May 1999.

This interview was conducted through e-mail by me with Michael Downey in May of 1999, right after college graduation.

1. When did Wolfie start? What was the impetus?

We've been friends since high school. Joe, RJ, and I were in a band together back then. We started using keyboards in our recordings and decided we needed someone to play those parts live. Joe and Amanda had begun dating by that point and it just seemed natural to ask her to be in our band, although she had originally started as a part time member, playing only live. Within a couple of months she was a full-on Wolife, recording with us and everything.

2. Why do you play the music you do? What are your joys in life?

I play this music because it makes me happy. If I don't touch a guitar or keyboard for a day, I start getting the twitch or whatever. It's programmed into my brain to write and record songs, so I figure I may as well play music that makes me happy since I spend so much time doing it.

3. How do you feel the two albums differ/are the same? Did you have any goals for the second album?

The fidelity of the albums are different. Awful Mess Mystery was done in a studio setting, digitally. The new record was done by ourselves on a cassette 8-track recorder. We had full control of how everything sounded and we had a long time to do it. The first record was recorded and mixed in four days, which is way too quick in my opinion. I think we're beginning to realize that taking a couple of months to record an album isn't "rock star," it's just caring what your music sounds like...getting it to sound how you want it. With Where's Wolfie, we only spent a couple of weeks recording it because of school and tour schedules. We just saw the light recently and the light is saying or gleaming or whatever and it's going "take a long time to record your songs, you'll be happier that way." I think we're going to listen to the voices in our heads now. As far as goals go, we just wanted to make ourselves happy with the new record, and we did.

4. If you hadn't become a musician, what do you think you would be filling your time? What do you do when you are not playing in the band?

Well, I'm a musician, but I still have a life outside of music. I'm into television production...behind the scenes stuff. I'm looking forward to a job in that field, but I always keep the possibility of living off of my music in the back of my head, although I think that may get a little weird. I think people need variety in their lives. Too much rock can be a bad thing, although I am not quite ready to believe that yet.

5. Are you happy with Parasol? Do you plan to stick with them?

Parasol is really great. If it wasn't for them, I'm not sure we'd have two albums out right now. They took a chance on us when no one else did and we can't thank them enough. We're planning on working with different labels in the future. It's all part of the game, seeing what different labels can do and offer. I don't look at being on a label like being married or anything. It's an open relationship of sorts, unless you get into the ugly aspect of signing a contract, which we haven't had to yet.

6. How were you able to manage school and the band at the same time? Do you make any sacrifices being in a band that you wouldn't have to make at a more grounded job?

We look at school first. I think we all know that having a degree is going to pay off in the future. During school we keep the band as a weekend thing and we only tour when school is out.

7. Who would you like to have a chance to tour with? Have you enjoyed touring so far?

We'll be touring for a really short time with Kleenex Girl Wonder this summer. I really love what Graham Smith is doing musically. We'll also be touring with our friends, the Buddy Revelles, who are also fab. I know we each have our favorite bands that we'd love to tour with, and hopefully we'll get to fulfill some of those dreams. I know Joe would really love to do shows with Of Montreal, and so would I!

Touring has been pretty good, we're not big tour veterans at all. Last summer we did an east coast and Midwest tour that was kind of OK. This summer tour should be really good. We're always excited to hit the road and kind of get away from the usual for a little while.

8. If there was anything you could accomplish with Wolfie or any other musical project, what would it be?

I think we've already accomplished what we set out to do. I mean, we were just dorks in high school recording songs on 4-track, trying really hard and failing at getting shows and we'd always talk about putting out a CD as a dream, and that was our main goal back then. It doesn't seems like that big of a thing now, but it really is when I look back at it. I'd just like not to get burned out on this. I see a lot of bands put out 2 or 3 records and then call it quits. Sometimes bands need to break up to save their sanity. By the way we spread things out, meaning we don't tour nonstop and get sick of each other, should hold us together for a while. Also, we're all more than just bandmates, we're really good friends and that's super important for me as far as being in a band goes.

9. How would you sum up your band to someone who hasn't heard you before? Is there anyone out there that has a similar sound or holds the same ideals as you and your band?

That's a really hard question for me to answer. I'm not saying that we have this "new" sound that is indescribable, but I was never good at telling people what kind of music I play. I've resorted to saying "I play in a rock n roll band." Basically, that's what it all is.

10. Lastly, do you have any closing advice? This could be anything, ranging from something about music, or just something little you have learned about life in general.

Musically, just have fun. If you're doing it for reasons other than enjoyment, I think you're wasting your time, but that's just my opinion. Besides that, pick up some Kerouac and read your little hearts out. Oh yeah, and love the one your with.

Interview conducted with Mike Downey, May 1999.