Singer, songwriter, and producer Karl Wolf is teasing fans ahead of the release of his latest project, an album titled Night Of The Wolf, with the premiere of his most recent single, “City of Lies”.
The upcoming project will follow his 2018 album Blacklight (The Export, Vol. 2), as well as a series of tracks he released individually during the past year including “Dommage,” “Signs,” and “Yes”.
Along with the album’s first single, Karl Wolf released an accompanying single and music video with fellow Canadian, the promising rapper Julius Wilson. The track features soft synth-pop elements that are reminiscent of the unparalleled sounds of the 80s.
The Knockturnal reached out to the music hyphenate to discuss the redolent sound of his new album, the particular promotion method for his single, and his most recent and widely-popular isolation hobby.
The Knockturnal: Your single, “City of Lies”, was released on all platforms May 1. You’ve stated that it was inspired by 80s musical influences. Who are some of your favorite acts from this decade? Can we expect more tracks to adopt a similar sound on your forthcoming album, Night Of The Wolf, coming out in September?
Karl Wolf: Yes, that is correct. Some of my favorite acts from that decade are Michael Jackson, Prince, Stevie Wonder as well as several other bands like Depeche Mode, A-ha, Toto, and Chicago.
The sound on this album will be in that [80s] direction primarily. Due to the state of the world and everything we’re going through [currently] with the COVID [pandemic] and the Black Lives Matter protests, I’m going to add some other songs inspired by the times as well.
The Knockturnal: Tell us more about the virtual promotion tour for “City of Lies”. What is it and where can viewers tune in?
Karl Wolf: The E-Tour has been such a success so far. We are all over the map with this, just ending the Canadian leg of the E-Tour and now currently on the tail end of the US E-Tour. You can catch me at specific times doing Instagram Lives, Zooms, and Skype interviews and performances.
The Knockturnal: Some of your most recent songs, such as “YES” ft. Super Sako, Deena, and Fito Blanko, and “Dommage” by Sarahba, in which you are featured, involve a range of international artists. How has collaborating with other musicians on creating multilingual songs expanded your own musical exploration?
Karl Wolf: I’ve always had a fascination with different languages in songs. I find them catchy and I love bridging the cultural gap. It really brings the world together!
The Knockturnal: The music video for “City of Lies” has recently premiered and has already amassed more than three hundred thousand views. The visual also features fellow Canadian rapper, Julius Wilson. Can fans expect this version of the song to be released on platforms soon?
Karl Wolf: Yes, the version with Julius Wilson was released on May 29 on all digital platforms including Spotify!
The Knockturnal: Can you tell us about the parody songs you have created during isolation that have garnered attention on TikTok? What else have you been up to during isolation?
Karl Wolf: I loved making those parody videos! When COVID-19 hit and we were [all] mandated to stay home, that’s when all these ideas came to instinctively. “Corona World”, a parody of Aladin’s “A Whole New World”, came to me in the shower as I was singing it. I stayed in the shower as I wrote the whole first verse.
“Stay Home” was another parody video I did that one went viral on TikTok! I guess when we’re stuck at home and we’re faced with an anxiety-induced pandemic, our creative minds begin to take action!
I am currently working on my new album which will be out in September! Hopefully, we [will be able to] launch it normally, in person!
Watch the video for “City of Lies” ft. Julius Wilson below.
