Wolf Alice is playing in its own league on the UK music scene. The band made history with their new album “The Clearing”, receiving their fourth consecutive Mercury Prize nomination — something even Arctic Monkeys, Radiohead or Pulp hadn’t achieved before.
Vocalist Ellie Rowsell, speaking to the BBC from Nashville, says that despite this success she is “strangely anxious.” Even when they won the award with their second album in 2018, they had difficulty speaking on stage due to excitement. Rowsell, who shines with energy on stage, often incorporates themes of loneliness, self-doubt, and inner conflict in their lyrics. The opening track of the new album, “Thorns,” also reveals this vulnerable side.
“An album is the pinnacle of art”
Guitarist Joff Oddie emphasizes the band’s album-focused approach by saying, “In our world, making a good album is one of the highest forms of art.” This perspective has also led them to become ambassadors for National Album Day.
Wolf Alice members, The Velvet Underground & Nico cites classic albums like The Streets – A Grand Don’t Come For Free and Brian Eno – Music For Airports as inspirations.
The group, which started as a folk duo in 2010, evolved into alternative rock over time. Following My Love Is Cool in 2015 and Blue Weekend in 2021, “The Clearing” is considered the band’s most mature work to date. Recorded in Los Angeles under the production of Greg Kurstin (Adele, Foo Fighters), the album blends 70s soft rock sounds with rich harmonies and powerful melodies. Rowsell says, “Maybe there was a bit of a style shift, but that was just a reflection of what we were listening to at the time,” while Oddie adds: “We now accept the idea of being a big band — at least that we are a band in general.” With The Clearing, Wolf Alice is no longer just a part of the alternative scene, He has become one of the most prominent names in mainstream music.
Style Change: A New Era Inspired by the 70s
“We know who we are now”
