Gabriel Wolfchild & the Northern Light

We’re so excited to share Gabriel Wolfchild and the Northern Light‘s new music video this evening!

You may remember Gabriel Wolfchild from his successful blind audition on NBC’s The Voice in 2015. After a quick taste of the limelight on The Voice, Wolfchild discovered that he is most nourished by sharing creative ideas with other musicians, creating Gabriel Wolfchild and the Northern Light.

“I see music as a living, breathing entity that is forever evolving and finding itself deep in the hearts of millions of hardworking artists out there. That moment when one person’s idea inspires another is nothing but magic! Ultimately that’s what it all boils down to, being inspired and being an inspiration, that’s what being a successful artist is all about.”

Since his experience on The Voice, Wolfchild has been busy in the recording studio with his band working on new music, with one of those songs being “Runaways,” which our friends Celeb Secrets are exclusively premiering on their website today.

“‘Runaways’ is about how even a single act of kindness can change the world.
It can be as simple as sharing a smile with a stranger, or taking a moment to help when someone is in need,” Gabriel says. “It is about how we are all connected by the people we have loved, the ones we’ve lost, and the ones we have yet to meet. Love is as contagious as it is infinite. Share it.”

“Runaways” is off Wolfchild‘s debut EP Mornings Like These. The EP, produced by Eric Lilavois (Saint Motel, Atlas Genius) and recorded at the famed London Bridge Studios, is inspired by both the beauty and the darker side of human existence, as well as the connections we make along the way.

Wolfchild confides: “I think I can speak for most artists and say that the best ideas bubble up when you least expect it. Ultimately I believe inspiration comes when we are living a full life; the music that arises is just the tip of the iceberg.”

Check out the music video below, and make sure to keep up with Gabriel Wolfchild & The Northern Light on Twitter at @Wolfchildmusic, like them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/gabrielwolfchild/?fref=ts and visit their website at http://www.wolfchildmusic.com.


Juliet Schroder - October 4th, 2016 - The Huffington Post

Being a musician, unfortunately, means doing a lot more work than just playing music. Any successful artist is effectively running a weekly pop-up store, full-service e-commerce website, and a complete marketing company on top of the “music” part. The marketing is a beast unto itself. What this means for Seattle Soundcheck is that we are constantly inundated with post requests from bands in the Seattle scene. Sadly, I turn most of these bands down. Well, sort of. It may make me sound like a dick, however, I feel I have an obligation to be completely honest when it comes to giving out reviews. When I explain this to bands, they tend to run away. I’m not sure if the musicians are just not confident in the music they write, or if I am wording the email in a way that makes is sound like I’m just going to shit all over it no matter what.

At any rate, this is not the case currently. A few days ago I was contacted by Gabriel Wolfchild with a pleasant email that included a link to his recently released music video for the song “Runways.” As it turns out, Gabrial Wolfchild has been in the Seattle scene as a solo artist for a number of years, even gaining national media attention following a successful blind audition on NBC’s The Voice in 2015. After a few years a solo artist, Gabriel sought out the help of some supporting musicians. The rotating line of musicians soon turned into the band they are now, Gabriel Wolfchild and The Northern Light.

below is the video for their song “Runaways.” If you’re in the mood for some low-key, movie soundtrack, folk influenced, mood music. Give it a listen. It’s quite possible that none of those adjectives attract you to the video, but really that doesn’t matter. Just watch it. If you like it, that’s awesome! If not, that’s okay too. You don’t have to like everything. Personally? It’s good and a slight reminder that Folk Is Not Dead.


By Jason Ketterer - October 23, 2016 - Seattle Sound Check

Atmospheric indie/folk musical collective Gabriel Wolfchild and the Northern Light is led by reflective singer-songwriter Gabriel Wolfchild who was once a solo artist. His name may ring a bell because he was featured on NBC’s The Voice in 2015. Wolfchild had a successful blind audition for the show and he quickly discovered that what he enjoyed most was collaborating with other artists on material and the inspiration that comes from the process.

Flash forward to today and Wolfchild is on the verge of releasing his debut EP, Mornings Like These, which was produced by the renowned Eric Lilavois (Saint Motel, Atlas Genius) at the famed London Bridge Studio in Seattle, Washington. Wolfchild has surrounded himself with a talented ensemble of musicians and together they weave a multi-instrumental tapestry for Wolfchild to wrap his warm, storytelling vocals and complex, yet still accessible, guitar patterns in.

The group recently released the single “Runaways”, a sonically laid-back, but emotionally (even spiritually) stirring, love song that speaks about universal appreciation and acceptance, something that seems to be in short supply these days. It’s the gift of the relationship; of connection, even after it has been severed by inexorable deadline of time.

