As the host of this podcast, I had the pleasure of interviewing Peter and Galen from the West Coast Wolves, a band that beautifully blends their passion for surfing and music. This blog post will take you through the highlights of our conversation, from their unique backgrounds to their innovative approach to releasing music.
The Surfers Who Play Music
Peter and Galen from West Coast Wolves, have a fascinating story. Galen, ventured into professional surfing for two years. However, his love for music never faded, leading him to focus on the band. Peter, on the other hand, was a bodyboarder who started surfing to impress his now-wife. He had already been playing guitar before that. Both share a love for music and surfing, but they believe that writing and playing music offers a different experience than surfing.
The Evolution of Their Style: "Burn it"
Our conversation then shifted to their recently released song "Burn it" from their upcoming album. This song stands out from their other songs as it doesn't feature banjo but has an African influence. They attribute this unique sound to their diverse backgrounds and their "anything goes" attitude in the band practice room. The song encapsulates the ups and downs of a relationship, where one minute everything is fine and the next minute everything sucks.
Musical Influences and Early Memories
Peter and Galen also shared their musical influences and early memories. Peter, who played in a punk rock band before starting the West Coast Wolves, wanted to explore a more folk and acoustic sound while still incorporating some heavier elements. His musical horizons have since broadened beyond punk rock and ska.
Galen added that his daughters have influenced his music taste. He appreciates the songwriting and production of pop artists like Katy Perry. They both acknowledge the intricacies and well-produced nature of big pop albums, recognizing that there are things to learn from them.
The Genesis of West Coast Wolves
Peter and Galen then delved into the genesis of their band and some of their experiences as musicians. They mentioned shooting a music video at Ellen's Bay, a surfing spot on the West Coast, and deciding to shoot a documentary over ten days and ten nights at a campsite called the Dust Bowl. They also shared their worst gig experiences, including one where Galen's old bandmate got too drunk and played the drums with his head and another where Galen got electrocuted during a gig in Soweto.
A Unique Approach to Releasing Music
One of the most interesting aspects of our conversation was their unique approach to releasing music. Instead of releasing a full album, they release each song as a single with a corresponding music video on YouTube. They acknowledge that creating music videos on a limited budget can be challenging, but they believe it's worth it to engage with their audience and generate content.
They also discussed the benefits of releasing songs individually rather than as a full album. They explained that dropping a single can have a similar impact to dropping an album, and it allows them to continuously engage with their fans over a longer period of time. They emphasized the advantages of staggering releases and learning from each release to improve their future releases.
A Fun Question to Wrap Up
To wrap up our conversation, I asked them which musician from history they would like to see in concert for one night only. Peter mentioned Tool and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, showcasing their diverse musical influences.
In conclusion, my conversation with Peter and Galen from the West Coast Wolves was a fascinating journey through their unique blend of surfing and music. Their passion for both is evident in their music, and their innovative approach to releasing music is something to watch out for in the future.
