Wilder Lee

Entertwine: Could you give us some insight into your musical background? Who or what led you to pursue a career in music? What was it like growing up in Sydney, Australia? Hmm. As far as I can remember there has always been music at home. My mom was a DJ and rocked folk music pretty hard, whilst my grandmother who looked after us was always blasting hymns and gospel music. Looking back, I think that’s where it all began. Simple melodies, effective structure and engaging lyrics which are characteristic of folk and hymns. We moved to Sydney when I was three years old so I’d like to think I’m as Australian as they come. Some days, growing up I’d take my pet kangaroo out and go and swim with some sharks whilst having vegemite. Haha! But seriously, I’ve been to many beautiful cities of the world but still rank Sydney as number one. In terms of pursuing a musical career, I think it was always something I wanted to do but never had the courage to actually do it. I think I came to my senses one day when I was sitting in a music class as a teacher and one of the students approached me after jamming out with them and bluntly said, ‘Sir, why the f@#$ are you here? Go do something with your music!’ and so lo and behold here I am.

Entertwine: Could you give us some insight into your musical background? Who or what led you to pursue a career in music? What was it like growing up in Sydney, Australia? Hmm. As far as I can remember there has always been music at home. My mom was a DJ and rocked folk music pretty hard, whilst my grandmother who looked after us was always blasting hymns and gospel music. Looking back, I think that’s where it all began. Simple melodies, effective structure and engaging lyrics which are characteristic of folk and hymns. We moved to Sydney when I was three years old so I’d like to think I’m as Australian as they come. Some days, growing up I’d take my pet kangaroo out and go and swim with some sharks whilst having vegemite. Haha! But seriously, I’ve been to many beautiful cities of the world but still rank Sydney as number one. In terms of pursuing a musical career, I think it was always something I wanted to do but never had the courage to actually do it. I think I came to my senses one day when I was sitting in a music class as a teacher and one of the students approached me after jamming out with them and bluntly said, ‘Sir, why the f@#$ are you here? Go do something with your music!’ and so lo and behold here I am. entertwine

Could you tell us about some of the most exciting or interesting live performances you’ve been a part of to date? Most exciting live performances? Wow there would probably have to be two that come to mind. I was finishing up a tour in Europe and I basically overshot my expenditure and was pretty much roaming around different cities singing for my supper. The last city I was in before my flight back to Sydney was Athens and I had absolutely no money left. I took a stroll to the port and saw a few workers coming out of a cruise ship and asked if they needed any musicians, the next few nights were spent as a stow away on a five star cruise ship playing live music around the Greek Islands. The other performance that comes to mind was at the Golden Hall in Vienna representing Australia as a choir soloist (can you believe it?) We performed in front of a 2 million audience worldwide and took home the gold. Pretty exciting eh?

What experiences and events influenced the writing and recording of your upcoming debut EP? What can you tell us about each of the featured tracks? I spent a lot of time alone in 2014. It was a year where I felt like I had lost my bearings and I needed to heal. Isn’t it funny though how the same vulnerability can lead to a high level of creativity? My tracks in the coming EP (which I can’t completely talk about yet) are all written from that year of growth. The general vibe of the EP is dark, containing several allusions and references to the hard time I experienced as well as the thoughts that run rampant through my head. Scary! Haha

What does your writing and recording process look and sound like? What musical equipment, instruments and programs do you use live and in-studio? My writing process usually involves a great amount of solitude. Long drives, mountain cottages, and a guitar. Throw in some late nights and a few nightcaps and you’ve usually got a Wilder Lee hit. Ha! But I dig big room vocals and definitely a lot of live sound. The team and I love experiementing with random sounds and samples – one particular track on the EP is chock full of cannon sounds and ocean waves.

Aside from the release of your debut EP, what else does 2016 hold in store for Wilder Lee musically-speaking? 2016 is a very big year for me –, aside from my musical pursuits it is my first year as a husband and I’m looking ahead to a bright future with my wife, manager and bestfriend, Grace. Babe if you’re reading this, yes I will do the laundry soon! Haha - Jacqueline Cassell

Sydney, Australia Singer-Songwriter Wilder Lee Announces Debut
Single “Into the Wild” to Debut on May 6, 2016
“Into the Wild”, the debut single from singer-songwriter Wilder Lee is set to be released on May 6,
2016 with anticipation surrounding it very high. The Sydney native has been winning praise not only
in his native Australia, but also across the rest of the world as more people are exposed to his raw and
honest sound. Insiders are predicting May 6
th
may be his breakthrough moment.

March 23, 2016

With anticipation surrounding his studio work high, fans have every reason to rejoice. Sydney,
Australia's Wilder Lee has announced a May 6, 2016 release date for his first single “Into the Wild”.
The singer-songwriter has diverse influences and an infectious raw energy that has kept interest high.
Expect “Into the Wild” to be the start of something much larger as the word of his music spreads.
“The song was birthed out of a lot of tough crap in my life, and pretty much sets the tone for the
upcoming EP later this year,” commented Lee about the coming single. “'Into the Wild' is an intrinsic
and very intimate look into the wars I have with my own heart - shows you how not all battles can be
won.”

Born in Manilla, the vibrant gem of the Philippines, Lee has brought with him a very diverse set of
musical influences and life experiences to Australia, which certainly added more flavor to the mix.
From within the music industry his work has not gone unnoticed, with legendary music veteran, Matt
O’Conner and his team partnering with Lee to release the 28 year old artist's debut single.

