When Karl Wolf describes the six months since the release of his solo debut, Face Behind The Face, as "just insane," he means it in a good way. A frenzied work schedule of shooting videos, doing promotional tours, and performing in Canada and abroad is paying off, as the world is responding welcomingly to this vibrant new star.
Karl Wolf is a genuine triple threat of talent. A songwriter, producer and singer of serious skill and originality, he excels in all three roles on Face Behind The Face (released on MapleNationwide/Universal in January). As Karl sings on the title track, "I'm coming out for the whole world to see," and this is one memorable introduction.
Since its release, the album broke in the Canadian Top 100 sales chart and spawned two hit singles, "Butterflies" and "Desensitize", with the latter track (featuring hip hop star Choclair) reaching the BDS Top 40 charts. Face Behind The Face has been licensed internationally, and has made Karl Wolf an instant star in the Middle East. "'Butterflies' was at No. 1 for eight weeks on the radio there," explains Karl. "We had the biggest ever in-store signing at the Virgin store in Dubai." Wolf performed in Dubai as the special guest of the queen of modern r 'n b, Mary J. Blige, and he knocked the stadium crowd over. Add in personal props from Mary J., and you have what Karl terms "the pinnacle point of my career to date."
Wolf is destined for many more career highlights. He may be new as a solo artist, but he is certainly no musical novice. As an award-winning producer and writer, he has been responsible for many multi-platinum selling albums. It is now his time to take centrestage, and he seizes his moment with true authority.
Karl turned his back on lucrative offers of work with other artists to devote himself to Face Behind The Face. "I told myself that sooner or later I have to focus on my own music or it will just wither away. Now is the time," he explains. This meant becoming something of a recluse, burying himself in his own studio and working tirelessly on the record. "I locked myself in," recalls Karl. "I hardly went out for two years. I was a bum, I grew a beard, and would just order in pizza. I was obsessed but focused. I wanted to be right there when I had the inspiration!"
The fruits of this creative compulsion are indeed tasty. Wolf wrote and produced all the songs on Face Behind The Face, and played virtually all the instruments himself. This is a musically diverse collection of songs, fusing r 'n b, dance, pop and hiphop stylings. It is given coherence via the gentle soulfulness of KarlÕs voice and lyrics, while his beats are both imaginative and catchy, sometimes hinting at his own Middle Eastern background.
Wolf acknowledges the likes of Boyz II Men, Michael Jackson and Brian McKnight as early influences and inspirations. "I feel my music has contemporary elements but it is not scared to be emotional," he explains. "It is just the music I like. I grew up in the '80s, and music was emotional then. Today, especially in r 'n b and hiphop, everyone wants to be hard."
In musical and lyrical terms, Karl Wolf is a lover, not a fighter. Through his own family's history, he knows the consequences of war and violence, as his family was forced to leave their native Lebanon for Canada when Karl was just three. That background surfaces in the track "Summer Days (In Beirut)", and Wolf is not afraid to project positivity in his lyrics. "I am trying to be peaceful in my meaning and message. We are influential as singers, and IÕd love to influence kids in a great way."
The return of war to the country of his birth clearly saddens Karl. Plans to perform in Lebanon with Snoop Dogg obviously fell through, but he takes pride in the fact that "Summer Days" is having a positive impact there. "People there are adding the song to their Myspace sites, using it for healing," he notes.
Face Behind The Face is an honest and personal document, and Karl Wolf's definitive musical statement. "I'm most proud of this record. This is the best piece of work I have created to date, and it is important I went down my earlier musical road, just so I could gain the experience needed to create this."
Still just 27, Karl has long been the recipient of serious respect from his musical peers. He first made a real mark by writing for and co-producing "ETC..", the 2001 hit album from Gabrielle Destroismaisons. Two singles co-written by Karl reached No. 1 on the BDS Francophone Charts, and the disc earned him a Felix at the L'ADISQ Awards for "Best Mix and Sound of the Year."
His work with Gabrielle brought Wolf to the attention of Antoine Sicotte, of the top-selling pop band Sky. Upon realizing Karl also had a killer singing voice, Antoine recruited him as Sky's new lead singer in 2002. Wolf co-wrote and co-produced the third Sky album, Picture Perfect (on Sextant/EMI), one that registered strong airplay across the country. The group also toured nationally, sharing stages with the likes of Snow and Shawn Desman.
Karl and Antoine really hit the commercial jackpot with their joint work on the songs on the hugely successful Star Academie reality TV show. The subsequent album was the biggest-selling album in Canada in 2003, notching a phenomenal half-million in sales and earning Wolf a SOCAN Award for Most Popular Song. A Star Academie 11 sequel in 2004 was another big success, going double-platinum largely on the strength of Karl's writing and production.
Add in production and composition work for such other artists as Emily, Mitsou and Jerome-Philippe, and a stint as vocalist with the multi-platinum selling rap group Dubmatique, and you have one highly impressive apprenticeship. Word of his talent has spread Stateside as well, with such stars as Justin Timberlake, Christina Millan and Mya all requesting that Karl send them material.
