HUNTER & WOLFE – “FAMOUS FRIENDS”
A SPILL EXCLUSIVE MUSIC PREMIERE
hunter & wolfe, the indie-rock duo made up of Michael Maffei and Sundeep Kapur, are releasing the first single from their forthcoming album titled I Deserve This., out later this year. The single, “Famous Friends,” keeps what the album embraces at the forefront; both the seriousness and self-awareness to never take themselves too seriously. Sonically, though, the single is solid with its influences from the likes of Elliot Smith and St. Vincent among other indie-rockers.
The Brooklyn-based duo often wrap their vulnerable lyrics in sarcasm and loud indie-rock stylings, drawing inspiration from indie-rock contemporaries such as Phoebe Bridgers, as well as more disco than theyβd care to admit. Getting their start in 2011, hunter & wolfe have since released a self-titled EP and a full-length album, Days and Works, and their most recent record, Late Then Never.
I deserve this., hunter & wolfe’s forthcoming 11-track album, was written during sleepless nights about sleepless nights. It is about the self-importance to think you deserve something, and the self-loathing to think what you deserve is nothing good. Vocalist Michael Maffei and guitarist Sundeep Kapurβs message of ennui, lost love, and the paradox of choice in the modern era reflect both a seriousness and the self-awareness to not take themselves too seriously.
ARTIST QUOTE
The concept for Famous Friends popped into my head around February 2020 – I was singing around my apartment and I blurted out the opening lyric and melody; it stuck in my head. I’m sure it had something to do with the recent and well-deserved success of some of my peers, juxtaposed with my own creative challenges at the time. It can be hard to celebrate the successes of others when you’re struggling, but it’s important to realize that we’re all on our own path, accept yourself, and support those around you.
I was messing around with the song in a rehearsal right before Covid lockdown (phew!) and our bassist, Anders Kapur, said the opening line really resonated with him. That’s when I knew I had something that might resonate with folks and had to see it through.
As always, I sent the song over to the other half of hunter & wolfe, SundeepΒ Kapur (Deep), who gave it his stamp of approval and then we were off to the races. Deep really branched out with synth lines on this record, and our producer, Asher Kurtz, helped put it all together with some analog sounds. We also had some excellent percussion from Sean Miller on this record; he brought a lot of restraint and taste that really helped this song sit back.
hunter & wolfe
[Single]
(Independent)
Release Date: May 24, 2023
I Deserve ThisΒ Track Listing
01. When I Wake Up
02. Famous Friends
03. Coulda Tried
04. Last Time
05. Go For It
06. the house is burning down
07. Anyone
08. Done with You
09. Laugh Lines (feat. RVBY MY DEAR)
10. Sleep Again
11. Isnβt It Wonderful to Live?
ArtistΒ Links
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