Sleepy Wolf is the self titled debut album from the collaborative effort of local lady Karin Bettley and long time jamming partner, Sam Benge. We sat down this morning for a wee chat to hear a little about her and her music.
So when did you release the album?
The albums just been released this year. Its brand spanking new… but it’s been a long time in the making.
How long?
Sam and I, (the other half of Sleepy Wolf) have been jamming together since we were in our early twenties. And basically a lot of that stuff just got built on. We really did the recording three years ago, and then he’s worked on it and worked on it. Then he’s added layers and invited this other guy to play violin. A guest, another Sam.
What was the inspiration ?
A lot of the songs, I would just jam by walking my dog on the beach, repetitively going over stuff. And then a lot of it aswell, just came from jamming (with Sam), and what came from it.
They’re all my lyrics so its’ definitely got a feminist leaning to it. Just about not being a consumer, and supporting each other through our community. And being in love. I have Ollie, and we’ve been together for years, he’s featuring all through it. Just my life. But I mean my life is very similar to lots of women in New Zealand I’d say. We’re all sort of on the same tangent. Lots of love, and lots of support, and about being well in your heart.
How would you describe your music? (Ours was whimsical, folk, fairytale?!)
I would say its like Folk, (female vocals, instrumental). Alternative Folk? A little bit Whimsy? Whimsy Alternative Folk? There’s a little bit of lots of stuff in it! A bit of a mish mash, but it’s probably Folk.
When I first listened to the album, we were driving along in the car, all dozy, there was a beautiful sunset, and I was thinking, “This goes so nicely”. Did you imagine when you were creating it, where or how people might listen to it?
I think it grows on you. You turn on the radio, and everything hits you. And everything has to be designed to hit you in the first 30 seconds or you change. And it doesn’t fit well in that genre. I think its like being in the car, or being in the lounge, being in the background and giving it time. In terms of us playing it, I’ve been picky with where we’ve played for gigs. I don’t want to play in a pub. I don’t want to play at 11 on a Saturday night. It’s just not up (beat) enough. It doesn’t fit. Even the people I’ve given it to, have been quite selective. It’s not for everyone and that’s ok. I picture it goes well with driving the car… in the rain… in the lounge making dinner. Just life music.
What is music for you, what do you want it to become? A job?
It’s a fun thing. A release. It’s a process, and its an experiment and its kind of… I don’t want to turn it into a job. I’d like to go further with it. I’d like to always have music in my life. In the same way that I always have surfing in my life, or eating beautiful meals, it makes me feel really well. When I’m making music I know that I’m in a really good place, or that I’m helping myself to be in a better place. I know music is all sorts of things to everyone, but when I’m singing I feel like a part of me is unleashed, and unlocked, and it can’t be got to in any other way. I just want to keep that happening in my life.
Also because I’m a vocalist, and not like an instrumentalist, it’s a really lovely way of being with people, and doing stuff with people. I really love collaboration. When you hit something together, you lift each other up, you make it better. It’s like the whole, “It’s bigger than the sum of two parts”, or whatever. And it’s really nice to have been joined by such an amazing musician as Sam. I was really not confident about making music and he just came to me and lifted me up. And together we made this thing. And I did that with him vocally. He harmonises with me, and he doesn’t think of himself as a singer, but he’s got an amazing voice, and he’s confined harmonies beautifully. It was really nice to be able to do that with him
So there you have it. When you find yourself in a confined space, with a little bit of time on your side, how about you download this album and get yourself a bit of whimsical alternative folk. It’ll be worth it. Trust us.