Chelsea Wolfe

Chelsea Wolfe

Why do you make Music and what does it mean for you? 

It's really all I've ever felt at home with. I've been making music since I was a child and for some reason as I grew older I tried to deny myself music, telling myself I wasn't meant to be a performer and so on. But finally it took me over, so the music is what carries me forward and keeps me alive really.

From the distorsions and a sort of sulfurous goth of your "The Grime and the Glow" to an airy acoustic folk of the last "Unknown Rooms": what pushed you to move towards this new mood?

I feel that both albums actually vary a lot in mood. There are dark, heavy moments and there are moments of light. Some songs on Unknown Rooms were written in the same era of The Grime and the Glow and some were written just months ago; it really ranges a lot, that's why I felt it necessary to call it out as a collection of songs. 

What's your favourite artist and song?

A great moment for me was the first time I heard "Capricious Horses" by Vladimir Vysotsky - really stoic and intense and beautiful. 

Many people compare you to Soap&Skin particularly for your theatrical and intense approach to the songs: do you see yourself in this comparison? Do you know/like her music?

I have heard her music and I really like her. I don't see the comparison between our music but I wish I had written songs as good as hers when I was her age. 

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Don't you think that a kind of intimate folk can close itself? I mean, nowdays it seems to be an obligation for alternative musicians to take up a guitar and start composing music closed in their bedroom. Do you think that is still a need to express themself or just a fashion of the moment?

I personally don't follow trends or solely compose music holed up in a bedroom. I enjoy writing and recording in various spaces. I think a lot of types of music can be something very personal and intimate, folk music included. 

What genres and artists did influence your music?

It's really all over the place! Older country - Townes van Zandt, Neil Young, Hank Williams.. great singers - Selda Bagcan, Roy Orbison.. dark rock n roll like Black Sabbath or Led Zeppelin.. black metal and folk like Burzum, Gorgoroth or Wardruna. 

How much the live element matters in your Music? 

Writing and recording is my favorite part of the process, and then it has to translate to something live and more physical and spiritual, something you can feel and taste.. It's important to me for the audience to have a genuine experience so I take playing live very seriously and try to let myself go in the live setting so it becomes real emotion and I can really remember how I felt when I wrote the song. 

What do you think about Music industry nowadays?

I don't think my type of brain can wrap itself around how the music industry really works. Or maybe it doesn't want to.

What is the message that you'd like to express at the people Who listen to your Music?

I try not to interpret my songs very often for the listener because I want them to find themselves in the song; to be able to find out what it means for them. 

Who do you think are the most relevant musicians nowdays, there is something that really captured your attention lately?

Sometimes, even as a musician, I forget how special it is to see a band live, and we've had the pleasure of playing with some bands this past year that I was truly impressed and inspired by, in different ways: Sunn 0))), Boris, Ai Aso, Russian Circles.. 

Beatles or Rolling Stones?

Rolling Stones are more my vibe, but John Lennon has some fucking great songs.

CHELSEA WOLFE "SUNSTORM" from TERROREYES.TV on Vimeo.