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A lot of people have aspirations to become musicians when they are kids but grow up and chose different thing to their liking. Some people fall in love with scales, chords and notes so passionately that they stay faithful to music their lives long...
I first heard the sound of a guitar when i was about 10 years old and felt in love with the sound - From that point on, I knew I was going to play guitar for the rest of my life
Canadian guitarist Wolf Mail played his first gig in the age of 14, 3 years later he run away from home to tour with his own band. During that period Wolf met up with American guitarist Ted Nugent and decided to relocate to California.
Problems happen and you have a choice on how you want to respond. I think that the important thing is how you respond to problems - You can always make something out of it - I always try to keep a positive attitude, I guess.
When Wolf was 19 he met with Ozzy Osbourne's drummer Randy Castillo, who invited Wolf to jam at the legendary Troubadour club in Los angeles. After their spectacular jam Wolf was asked if he'd like to officially jam with Ozzy. At the same period Billy Idol, British rock musician, also solicited the services of Wolf.
Now Wolf has a full touring schedule between America, Europe, Japan, Australia, Russia. He performs more than 150 gigs per year. Tonight blues and jazz fans can experience first hand the magic of Wolf's music. For the Russian tour the guitarist formed a new band.
You've got Alex on the keyboard and John on the bass, Mike on the drums. we met pretty much when my manager wanted me to tour Russia and we didn't know how.We hooked up and toured with Arsen Shomakhov, an incredible and well respected blues artist in Russia.
Wolf's music style varies from blues to classic soul, giving a unique melodic line. Wolf is not only a splendid performer but also a prolific songwriter as most of his compositions are his own. Wolf is able to share his impressions and emotions with the listeners.
What inspires me in creating music? duh everything...people I meet, travelling I would say, you know discovering new cultures, throughout this beautiful world. Trying new ways to make an omelet, anything. I try to stay open to new experiences and when I experience something , good or bad, I soak it in like a sponge you know, and then try to use some of that to write new material, so you know anything inspires me , really.
Blues and soul is probably what defines Wolf's style at his best. The sound of Wolf's compositions is filled with warmth and energy.
Inspiration is something you can't really control, you know, you gotta let it come to you.You've got to stay open and then hope that it's going to knock on your door and say "hi this is inspiration, can I come in? And then you got it, so you 've got to stay open. Sometimes I just grab my guitar and start strumming, until something comes up. If you play and you love it and you play honestly, inspiration usually comes.
Wolf Mail is a very sincere and frank person, who is truly in love with music. Being both a performer and composer, he doesn't impose his idea of the sound on other band members.
I think it's important, that if I talk to a musician and tell him, "play this", he can usually do it but if I say "what do you hear to this?" he will play something from his heart and that, I found, ends up being the best way to write with a band.That's an approach I found very effective.Or I'll say "play something" that they can feel and I'll play a part to it, yes definitely. Cause I don't want to be solely about one person, I see this as a unit, its way more powerful as a team work.
Wolf is not only playing and writing, knowing his so-called target group of people is also a key element to his success.
We're trying to investigate who's listening to our music so we can do better business but I would say probably people that are into blues, soul and rock music for a start, a very varied audience, we had 7 years old to 80 years old, my GrandMa she's 86 and loves my music, so I dunno.
Men, women, kids and people of all walks of life have passion in their hearts and for blues, jazz and soul. Also for musicians, who create such music. But popularity of it differs from pop music, as it has quite different roots.
I think extreme success is something probably hard to manage and I wouldn't want to be there but...hey I can tell you all about it when I get there (laugh)
I wouldn't call it easy but because I love it so much, I'm doing it if I'm successful or not I'm absolutely going to be playing guitar and singing. But yeah it took a bit of time, took a bit of time to get there.
Popularity is not the main thing. Bright compositions and licks of Wolf Mail will always find their grateful listeners, particularly in Russia, where he has also built a strong fan base.
What is music for me? Oh I think music is a language that has the potential to heal people, make them feel better, and I think when people are healed they don't necessarily know they're healed, but I think it definitely has that power and i think good music is spiritual, cannot be not spiritual.