We’ve all heard artists refer to their long-time love of music as starting “in the womb.” For Manitoba singer-songwriter Shay Wolf, the timing isn’t so far off, considering some of the earliest musical memories include melodies being heard from her crib.
“My grandma used to say that I would sing myself to sleep, and then in the morning, she knew I was awake because I would start singing again,” Shay explains. “Singing has always been a means of self-expression. It is who I am.”
Now, after the release of her debut EP, Stay, Shay says her music is “a visceral experience that is simultaneously heartbreaking and incredibly beautiful.” Each song of the EP predominantly features piano and Shay’s unique vocals, which she leans into to draw attention to the lyrics.
Since the EP is her biggest work to date, it was only natural to team up with well-known Winnipeg producer/multi-instrumentalist John Paul Peters (Sierra Noble, Propagandhi, JP Hoe, Begonia) as well as musicians Jon Plett on drums and Julian Bradford on cello.
“The release is like taking my first breath of fresh air; I am excited to step out on my own and make a name for myself as an artist,” Shay says. “If I let fear talk, it feels vulnerable, yet there is an overwhelming sense of freedom that I can create whatever I want, and I feel incredibly inspired.”