lineup included Josiah Leming, Justin Hopkins, Fay Wolf and Frentik.

Young and old came together to experience folk, pop, rock and blues; there was a little bit of everything. No one shined brighter than Fay Wolf. Wolf is an amazingly talented singer-songwriter and actor. She is known for her indie pop and what she describes as “sad piano songs.”

The performances of all of the singers drew in a significant crowd. It made Harvelle’s just that more intimate and special.

Article posted on 3/15/2010

http://www.campuscircle.com/review.cfm?r=10576 - Campus Circle

Fay Wolf: Spiders

You were probably taught as a child not to “cry wolf,” but now as an adult you can feel free to cry “Wolf” all you want in celebration of the impending release of Fay Wolf’s Spiders album. Some have compared the L.A.-based singer’s style to that of Ani DiFranco, and Wolf herself describes her work as “sad song funny joke music.”

But it’s likely that you already have an idea of what Spiders sounds like since Wolf’s music has recently been featured on lots of television shows including “Covert Affairs,” “Pretty Little Liars” and “Grey’s Anatomy.” Similarly, as an actress Wolf has many appearances on popular shows under her belt but you would never guess that she’s also a professional organizer who owns a company called New Order (yes, named after the influential English synth-pop band.) So if you need a few tips on straightening out your space try to corner Wolf after her Nov. 3 show at Hotel Café; Spiders drops a few days later on Nov. 8. - Campus Circle

Fay Wolf describes her live performances as “sadsongfunnyjokemusictimes.” Now, don’t run and grab your Webster Dictionary just yet. The Connecticut born-Los Angeles based singer/songwriter and pianist simply makes songs that are alluring yet gloomy; funny yet sappy--similar to Ani Difranco, Joni Mitchell and Tori Amos. Her second album, “Spiders,” produced by Billy Mohler (Macy Gray, Lenka, War Tapes) and Joshua Ostrander (Eastern Conference Champions, Kav, Voxhaul Broadcast), which will be released independently on November 8th, is an 11-track album that displays her unabashed honesty, dark humor and wit that her fans have come to know and love.

Wolf is not only a crooner, composer and ivory-tickler, she is a classically-trained actress who has made appearances on primetime television shows such as Law & Order, Numb3rs, Bones, Ghost Whisperer and NCIS: Los Angeles. Her songs have even been featured on Grey's Anatomy, One Tree Hill, Covert Affairs, and Pretty Little Liars.
Get a preview of Spiders at Barre on Monday, September 26th. - Nicole Dawley - The Deli LA Magazine

Fay Wolf named one of Music Connection's Hot 100 Unsigned Artists & Bands for 2010. For the month of December, the whole list is available to view at the link below. Cheers. - Music Connection Magazine

Click on link for full review! Cheers. - Music Connection Magazine

Fay Wolf would like you to know What's Up (her new song, that is).

The Connecticut native is drawing comparisons to Sara Bareilles, Sarah McLachlan and even Adele with her smoky-smooth vocals and piano prowess. The song's called "What's Up," from her EP Blankets, and it's an emotional piece you should check out.

And even better, we got the song for you HERE (consider it an early Valentine's Day gift from us to you).

*AND, if you happened to catch last night's episode of Grey's Anatomy you probably heard another one of her tunes, the hauntingly beautiful "Yours."

http://abc.go.com/music-lounge/show/greys-anatomy/86534

Posted on February 05, 2010
Archived at:
http://www.hotterinhollywood.com/original/2010/02/introducingfay-wolf.html - HotterInHollywood.com

New Music Tuesday: 11-10-09
by Hornito

This week is chock-full of great new releases that I am amped up about. These releases all tend to have a similar autumnal vibe that makes me either want to play in the leaves or relax in a chair while sipping some apple cinnamon spice tea and doing the crosswords. (OMG how stereotypical did I just get!) Let’s begin, shall we? ...

Wolf will be the first one to tell you, she makes sad music. While the subject matter may be morose, it’s showcased beautifully. Uh Huh Her member Camila Grey produced the album which reminds me a bit of Ani Difranco but without some of the roughness around the edges.

Archived at:
http://www.afterellen.com/blog/stubbs/new-music-tuesday-11-10-09 - AfterEllen.com

Exclusive Sneak Preview: Fay Wolf New Indie CD ‘Blankets’

November 24, 2009 by Bi Social News

The wait is over. If you listened to our relaunch of Bi Talk Radio a couple of weeks ago with Director Kyle Schickner of ‘Rose by Any Other Name,’ along with actress Fay Wolf, you know she just dropped a wonder Indie music CD called ‘Blankets.’ We have exclusive rights to debut one of Fay’s favorite songs. I’ve listened to a few tunes and I will just say one word—wow, great lyrics and the melody is pitch perfect.

So sit back enjoy this great treat and go buy her CD! BSN believes whole-heartedly that we should support our bisexual community by donations, supporting their films, causes and everything that matters for bi-visibility! Support the cause—it won’t be hard with this wonderful talent. We will do a review of the CD when we get it! Stay-tuned!

Archived at:
http://bisocialnews.com/fay-wolf-new-indie-cd-blankets/ - Bi Social News

In a city where the female troubadour pops up as frequently as a blonde bombshell, Fay Wolf bucks the trend. Born in Connecticut and currently living in the city of Angels, Wolf differentiates herself by being a multi-talented artist and a curly-haired beauty as well. She is a classically trained actress, and has made appearances on television programs such as Numb3rs, Bones, Ghost Whisperer and NCIS: Los Angeles. Though she may be more accomplished on the small screen than a lot of other Angelinos, Wolf’s musical talents are indisputable.

As accomplished as she may be on the small screen, music has always been a part of Wolf’s life. Having started singing at the age of four and moving onto piano by age six, Wolf was following along the paths of most musical prodigies. However, by the age of 12, she had enough with music and quit writing and playing until seventeen years later. For some, this long layoff would be problematic, but for Wolf, it was like no time had passed.

Wolf has been wowing crowds across her adopted hometown. Having performed at venues like the Hotel Café in Los Angeles and The Living Room in New York, Wolf has built a strong cult following. With the release of her debut EP in 2009, Blankets, she saw her music placed on hit shows Grey’s Anatomy, One Tree Hill and USA Network’s Covert Affairs.

When I first heard Blankets, I honestly wasn’t quite sure to expect. I had known about Wolf for sometime and am generally apprehensive about singer/songwriters who have a piano at their disposal, unless of course, the artist is Rufus Wainwright or Tori Amos. But after hearing this album, I was blown away. Wolf’s voice is soothing yet haunting and show a great vocal range. She is a talented piano player who writes unmistakably heartfelt lyrics, which are sincere without going overboard.

After the release Blankets, don’t be surprised to see Wolf pop on your radar sooner rather than later. If she can write strong material on an EP, imagine what she’ll be able to do on a full-length. With a career that seems to be more likely to be reminiscent of a balladeer like aforementioned Amos rather than the balancing act of Zooey Deschanel, Wolf’s talents are limitless and whether you are seeing her on the small screen or onstage, it’s impossible not to be drawn to her magnetic talent. - BestNewBands.com