GOLDEN BOY PRESS INTERVIEW #320
Maybe it’s the upcoming fall season, but we’re finding our way back into the groove of folk inspired rock, in this case called Sunshine Pop by our newest interviewee REVIVAL JAM’S Andrew Wolfson! With the new album being released, ‘Ask Again Later’, it perfectly encompasses all the passion REVIVAL JAM has put into their debut first track, ‘SunShineHouse’. With a range of tracks this album holds, and the vocals as unique as they are, this album is really something special. Embodying the feeling of warmth in his work, not only in the album, but also in their music video for ‘SunShineHouse’ it’s the perfect combination for those looking for something chill, but still upbeat.
In this interview we discuss Andrew Wolfson’s musical influences, his process when developing, ‘Ask Again Later’, and also his future plans!
Could you introduce yourself?
My name is Andrew Wolfson. I’m 21. I make music under the name Revival Jam.
What’s your life philosophy? How do you try to apply that to your work?
I don’t have a life philosophy. I apply this to my work by not giving myself rules or barriers when making music.
If you had to choose one song to describe your style, what would it be and why?
“When You Were Full Of Wonder” by Earth Opera. It’s from an album they put out in ‘68. This song expresses the nostalgia of a certain youthful way of thinking. We all have nostalgic feelings about our own youth and we all know that about each other, but because of that those feelings become cliché and unreal. I believe that this describes my writing style because when I make music I get to create this unreal world that we’re sometimes afraid to talk about so that the listener can experience those feelings again.
Do you feel your environment in New Paltz, NY has influenced your work? Why or why not?
New Paltz is a beautiful little town in upstate New York and it has definitely influenced me and my work. I’m really glad I went to college here. There are a lot of awesome musicians and every year people feel the need to throw tons of house shows. This is a town where being a musician feels really exciting.
What can you tell us about your newest track, “SunShineHouse”? What’s the story behind it?
“SunShineHouse” is a place. All the things you’ve ever wanted are in it. It’s the place you’re trying to go to. You’ve been trying to get there for a long time. Once you get there, you’ll know where you are. It’s a love song.
What can listeners expect from your debut album, Ask Again Later?
No expectations. It’s the first album. You need to listen to it from beginning to end to really understand it, but that’s the case for most albums.
Have you learned anything about yourself as an artist while working on this album?
I started making Ask Again Later in the summer of 2013. I was trying to put as much of me as I could into one album. The more I worked on it, the more I realized I wasn’t writing these songs for me; it felt like I was writing this music for someone somewhere that needed to hear it. So I guess I learned that when you create music it really belongs to the person that finds it, connects with it, and cherishes it. When you put music out into the world it’s not yours anymore, it’s theirs. It belongs to the people that believe in it.
Top 5 main influences?
My influences change every couple of years. In the last 2 years or so my influences have been Karen Dalton, Jim Croce, Foxygen, Ricky Eat Acid, and Molly Drake.
Would you consider yourself a minimalist or maximalist? Why or why not?
It depends. We had a super minimal approach on the recording of “Go Away/Towards The Sun,” it felt like it was this delicate project that we wanted to keep as simple as possible. Woods and Ataraxy are just two songs that I found on a cassette that I forgot I wrote and recorded. My album Ask Again Later is very different from all these recordings and I think “SunShineHouse” shows the direction I’m going into. The whole album goes through waves of minimalism and maximalism. I believe that certain songs deserve to be untouched and extremely minimal, while others are meant to be gigantic.
What’s a typical day for you?
I find music I’ve never heard before, new and old.
Where do you find sanctuary in the rush of the world, where do you find peace?
Transcendental meditation.
Are there any other projects you have planned for the future?
In the fall, I’m going to begin recording the second album with Christopher Daly at Salvation Recording Co. Also in the winter, I’m going to be releasing an EP and a documentary on the making of the EP with Vermont filmmaker Zak Adams.
What makes you happy?
Love makes me happy.
Any closing comments?
Ask Again Later will be available digitally on 8/29. Cassettes will be available in the fall via Boom Boy Records.
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