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.
Finally Free
Karl Wolf Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To have the way I'm having, opportunity
? man, this life
So hit me with your best
Do you even know how it feels to be free? Finally
I'll take all the laughter I get
Cause words can only hurt if you got nothing to forget
My father had a worse right now I'm lifting his debt
Do you even know how it feels to be free? Free, yeah
To have the way I'm having, opportunity
? man, this life
So hit me with your best
Do you even know how it feels to be free? Finally
So flick your finger up in my face
And talk behind my back as if I'm from outer space
Karma's a bitch, watch your step, step
My father had a worse right now I'm lifting his debt
Do you even know how it feels to be free? Free, yeah
To have the way I'm having, opportunity
? man, this life
So hit me with your best
Do you even know how it feels to be free? Finally
Finally, oh yes, finally, finally
Look boy not I surrender, push it to the limits ? fight ?
Piece of paper, ain't no problem ?
Already go, and if it wasn't for my dream,
But the music in my life, my kid and my wife, I'd probably be dead
Me laughing free like a bird, that's why I'm ya living up
? no stop to achieve freedom
Free, oh yes finally, free
Free, ? free, oh yes we finally free, free.
The lyrics of Karl Wolf's song, Finally Free, speaks about the feeling of being liberated and unrestricted, and the experiences that come with it. The first line of the song, "Do you even know how it feels to be free?" indicates that feeling free is something that not everyone might have experienced, which makes it more valuable to those who have. The songwriter goes on to express his gratitude for the opportunities that have come his way and the strength to overcome adversity. He talks about how he is able to enjoy the laughter he receives because he has nothing to forget, perhaps indicating that he has moved on from the troubles of the past.
The songwriter moves on to talk about how people gossip about him, but he doesn't pay any attention to them. He warns people that karma will catch up with them for talking behind his back. He talks about his father's struggles and how he is working to lift him out of debt. The chorus of the song repeats the question "Do you even know how it feels to be free?" emphasizing the importance of this feeling. The lines "Look boy not I surrender, push it to the limits ? fight ? Piece of paper, ain't no problem ?" seem to indicate that he has faced and overcome various challenges.
Line by Line Meaning
Do you even know how it feels to be free? Free, yeah
Asking if the listener knows the feeling of being free and emphasizing it with 'Free, yeah'
To have the way I'm having, opportunity
Appreciating the opportunities he has been given
? man, this life
Emphasizing that life can be challenging and difficult
So hit me with your best
Challenging others to do their worst
I'll take all the laughter I get
Accepting criticism and mockery, showing resilience
Cause words can only hurt if you got nothing to forget
Suggesting that if one has a clear conscience, they are impervious to criticism
My father had a worse right now I'm lifting his debt
Acknowledging his father's struggle and working to help him out of debt
So flick your finger up in my face
Addressing those who disrespect him
And talk behind my back as if I'm from outer space
Calling out those who gossip about him
Karma's a bitch, watch your step, step
Warning those who mistreat him that karma will come back to them
Look boy not I surrender, push it to the limits ? fight ?
Reflecting on his struggle and determination to keep fighting
Piece of paper, ain't no problem ?
Saying that he will not let bureaucracy hold him back
Already go, and if it wasn't for my dream,
Acknowledging that his dreams motivate him to keep going
But the music in my life, my kid and my wife, I'd probably be dead
Suggesting that without the support of his family and music, he might not have made it through his struggles
Me laughing free like a bird, that's why I'm ya living up
Celebrating his freedom and happiness
? no stop to achieve freedom
Determined to keep pushing for his freedom
Finally, oh yes, finally, finally
Expressing relief and joy at finally achieving his freedom
Free, ? free, oh yes we finally free, free.
Continuing to celebrate his freedom
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Carl Samah
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind