‘FAMILY CONNECTION’
Chelsea Wolfe avoided ‘outside sources’ while making latest album
It’s four shows into tour, and Chelsea Wolfe is enjoying the vibe. The singer-songwriter is currently on an acoustic tour in support of the album, “Birth of Violence.”
Wolfe will perform on Tuesday, Nov. 12, at Meow Wolf in Santa Fe.
Songs on the album found Wolfe going back to her songwriting roots.
“Using just piano and vocals were a way to find some comfort and solace in the chaos of touring,” she says. “Touring was really intense. I started to feel this nagging feeling to stay at home. I wanted to record an acoustic album, and I told myself I was going to record it at home.”
Touring for nearly nine years with only a few breaks took its toll on Wolfe.
In addition to today’s world problems, she also examines navigating the world as a woman and addresses such issues as school shootings and pollution.
“I dove right into making this record with my bandmate Ben (Chisholm) instead of involving outside sources,” she says. “There was a lot of work. Once the album was finished and turned in, it felt good to have a moment to breathe. And my mental and spiritual health were getting better.”
She credits Chisholm as a big part of the project.
“Writing songs together comes natural and easy,” she says. “It created this family connection among all of us in the band.”
On her current tour, Wolfe is also revisiting songs of the past.
Her first few albums also were written in the same vein as “Birth of Violence” — simple sounds and honest lyrics.
With seven full-length albums, Wolfe has plenty of material to draw from and finds it difficult to put together a set list.
“We do have plenty to pull from,” she says. “One time a friend of mine went on Instagram and asked to name a favorite Chesle Wolfe song. The responses were all over the map. There wasn’t one song that was the favorite. I don’t write hit songs. I write albums. Every person has their tracks that mean something to them. It’s really awesome that the songs are making strong connections with the people.”