About six months ago, I discovered a band called WHY?. There was something so uniquely amazing about this group that I was left constantly listening to one album after the next. Then something great happened. WHY? released their most current album, Eskimo Snow, and completely took me by surprise by going in a VERY different direction with their sound. You’ll have to listen to their albums to fully understand, but to put it simply, this was a welcome change, and something that displayed a level of diversity uncommon in most bands these days. I was recently EXTREMELY lucky, and got the chance to ask lead singer, Yoni Wolf a slew of questions. Here you go!
the WILD honey pie: Today’s interview is with Yoni Wolf of the band that EVERYBODY should to be listening to, WHY?, of Berkeley, California. Hey Yoni, glad you could answer my questions!
Yoni Wolf: Not really from Berkeley actually. Lived in Berkeley for a year or so a while back. Lived in Oakland for some years. But I’m from Cincinnati and live there again now. Anyway, yes, thanks for your interest and I am glad to answer your questions.
the WILD honey pie: I read that you learned a lot about music from a 4-track inside your father’s synagogue. Is this true? Did Judaism have a big influence on your development as a musician?
Yoni Wolf: My first experience recording was on a 4-track I found in my dad’s synagogue. I was 13 or so. I wouldn’t way religion played any part [in] those recordings (or any of my recordings really). I am sure though, that the religion I grew up in (Messianic Judaism) has affected me in my adult state. I am not sure how though.
the WILD honey pie: For those out there who are unfamiliar with your stuff, try and describe your musical style in five words.
Yoni Wolf: Finely tailored organic audible thought.
the WILD honey pie: Your music is VERY unique. How did you develop such a sick way of expressing yourself?
Yoni Wolf: I went to an intensive conference on rock/rap convergence and have attended a number of other genre-blending seminars throughout the southern Ohio Valley and even a couple in western West Virginia.
the WILD honey pie: Some of your fans were a bit shocked by how different your most recent album, Eskimo Snow, was from your previous offering, Alopecia. Why the change?
Yoni Wolf: We like to take each album as a separate problem to solve and they each just happened to have a distinctly different set of parameters.
the WILD honey pie: Is there a certain musician you could point to as being your biggest inspiration for becoming a musician? What makes this artist so special?
Yoni Wolf: I can’t point out a specific artist. There are a lot.
the WILD honey pie: If you could record a single with one rapper at the moment, who would it be?
Yoni Wolf: M.F. DOOM or Andre Benjamin.
the WILD honey pie: What song do you wish you had written yourself?
Yoni Wolf: Happy Birthday song. I’d be fucking rich!
the WILD honey pie: What artist in your music library would your fans least expect you to have? Any songs you haven’t been able to stop listening to lately?
Yoni Wolf: I have been listening to Slip Sliding Away by Paul Simon a lot lately. Not sure who would be unexpected in my music library… maybe Robin Thicke? Is that unexpected? I’ve not actually listened to it yet. Somebody gave it to me.
the WILD honey pie: What can we expect from WHY? in the future? Any tours or new albums in the works?
Yoni Wolf: We will be touring on and off for the rest of the year and the first half of 2010. We will be in the UK sometime in March I think.
the WILD honey pie: Thanks so much for taking the time to answer these questions! Best of luck to you in the future!
Yoni Wolf: My pleasure man. Thank YOU!
