Hollywood’s favorite outlaw, Wild the Coyote, just released his latest country-rock EP, 7 Roses. The EP offers a personal look into Coyote’s complex relationship with his hometown and the emotional process of leaving the past behind him. “7 Roses is for the 7 days when I wrote 7 stories about the emotions that carried me from childhood to manhood, which I can now lay to rest,” he explains.
In this interview spotlight, I chat with Wild the Coyote about the latest music, technology, adapting during a pandemic, and more.
Full Q&A along with links and music below.
Where are you from and how do you describe your style of music?
Although I’ve been living in Los Angeles for the last 16 years and it’s where I call home, I also pride myself on the small country town I was raised in on the central coast of California called Templeton. I didn’t grow up thinking my town was cool or charismatic, it was simple and quiet, it had one stop light and a population of cows that probably outnumbered the people. But it’s that same town that in recent years has inspired my life and music, especially my new album, in so many ways that I only feel blessed to have been raised there. For me that small and grounded community of hard-working good people surrounded by hills, creeks and agriculture helps me write, create and stylize the whole branding of Wild the Coyote. Once I mix in the fast paced, big city, sky’s the limit vibe of Los Angeles, it gives me a unique outlook for my take on alternative country and rock which I have branded as West Coast country.
How did you get here? As in, what inspired or motivated you to take on this journey through music and the music biz?
From a young age I idolized rockstars and live music. The persona that’s on stage and delivering a performance that’s all of their own. Through song, lyrics, fashion and physicality you have an audience of people connecting with you and your words. For as long as I can remember I knew that’s what I wanted to do and be. I feel like I’ve been chipping away at my profession in music my whole life and I’ve barely broken through, but broken in nonetheless, which seemed like the hardest part.
How does your latest EP 7 Roses compare/contrast with your previous release(s)? Were you setting out to accomplish anything specific, follow a specific theme, or explore different styles of creation?
7 Roses stands out in a major way for me compared to my first 2 EP’s that I released in 2017 and 2020. Entitled, Pt. 1 The Phantom and the Black Crow and Pt. 2 The Hollow Beyond the Thicket, as part of a continuing series, both share similar vibes and tones that I wanted to create for myself early on. I wanted to write music that was deeply invested in being unique and unimpressionable by other music. When I decided to write 7 Roses, I wanted to level up my writing by adding another element and combine more of my punk rock roots to the equation. I followed a formula of writing that I grew up listening to, in some ways it was a rebrand or a departure from what I was doing before. It was awesome to pair the 2 styles of country and punk. It was easy for me because I had the template in my head of how the songs should be arranged, I just had to insert the pieces but with my own country texture and dark style. I wanted to go bigger and louder but still having my niche sound that I have been developing over the years to shine through.
What was your favorite song to record for this EP?
I’m not sure I had a favorite song to record. Since the pandemic, I’ve been recording remotely between the studio of my engineer and the studio of my producer so we’re not all in the same room writing and creating together. I basically came in with my guitar parts and lyrics recorded on my phone and then laid them down on a bare track with no beats or percussion. We sent over all the songs to my producer with just the guitars and vocal parts and then waited to see what he would come up with and hope it sounded good, I really had no idea what he was gonna do with it. There was definitely a moment during the recording process where I sat back nervously and said to myself “this better work.” And luckily it did. We’ve been working together for a while so he understands my process, but it was still very uncharted waters for me. What we came back with was more than what I hoped for.
Name the biggest challenge you faced as a creative during these unprecedented times? How did you adapt? How have you kept the creative fires burning during all this?
Times are definitely different now in the music industry. Right before the Covid-19 shutdown I was just coming off a 3-month national tour through North America and Canada. Being on the road playing shows looked like it was gonna be my main focus moving forward but that came to a screeching halt as you know. So then I pivot myself to recording and releasing music instead. In 2020, I released 1 song a month and dropped my second EP along with launching my website and designing my merchandise line. In a way I was able to thrive with my back against the wall and focus on the things I could control. In the beginning of 2021, I wrote 7 Roses so it’s been nonstop creating music or merch and now starting to pepper in some shows and look to get back on the road now in 2022 and promote the new album.
What was the last song you listened to?
I can’t remember the last song I listened to but I’m really into Orville Peck right now. He’s just so committed to his vision, and I really respect that. His vintage country sound is gold.
Which do you prefer- Vinyl? 8-tracks? Cassettes? CDs? MP3s? Streaming platforms?
I grew up on CDs, it was a very telling thing how big your collection. I had a lot of pride having a massive CD binder that would take up my whole passenger seat. Nowadays though how can you beat the convenience, practicality, and infinite amount of music with streaming. It’s too easy, you have access to it all. I used to be the one that if my favorite band released an album I’d go out and buy it to look at the CD inserts and artwork, but I can’t even remember the last time I even did that.
Where is the best place to connect with you and follow Wild the Coyote’s journey?
I’m an Instagram guy so that’s my hub on social media to document and promote my journey. But I get to it all eventually. My handle is @wildthecoyote.
I really appreciate your time. Anything else before we sign off?
Make sure to listen to 7 Roses, and watch the new music video for “Under the Weather” both out now.
