The Wldlfe
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The Wldlfe

Indianapolis, IN | Established. Jan 01, 2015 | SELF | AFTRA

Indianapolis, IN | SELF | AFTRA
Established on Jan, 2015
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"Pup and Coming: The Wldlfe"

The Wldlfe
Genre: Pop Rock
Hometown: Indianapolis, IN

How did you become a band?

For a long time, all three of us had separate musical aspirations. I [Jansen] released a solo EP, and Jason and Geoff were playing in my band for the time being, while also spending time playing for other bands as well. I just kind of had an urge to do something different than what I had been doing with my solo stuff, so I had the idea to start a project with some other musicians. I threw the idea of The Wldlfe out there to both of them and they were on board from the very start. It definitely was a very organic process from the get go.

Where did the band name originate from?

The band name came from an article that I had read about the importance of juxtaposition. The Wldlfe is intended to be a representation of our desire to not put our music in a box. Nobody listens to one kind of music and we don’t believe that it makes sense to create only one kind of music either. Just like how the word “wildlife” could be perceived in multiple ways, we want our emotion and music to be translated in a multiple different ways. The removal of both “i’s” in The Wldlfe is just a healthy reminder that our music is bigger than ourselves and that we wouldn’t be able to do this without the people and fans that have supported us continually.

Where do you guys draw your influences for your music?

I think that one of our goals as a band is to be inspired rather than influenced. We don’t want to lie in one genre musically so we try to be inspired by anything and everything that we listen to. We want our music to be unique and some bands that have definitely inspired that sentiment in us are The 1975, LANY, Oh Wonder, twenty one pilots, and CHVRCHES. Each of those bands of qualities that set them apart from the rest of their peers, which is something that we strive to be.

What sets you apart from all the other bands out there?

I think the number one thing that sets us apart from other bands is our ability to translate honest lyrics and catchy melodies at the same time and create something that can evoke real emotion but also be enjoyable to listen to. I think the way that we are able to ride that fine line allows us to reach people from both sides of the musical spectrum. Those who want something to reflect on and those who want something to sing and dance with.

What’s your favorite part about being in a band?

We always joke about how stereotypical of an answer this is, but we are all friends. And there is nothing better than traveling and playing music with your best friends. I think that we keep each other motivated as well, which is another thing that is really important for us.

What are the bands future plans?

Right now, we are working on putting together a tour in the fall of 2016 throughout the Midwest. We are also planning on getting into the studio in the near future to start working on some new music. There is a lot of things that we have to keep under wraps, but those are two things that people can be looking out for.

What was your favorite cartoon growing up?

Jason: Spongebob 4ever. I don’t think I even know any other cartoons.

Geoff: Tom & Jerry. You can’t go wrong there

Jansen: I don’t think I watched a ton of cartoons growing up, but Fairly Oddparents was definitely a favorite.

Favorite pizza topping?

Jason: Pepperoni. For sure. Also, deep dish is the only way to go with pizza. Thin crust is for weenies.

Geoff: Pepperoni. I’ll take the thin crust though.

Jansen: Depends where you are getting your pizza from, but I could eat Caribbean Jerk for California Pizza Kitchen everyday. Easy.

If you could have one superpower what would it be?

Jason: Flying, but only if i could fly quickly. It probably wouldn’t too useful if I could only fly at walking speed.

Geoff: I’m with Jason. Flying, for sure.

Jansen: While you guys are flying, I’m just gonna teleport myself everywhere.

What is the first album you ever bought?

Jason: It is a three way tie between Day & Age from the Killers, Death Magnetic by Metallica, and Absolution by Muse. The day I decided to start buying CD’s in middle school, those were the three albums i picked up.

Geoff: I’m not sure which one, but it was definitely from a band called The Pigeon Detectives.

Jansen: I don’t remember what the first album I bought was, but Heavier Things by John Mayer was definitely the first album that I ever listened to.

Anything else you’d like to say?

Yeah, of course! If you haven’t already, go check out our EP “New” on Spotify. Like we said, we’ve got a tour announcement in the fall so be on the lookout for that on our social media as well.

https://www.facebook.com/thewldlfe

https://twitter.com/The_Wldlfe

https://www.instagram.com/the_wldlfe - Pup Fresh


"Meet: The Wldlfe"

We recently caught up with, "The Wldlfe". A great band out of Indianapolis.

