Julia Wolf, better known as “Wolf,” is making a name for herself through her juxtaposed music style combining a beautiful, soft voice with hip-hop beats and intimidating lyrics. Known for some of her past hits, such as Hoops or High Waist Jeans, Wolf has done it again with her catchy new single: Villain.
However, don’t let her “villainous” tunes, menacing stage name, or purgatory-themed clothesline scare you; under the harsh exterior of her artist persona, she is a down-to-Earth creative who has grown from her shy past to become a big advocator for women in hip-hop today. Girls Who Listen had the distinct pleasure of getting to sit down with Wolf and discuss quarantine hurdles, her latest album, what’s next for her, and everything in between!
“Gotta sweet face but I only play villain,
Sugarcoat sh*t so you never taste venom,
I don’t wanna do this to you,
I just can’t help it,
They won’t see me coming,
I’m the least expected“
Tabitha Labrato: For the readers out there who might not be familiar, could you explain the origin of your title “Wolf”?
Wolf: My younger sister, she’s 21, is my whole world, my best friend, and I just couldn’t imagine life without her. When she was little, she had this imaginary wolf.
So, she would talk to it or whatever, but then at night, she would always say goodnight to me, and then she would say “good night wolf”. Even now, close to 20 years later, she is still doing that. I wanted a cool name, but I was also just trying to think of something that held a little meaning to me. What better than doing both!
TL: Congratulations on your latest song, Villain! I am sure that making and producing music during this time has been more difficult. So, what additional hurdles has this pandemic created that you have had to overcome to release this single?
W: Yeah, it was pretty interesting because I am based in New York and Jackson produces everything in LA. So, we’ve kind of formed a way to work coast-to-coast already. He’ll just send me sessions and then I’ll just record in my bedroom, you know, but it’s certainly challenging; especially since I live in a very small apartment, so it’s so noisy here! That’s a huge challenge, of course, when you’re recording. Even with Villain, I think we might have done some background vocals here in my room and some more little things.
But, in terms of the quarantine, I don’t think it’s really affected our production as much, just because we are so distant from one another, anyways.
Of course, I haven’t been able to go out to LA as often as I would have if it wasn’t lockdown. I’m also just used to being in my room all the time.
TL: It is no secret that you are a big advocator for women and girls trying to make it big in the music industry since you used to be shy when you were younger. What advice do you have for the shy girl who eats lunch alone in the music room every day but wants to be a singer when they grow up?
W: First of all, I always told myself that it was never a big deal to eat alone or do things by myself. It felt like the world was ending when it was happening, you know, it can feel like a spotlight cast on you because no one else is alone but doing things by yourself makes you more of a self-sufficient person.
I’m grateful and I wouldn’t change the way that I grew up or any of those experiences.
So, I would say, if you aren’t being your complete self then it’s just doing a disservice to you; you’re only hurting yourself and it’s just going haunt you years down the line. Learn to be okay with showing people who you are because people really want to get to know you!
TL: I think it is so cool on Snapchat to see your song “Hoops” show up at the top of the “featured music” section. What can you tell me about this song and what are your thoughts on this song blowing up all of a sudden?
W: This is easily the most random thing that has ever happened to me and probably one of the biggest! Especially when you see who else is on that playlist, since there are a ton of big names on there, it is such a great thing to see.
I think it was number eight two days ago but then this morning, we went back to number one, so I am feeling great! I think compared to my other songs, the opening line of this one, saying “Can I have your face I’m tired of mine,” has made people grab onto that. I think it’s a fun song to lip-sync or make a cute video with, as opposed to some of the other songs that you have to wait for the hook.
But it’s literally crazy! I just freaked out when I saw it and I am still freaking out.
TL: I love following you on Instagram and watching your “Confession Sundays” and seeing all of the interacting that you do with your fans. Do you think it is important, as an artist, to still keep in constant contact with people who idolize you?
W: That’s a great question. I think it is so important.
It definitely took me a while to get comfortable with speaking so openly with people, just because I never really spoke much before. Then I just had to make the decision to be more open with my fanbase.
I started getting more and more DMS from people saying how much they were enjoying it and how helpful it was. I just said that I need to just suck it up and swallow back all of my nerves and fears and just do this because, clearly, it’s helping someone else.
Plus, the confessions have been so great, I wasn’t expecting so much honesty right off the bat like that, and it’s been so cool. It is really important for me to have that connection because you need to support those who support you.
TL: What does it mean to be a woman in music? Have you collaborated with any other women/do you plan to?
W: I would love to collaborate in the future, for sure. So far, I have only ever worked with Jackson. So, we’re kind of a duo right now because it’s been working so well.
Yeah, gosh, there are so many female artists that are incredible. I think it’s really refreshing when you see another female working in the industry. It is pretty rare, at least from the people that I’ve met so far.
So, I just want to encourage girls to go after whatever they want to do; make the music, follow your heart, be yourself, because it’s all worth it.
With the hip hop influences that I’m going after, it is a pretty male-dominated area, which is okay. Despite that though, I still want girls to know that even if they’re shy: you can speak your mind and you can write your bars out and sing about what you really feel.
So, I just hope that what I’m doing can inspire some other girls to go after what they want.
Wolf is absolutely doing what she set out to do by showing girls everywhere that hip-hop artists don’t just have to be men and that women can speak their minds, too. Additionally, she has a new album on the way this year that we can look forward to.
“It’ll be great to just have one official body of work that represents my brand,” Wolf told us, beaming about her work-in-progress.
She also laughed and got real with us about her love life. “There won’t be any love songs, of course, because I do not write about things that I do not know about,” she joked. “So, we’re still waiting on that! But it’ll definitely be super relatable and I just hope that it reaches people and speaks to them.”
We thank Wolf for her time, and we can’t wait to see what is next for the talented artist.