There is plenty of life left in the filler-free Face Behind The Face. The upcoming singles "Cuz I Love You" and "Referee" further demonstrate Wolf's stylistic range, and his cross-Canada back to school Summer Days tour will confirm his prowess as a compelling performer.
The world is about to hear the sound of the Wolf, and it is one they are destined to remember. "I'm excited, and there are a lot of good things to come," Karl declares. Indeed.
Everything To Me
Karl Wolf Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Jump above the street, I got nothing to leave now babe
Cuz you are everything to me
Cuz you are everything to me
Love it suppose to feel this way
Dragging you down like quick sand
Love ain't suppose to make you cry
But she like the devil in disguise
Don't get close to your brown eyes
Close and I look down as you go bright
But every day you put me throw
I can't believe I'm standing right
I'm out and we'll take some to brew it
Jump above the street, I got nothing to leave now babe
Cuz you are everything to me
Cuz you are everything to me
I'm out and we'll take some to brew it
Jump above the street, I got nothing to leave now babe
You make me feel like an alien
Cuz you are everything to me
Cuz you are everything to me
What's up with all your merry friends
Try to work us out like '
I don't believe in fairytales
Cuz everything is back and worst to me
But sure is flance on the glato
Instead I feel just a whole
And just turn it to say
Cuz everything you put me throw
I can't believe I feel like
I'm out and we'll take some to brew it
Jump above the street, I got nothing to leave now babe
Cuz you are everything to me
Cuz you are everything to me
I'm out and we'll take some to brew it
Jump above the street, I got nothing to leave now babe
Cuz you are everything to me
Cuz you are everything to me
It's all an experience but the tragedy fell on me
I got all that dance
And the poison always seems to finds me
Drop that corgeus lover
You're a danger as best time as survival
I can't believe that I've been searching for this treasure
Ooh my love
I'm out and we'll take some to brew it
Jump above the street, I got nothing to leave now babe
Cuz you are everything to me
Cuz you are everything to me
I'm out and we'll take some to brew it
Jump above the street, I got nothing to leave now babe
Cuz you are everything to me
Cuz you are everything to me
I'm out and we'll take some to brew it
Jump above the street, I got nothing to leave now babe
Cuz you are everything to me
Cuz you are everything to me
I'm out and we'll take some to brew it
Jump above the street, I got nothing to leave now babe
Cuz you are everything to me
Cuz you are everything to me
The lyrics of Karl Wolf's song "Everything To Me" reflect the intense feelings of love and devotion he has for a special person in his life. He describes how this person is his everything and how he is willing to go above and beyond for them. The lines "I'm out and we'll take some to brew it/Jump above the street, I got nothing to leave now babe" convey a sense of adventure and spontaneity, as he is willing to take risks and try new things in the name of love.
However, these lyrics also contain a sense of pain and heartbreak. The lines "Love ain't suppose to make you cry/But she like the devil in disguise" reveal the internal struggle he is facing, as he grapples with the conflicting emotions that come with being in love with someone who may not always treat him well. Despite this, he still sees this person as his everything, and the chorus repeats this sentiment over and over again.
Overall, "Everything To Me" is a powerful and emotional love song that captures the ups and downs of relationships and the intense feelings that come with being in love.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm out and we'll take some to brew it
Let's go somewhere and make coffee together
Jump above the street, I got nothing to leave now babe
I feel so alive with you, I don't need anything else
Cuz you are everything to me
Because you mean the world to me
Love it suppose to feel this way
Love is meant to be joyful and fulfilling
Dragging you down like quick sand
A relationship should not bring you down or suffocate you
Love ain't suppose to make you cry
Love should not bring pain or tears
But she like the devil in disguise
But sometimes love can be deceptive and hurtful
Don't get close to your brown eyes
I'm warning myself to stay away from you because I know I'll fall deeper
Close and I look down as you go bright
I feel close to you and I feel happy seeing you happy
But every day you put me throw
But every day with you throws me for a loop
I can't believe I'm standing right
I can't believe how much you mean to me
You make me feel like an alien
You make me feel like I'm experiencing something new and extraordinary
What's up with all your merry friends
I don't understand why your friends are so cheerful all the time
Try to work us out like '
Trying to figure out our relationship like a puzzle
I don't believe in fairytales
I'm not naive enough to believe in a perfect love story
Cuz everything is back and worst to me
Because everything in my life has been challenging and difficult
But sure is flance on the glato
But there is a spark of hope in this dark situation
Instead I feel just a whole
Instead, I feel complete with you
And just turn it to say
And all I can do is express my love for you
It's all an experience but the tragedy fell on me
Life is full of experiences, but I've had my share of painful ones
I got all that dance
But with you, I have a reason to dance and celebrate
And the poison always seems to finds me
I always seem to attract drama and negativity, but you bring positivity into my life
Drop that corgeous lover
Leave that toxic love behind
You're a danger as best time as survival
You're a risk worth taking
I can't believe that I've been searching for this treasure
I can't believe I found someone like you, who brings so much value to my life
Ooh my love
I love you so much
Contributed by Adam J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.