Indianapolis-based indie-pop group The Wldlfe recently released their debut EP, titled New, in March of 2016. New, a five song EP produced by Jonathan Class at the Varsity Recording Co. in Anderson, IN, features both radio-ready indie-pop singles that immediately attract the listener with their catchy hooks (Waterfalls and Somebody's Gonna Love You), and more reserved, mellow tracks that provide the perfect soundtrack for a rainy day (Raincoat). New can be found on all mainstream digital outlets, including iTunes, Apple Music, Spotify, Tidal, Soundcloud, and more.

The Wldlfe is comprised of Jansen Hogan (vocals, keys, and guitars), Jason Boucouras (lead guitars), and Geoff Jones (drums). Hogan, Boucouras, and Jones formed The Wldlfe out of a desire to bring about the new age of pop music. With a sound inspired by artists such as LANY, The 1975, Oh Wonder, and the Neighbourhood, the New EP has been earning The Wldlfe fans across the globe. Within days of the release, New found itself on the "New and Notable" list on Noisetrade, which propelled the band to the top of the pop charts on Noisetrade. TunedUp gave New a 4/5, saying that "The young pop-rockers from Central Indiana impress with their debut release" and "With New, The Wldlfe makes a statement that I believe will propel them from local favorite to regional contender". The Wldlfe was also a featured artist on Bandwidth Daily (www.bndwdth.media). Between Spotify and Soundcloud, the New EP has amassed nearly 100,000 plays worldwide.

​The Wldlfe released their first music video for the single, Waterfalls, on May 21. The video was produced by Brandon Varker. The video features an abstract, ethereal direction style, with the addition of vivid color saturation, double exposure shots, and candid footage of the band. In less than a week, the visual has garnered over 3,000 views between Facebook and Youtube.

You can watch their amazing new video here, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1S_J7QGlTo

You can connect with the band at thewldlfemsc@gmail.com or on their Facebook.

When I first heard their music, I was stunned. To me, it is very rare to find indie-pop music that pulls at the heart strings when it comes to lyrics. Anyone who has ever had a conversation with me about music knows that I am a sucker for lyrics over anything else. In my opinion, a strong story and lyrical structure can make up for the lack of musicianship in an artist. There is no lack of musicianship when it comes to this band. Hogen's clear vocals punch through the rest of the sounds and instantly connect the listener to the emotion, pain and passion that is woven into these songs. Boucouras' guitars will instantly catch the listener's attention with the clarity and near perfection in the tone. Jones' drumming will draw in any sucker for percussion. The bridge of, "Waterfalls" shows just how much of an expert Jones is behind the kit. I have never been so excited to connect with a new band. Their goal is to form a new age of pop music. If their sound is the new age, I am very excited for what is to come.

1. When and why did you start playing?
For a long time, all three of us had separate musical aspirations. I [Jansen] released a solo EP, and Jason and Geoff were playing in my band for the time being, while also spending time playing for other bands as well. I just kind of had an urge to do something different than what I had been doing with my solo stuff, so I had the idea to start a project with some other musicians. I threw the idea of The Wldlfe out there to both of them and they were on board from the very start. It definitely was a very organic process from the get go.


2. What are your fondest musical memories? In your house? In your neighborhood or town?
Jason: My fondest musical memory is probably the first time I saw my favorite band, Circa Survive, live. It was just a surreal experience. I had looked up to those guys for so long, and when I got to hear those songs live, it blew my mind in a completely new way.
Geoff: I had the honor of playing in the Super Bowl 46 halftime show. Definitely a memorable experience for sure.
Jansen: Writing my first song was pretty awesome. Don’t remember how it goes or what it was about it, but I’m sure it was pretty awful!


Is your family musical?
Jason: My aunt played piano with the Toledo Symphony, and my father played several classical instruments.
Geoff: My father has been a musician his whole life. Plays piano, guitar, and sings. He's a worship pastor.
Jansen: My mother played clarinet in high school, my dad is a worship pastor in my hometown, and both of my younger brothers are very well versed in multiple different instruments. So yeah! My family is very very musical.