In addition, up until now, Lee has plaid out often to very positive responses and posted samples of his
work across his social media accounts to a very positive response. The combination of acoustic guitar,
raw vocals and lyrics from the heart has long been a recipe for success, and the smart music watchers
are expecting nothing but the same from Wilder Lee.

According to Lee, more studio work is planned in the near future. -

Ascendant Sydney artist Wilder Lee has only just released his first single, but he's already making a name for himself as both a recording and live-performance artist as he works up to the release of his debut EP later this year.

Well before we see that release in the flesh, though, The Music is stoked to be premiering the accompanying video for debut effort Into The Wild, showcasing Lee's mature and thoughtful ideas and arrangements, informed by a clear appreciation of a wide array of genres and influences.

So assured in his talents is Lee that he's already turned heads in the industry, teaming up with former Warner headhunter and the founder of The A&R Department, Matt O'Connor, for the release of Into The Wild, which made its way into the world a couple of Fridays ago, on 6 May.

"The song was birthed out of a lot of tough crap in my life, and pretty much sets the tone for the upcoming EP later this year," Lee explained of the song in a statement. "Into The Wild is an intrinsic and very intimate look into the wars I have with my own heart — shows you how not all battles can be won."

If you dig what you see and hear above, you'll have plenty of opportunities to make a date with Wilder Lee to enjoy one of his live performances, starting with a support slot for acclaimed chanteuse Sahara Beck at Newtown Social Club, Sydney, this Thursday, 19 May. He'll also be in action at The Bald Faced Stag, Sydney, on 24 May; The Record Crate, Glebe, on 11 June; and The Soda Factory, Surry Hills, on 3 July. - themusic.com.au

1. The First Song I Wrote
Would probably be a half-arsed love song to score a date to the year ten formal. Ahh, the things a kid would do for romance. Funnily enough, I think I went alone that year.

2. The Last Song I Released
My debut single ‘Into The Wild’ was released on May 6 with the good people at The A&R Department. Y’all should check it out on iTunes or Spotify. Pretty much an acoustic concoction of sleepless, ponder-filled nights and some inner-demon-slaying. Good times.

3. Songwriting Secrets
I’m not sure if there’s a secret, however I have one word that comes to mind when I write: vulnerability. I think the most enduring songs are all a by-product of a writer’s vulnerability. The ability to bare your soul when writing I think is key, especially as a lyricist or singer-songwriter.

4. The Song That Makes Me Proud
I wrote a song called ‘Whiskey Soul’. The song is loosely based on the deterioration of my parents’ marriage. I recall as a child my dad would often come home drunk and smelling of whiskey – he would look at us kids in the eye and say, “You’ve got your mother’s eyes!” after which he would break down and we would have to tuck him into bed. I make mention of this in the song. I played it the other day to my mum and she bawled her eyes out – it was a big moment for me.

5. The Song That Changed My Life
Oh man, that’s like asking me what sort of oxygen you think made you a better person. Ha! Umm, I can’t pinpoint one song, but if I would have to choose an artist it would be Joni Mitchell – oh man, the phrasing and the storytelling! Oh, and a flavour of the week would be a song called ‘Comrade’ by Volcano Choir – I keep coming back to it.
Wilder Lee plays The Bald Faced Stag, Tuesday May 24; then The Record Crate on Saturday June 11; and The Soda Factory on Sunday July 3. He also supports Sahara Beck at Newtown Social Club on Thursday May 19. - The Brag Magazine

Don’t you just love that feeling you get when you discover a voice that stops you in your tracks? I’ve just experienced it listening to Wilder Lee’s first single “Into the Wild,” and I think you will too. I love the mix of husky rawness and sweet falsetto in his voice. And I am such a sucker for an acoustic guitar. The track is potent, organic goodness. - Sounds of OZ

The small Newtown Social Club stage filled to the brim with the first support act of the night, Wilder Lee. Two backing vocalists, a lead vocalist, a pianist, a bassist, a guitarist and a drummer all created an atmosphere filled with gorgeous harmonies, and a sound that bordered on atmospheric-synth with a hint of gospel harmonic resonance. The lead vocalist belted out the lyrics with a beautiful yet raspy tone, which contrasted with the soft harmonies. The glowing synth also really created something mesmerising. - Vulture Magazine

Click on link for interview - Americana-UK

Tomatrax caught up with Wilder Lee to ask a few questions.

What inspired you to become a musician?
My mother was a professional DJ back in the day and my father was in the US Navy so we’d travel frequently and mum gigged regularly. There were also days where my grandmother would take care of us and she was an avid fan of gospel hymns. I think that sort of set up my foundation for music and aspiration to write and tour.

When did you write your first song?
Would’ve probably been sometime in highschool – a half-arsed love song to try and land a date to the year 10 formal. Funny enough, I don’t think I had a date that year. But I did have a few lyrics, so that worked out. Ha!

You’ve just released your first single, what’s it like to have it out?
Quite satisfying actually. We partnered with the good people at The A&R Department and got them to do all the tricky stuff. The reviews are now coming in and it’s great to see something you’ve invested in get some quality feedback and recognition.

What made you pick ‘Into the wild’ as your debut release?
The song itself was actually written two years ago and came from a juncture in my life which was pretty dark. Aside from the raw edgy vibe and clever production, I think it’s more so the emotional connection I have with the song that determined that this was gonna be the ‘one’. In many ways the song will always remind me that we made it through, we overcame, we went ‘into the wild’ and lived to tell the tale. - Tomatrax Wordpress