About Me
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When Karl Wolf describes the sixmonths since the release of his solo debut, Face Behind The Face, as"just insane," he means it in a good way. A frenzied work schedule ofshooting videos, doing promotional tours, and performing in Canada andabroad is paying off, as the world is responding welcomingly to thisvibrant new star.
Karl Wolf is a genuine triple threat of talent. A songwriter, producerand singer of serious skill and originality, he excels in all threeroles on Face Behind The Face (released on MapleNationwide/Universal inJanuary). As Karl sings on the title track, "I'm coming out for thewhole world to see," and this is one memorable introduction.
Since its release, the album broke in the Canadian Top 100 sales chartand spawned two hit singles, "Butterflies" and "Desensitize", with thelatter track (featuring hip hop star Choclair) reaching the BDS Top 40charts. Face Behind The Face has been licensed internationally, and hasmade Karl Wolf an instant star in the Middle East. "'Butterflies' was atNo. 1 for eight weeks on the radio there," explains Karl. "We had thebiggest ever in-store signing at the Virgin store in Dubai." Wolfperformed in Dubai as the special guest of the queen of modern r 'n b,Mary J. Blige, and he knocked the stadium crowd over. Add in personalprops from Mary J., and you have what Karl terms "the pinnacle point ofmy career to date."
Wolf is destined for many more career highlights. He may be new as asolo artist, but he is certainly no musical novice. As an award-winningproducer and writer, he has been responsible for many multi-platinumselling albums. It is now his time to take centrestage, and he seizeshis moment with true authority.
Karl turned his back on lucrative offers of work with other artists todevote himself to Face Behind The Face. "I told myself that sooner orlater I have to focus on my own music or it will just wither away. Nowis the time," he explains. This meant becoming something of a recluse,burying himself in his own studio and working tirelessly on the record."I locked myself in," recalls Karl. "I hardly went out for two years. Iwas a bum, I grew a beard, and would just order in pizza. I was obsessedbut focused. I wanted to be right there when I had theinspiration!"
The fruits of this creative compulsion are indeed tasty. Wolf wrote andproduced all the songs on Face Behind The Face, and played virtually allthe instruments himself. This is a musically diverse collection ofsongs, fusing r 'n b, dance, pop and hiphop stylings. It is givencoherence via the gentle soulfulness of Karl..s voice and lyrics, whilehis beats are both imaginative and catchy, sometimes hinting at his ownMiddle Eastern background.
Wolf acknowledges the likes of Boyz II Men, Michael Jackson and BrianMcKnight as early influences and inspirations. "I feel my music hascontemporary elements but it is not scared to be emotional," heexplains. "It is just the music I like. I grew up in the '80s, and musicwas emotional then. Today, especially in r 'n b and hiphop, everyonewants to be hard."
In musical and lyrical terms, Karl Wolf is a lover, not a fighter.Through his own family's history, he knows the consequences of war andviolence, as his family was forced to leave their native Lebanon forCanada when Karl was just three. That background surfaces in the track"Summer Days (In Beirut)", and Wolf is not afraid to project positivityin his lyrics. "I am trying to be peaceful in my meaning and message. Weare influential as singers, and I..d love to influence kids in a greatway."
The return of war to the country of his birth clearly saddens Karl.Plans to perform in Lebanon with Snoop Dogg obviously fell through, buthe takes pride in the fact that "Summer Days" is having a positiveimpact there. "People there are adding the song to their Myspace sites,using it for healing," he notes.
Face Behind The Face is an honest and personal document, and Karl Wolf'sdefinitive musical statement. "I'm most proud of this record. This isthe best piece of work I have created to date, and it is important Iwent down my earlier musical road, just so I could gain the experienceneeded to create this."
Still just 27, Karl has long been the recipient of serious respect fromhis musical peers. He first made a real mark by writing for andco-producing [insert title], the 2001 hit album from GabrielleDestroismaisons. Two singles co-written by Karl reached No. 1 on the BDSFrancophone Charts, and the disc earned him a Felix at the L'ADISQAwards for "Best Mix and Sound of the Year."
His work with Gabrielle brought Wolf to the attention of AntoineSicotte, of the top-selling pop band Sky. Upon realizing Karl also had akiller singing voice, Antoine recruited him as Sky's new lead singer in2002. Wolf co-wrote and co-produced the third Sky album, Picture Perfect(on Sextant/EMI), one that registered strong airplay across the country.The group also toured nationally, sharing stages with the likes of Snowand Shawn Desman.
Karl and Antoine really hit the commercial jackpot with their joint workon the songs on the hugely successful Star Academie reality TV show. Thesubsequent album was the biggest-selling album in Canada in 2003,notching a phenomenal half-million in sales and earning Wolf a SOCANAward for Most Popular Song. A Star Academie 11 sequel in 2004 wasanother big success, going double-platinum largely on the strength ofKarl's writing and production.
Add in production and composition work for such other artists as Emily,Mitsou and Jerome-Philippe, and a stint as vocalist with themulti-platinum selling rap group Dubmatique, and you have one highlyimpressive apprenticeship. Word of his talent has spread Stateside aswell, with such stars as Justin Timberlake, Christina Millan and Mya allrequesting that Karl send them material.
There is plenty of life left in the filler-free Face Behind The Face.The upcoming singles "Cuz I Love You" and "Referee" further demonstrateWolf's stylistic range, and his cross-Canada back to school Summer Daystour will confirm his prowess as a compelling performer.
The world is about to hear the sound of the Wolf, and it is one they aredestined to remember. "I'm excited, and there are a lot of good thingsto come," Karl declares. Indeed.
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