4. Who are the biggest influences to your music?
I think that one of our goals as a band is to be inspired rather than influenced. Nobody listens to one kind of music and we don’t believe that it makes sense to create only one kind of music either. We don’t want to be put in a box musically so we try to be inspired by anything and everything that we listen to. We want our music to be unique and some bands that have definitely inspired that sentiment in us are The 1975, LANY, Oh Wonder, twenty one pilots, and CHVRCHES. Each of those bands of qualities that set them apart from the rest of their peers, which is something that we strive to be.




5. Where would you like to see yourself in 10 years?

In 10 years we would love to be playing music every night for anyone and everyone who wants to sing along with us. It really doesn’t get that much better. None of us would want to be doing anything else, that’s for sure. Oh, and I’d personally enjoy a couple puppies as well. Who doesn’t love puppies?? - Connect The Sounds


"The Wldlfe"

"We are really proud of our live show debut. We are still college students at a small school, so putting on a show that feels like a top-notch concert can be challenging. We put a lot of effort into making that night as cool visually as we wanted to musically, and I think that was evident to everyone ..."

The Wldlfe is on the rise! What inspired your creative path?

The Wldlfe: (Jansen Hogan) I think that each of us have found our inspiration in different ways. We all first met in college, so our musical journeys have developed individually growing up, but intertwined very organically. When I was still playing as a solo artist, both Jason and Geoff were musicians that played alongside me.
When I decided that I didn't want to create music alone any longer, they were both there and all into the idea of starting fresh as a band. The EP is full of a lot of different elements which is something that we are all very conscious of. We have never identified with one genre of music and we don't want to label ourselves that way either.

The music biz is a roller coaster, what are some of your proudest moments?

The Wldlfe: As you know, we have not been a band for too long, but we are really proud of our live show debut. We are still college students at a small school, so putting on a show that feels like a top-notch concert can be challenging. We put a lot of effort into making that night as cool visually as we wanted to musically, and I think that was evident to everyone that was able to be a part of it.

Building and keeping momentum are critical to success, what new music or events are on the way?

The Wldlfe: We definitely have a few shows coming up and a few more in the works right now for the summer months. We will be playing a show at The Varsity Recording Co. in Anderson, IN on March 22nd and at The Coffee Peddler in Cincinnati, OH on April 8th. As far as new music goes, we have written a handful of new music since recording the EP that we are eager to put out. We are excited about the direction that these songs are taking and plan to release them in the future, but continuing to build on the New EP is our main focus right now. - Bndwdth Daily


"The Wldlfe - New"

What started out as a solo outlet for singer-songwriter Jansen Hogan soon evolved into a full-time band, featuring lead guitarist Jason Boucouras and drummer Geoff Jones. Now, the Indianapolis-based trio is known simply as The Wldlfe, and while they are still working to get their name out, New feels like just the catalyst they need to get the ball rolling.

Hogan and company get things started with the fun opener “Waterfalls.” The riffs and keys make for a happy musical soundscape with an island vibe, a fine contrast to the more-somber lyrical tone. Together it’s an intriguing combination that normally wouldn’t make sense, but the trio somehow seamlessly blends these elements, resulting in a fascinating tune overall. On “Momma Told Me,” the band turns things up a few notches musically, with haunting keys and a trance-inducing drum groove. There’s a bit of side-riffing going on in the chorus as well, but that is clearly only icing on the cake. “Raincoat” slows things down significantly, and musically feels calmer and more introspective, even if the lyrics are more of a request than anything else.

The fun picks back up again, however, on the EP’s lead single, “Somebody’s Gonna Love You,” an upbeat head-bobbing tune with an infectious bassline. While the keys are holistically an important facet of the song, the coolest part of “Somebody’s Gonna Love You” is the brief bridge where they get to go wild for a few quick bars. Needless to say, this carefree pop tune is the perfect soundtrack for springtime. The EP closes with “New,” a stripped-down tune reflecting on Hogan’s past and showcasing nothing but his voice and keys. Much of the beauty of the title track lies in its simplicity, which helps wrap things up rather nicely.

The young pop rockers from central Indiana impress with their debut release, and while it’s certainly not perfect, the EP is a fantastic place for the band to start, even if Hogan’s vocals can sound a bit whiny at times. With New, The Wldlfe makes a statement that I believe will propel them from local favorite to regional contender.

Score: 4/5 - Tuned Up


"THE WLDLFE TO HOLD RELEASE SHOW FOR ‘NEW’"

The Wldlfe, a new band featuring AU students Jansen Hogan, Jason Boucouras and Geoffrey Jones, has announced that their first EP, New, is set for release on March 3, 2016. Their release show has been planned for that night and will also feature the electro-pop duo Dream Chief.

For those familiar with Jansen Hogan’s solo music, The Wldlfe will be a taste of something rather different. “Compared to what I did before, this is much more of a risk,” Hogan said, “It’s less safe, more fun, in my opinion.”

Jones, the group’s drummer, added, “It’s more energetic.”

Work on the EP began in August when the three musicians spontaneously decided to collaborate on something more ambitious than the occasional shows they had been playing together as a part of Jansen Hogan’s solo work.

“We played for his solo stuff last spring, and that was a lot of fun,” Boucouras, the guitarist, said. “I don’t think it was really planned out,” he continued, “Jansen just kind of asked, ‘Do you guys really want to commit to this thing, or just keep playing some shows with me?’ We said, ‘Yeah let’s do it!’”

“I met Jansen this summer at Orangehaus Business Camp,” Jones said. “We ran into each other when he arrived at AU, and he asked me to drum. After seeing his drive, I thought this was something I need to stay part of.”

Elaborating on his motivation for The Wldlfe, Jones said, “The reason I’m part of this is that it’s music I love. If you want to do something in life, it should mean something to you. It should be personal and affect your own life.”

“In music, there are so many people who just expect things to go somewhere, but never really go for it,” Boucouras said. “We were just like ‘Let’s go for it!’”

Hogan chimed in, “I ain’t good at anything else! But yeah, it was very much an organic thing. Something like, ‘Are we a band?’ ‘Yeah!’”

All three had something to say about the group’s inspiration for New. “The whole concept is kind of a starting over feeling—recognizing the downside of things and letting yourself be upset,” Hogan said.

“If you’re a human being, you will encounter some of this stuff at one point in life,” Boucouras said.

Jones added, “There’s always something in Jansen’s writing that you can relate to your own life—not just love or heartbreak, but how you might feel any day of your life as a part of the greater story.”

“You can tell in the song what it might be written about, but I don’t think the meaning is limited to that,” Hogan explained.

Elaborating on the meaning behind the group’s name, Hogan said, “Life isn’t black and white. It’s not clear-cut, so we don’t want our music to be. What The Wldlfe means to one person might be totally different to another person. Why does it have to mean anything? The point is: There is no point.”

Regardless of what it means, The Wldlfe’s creativity and drive give New an exceptional sound that anyone can appreciate. Dancy drum beats, catchy vocals and pop-synth mix to create a unique sound, and Jonathan Class, owner of Varsity Recording Co., contributed immensely in producing the EP.

“I think at one point we were just sitting in Varsity Recording while Jon just constructed new beats for several hours,” Boucouras joked.

The members of The Wldlfe are definitely having fun, but they are not naïve. All three are aware of their potential, and they want to make real progress playing music they truly enjoy.

“We’re ready to take this seriously and try to legitimately make this a thing we could do for our lives,” Hogan said. “We want our music to be our own favorite music. We want it to be something that we love and that we’ll listen to, and this EP is something we’re really proud of.” - Anderson University


Discography

Still working on that hot first release.

Photos

Bio

The Wldlfe are a band out of Indianapolis, IN dedicated to bringing the new age of pop music. They released their debut EP "New" on March 3rd of 2016. In the first week, "New" received 1000 downloads on Noisetrade. They have also been featured in multiple online publications such as Bandwidth Daily and Tuned Up. Since the release, The Wldlfe have accumulated over 300,000 streams on the EP.

As young souls, The Wldlfe want to bring pop music a more honest quality by telling stories through their lyrics while keeping catchy melodies in the fold. This is a trio to be looking out for as they begin their ascent to the top of the pop music mountain.

Band Members