A heartfelt Wolfchild gentle drapes his lightly aching vocals over his keenly astute words, sighing tenderly that, “It’s not just you in those shoes / It’s everyone you know, everyone you love / Everyone who has broken your heart / Soulmates from the start / Soulmates even after we depart.”

Wolfchild’s poetic expression is supported by a mild frisson of hushed organ reverb, little, lilting curls of steel guitar, subdued, shaken-sand percussion, lightly brushed drums, and the shimmer of cymbals.

The collective has bowed a relevant and resonant debut video for “Runaways”, directed by Aaron Anderson, and its involving moving images fit perfectly with the song’s theme. The video cuts between Wolfchild wandering the highways and byways, strumming his acoustic guitar, and close-ups of his and a diverse array of other people’s faces singing the words to the song.

The video also traces the trajectory of human connection by episodically following the movement of a hug, from one person to the next, as each individual traverses a natural landscape (forest, desert, – and even lake!) or a busier cosmopolitan backdrop. This focusing on the link between humans sends a powerful, positive, – and timely, message into a world that is in dire need of unity and peace.

by Jen Dan - 14 October, 2016 - The Big Take Over

What is your name?
Gabriel Wolfchild & The Northern Light

What is your genre of music?
Cinematic Indie Folk-Rock

Are you signed?
Nope. We are “INDIE”pendent, free, and proud!


You are set to release debut EP , ‘Morning Like These’, can you tell us more about that?

Many of the “seeds” that would end up as fleshed out songs on Mornings Like These were written while I was living alone in a tiny house just outside of The Evergreen State College woods in Olympia, Washington. Up until this point in my career music had been mostly a solo venture, then slowly new types of songs started to emerge that were different and somehow did not feel complete all on their own. It wasn’t until I returned to my childhood home of Seattle, that I would discover and piece together a new community of talented and warm hearted musicians that would inevitably form Gabriel Wolfchild & The Northern Light. Mornings Like These symbolizes an ending as much as it does a new beginning.



Describe each track using three words

Mornings: layers – renew – growth
Runaways: connection – ancient – recognition
A Song for a Traveler: wanderlust – reminder – youth
The Last Song: change – trapped – release
Shipwrecks: perseverance – self/forgiveness – unconditional love


Will we see any gigs or maybe even a tour with this EP ‘Morning Like These’?

Yes! Absolutely! We are currently working on a plan to begin touring early next year.



You were on The Voice USA 2015, how was that experience?

The experience was incredible! I went in assuming I would be seen as a complete outsider and fearing that it was not really my scene. While I can’t say I felt completely at home, I left with a ton of amazingly talented friends from many different walks of life.
While on the show I was able to sing a personally meaningful song at the blind auditions, and I was able to emote a message of peace, unity, and breaking out of the bonds of modern society. It was an experience that basically turned out to be everything I didn’t expect it would be.

Would you recommend it to others?

Yes, I would. As long as the artist has a good grip on who they are and what they stand for. The amount of pressure 15 million viewers can put on a person is nothing to joke about. The only thing that will stop you from falling apart at the seams is a solid vision of who you are and why you make music. Having and knowing your message is everything.



What was the best piece of advice you got on there?

I’m paraphrasing, but Christina Aguilera told me to “always trust yourself, and to not try to emulate anybody, but to sing the song like you wrote it.”


Did you stay in contact with any of the other contestants?

Absolutely! I recently hung out with Sawyer Fredericks (winner of my season) a couple months back when he toured through Seattle, and I’ve been able to spend time with a bunch of others who have passed through. To me, that has to be one of the most wonderful things about the experience. I had the opportunity to be locked in a hotel with a bunch of America’s most talented people, and came out with great friends.



Where is your dream venue to play in the UK?

I am not really sure! I have toured much of western Europe as a solo act, but never to the UK, sadly I don’t know the scene well. If I must still answer this question…I would say the rooftop where the Beatles played their very last show, that would be an incredible honor.



Where is your dream venue to play anywhere overseas?

Man I would love to bring the band out to anywhere out east! I would definitely say the UK and Japan, maybe even India!



Do you have any collaboration with any other artists in the planning?

I have been pretty busy working with the six other members of The Northern Light, so nothing is planned at the moment. However, I like to stay open to all possibilities.



What made you go into music?

Strangely I discovered music to be my path while I was studying visual art in San Francisco.
At the time my main focus there was in gestural figurative sculpture, I became obsessed with communication, and the way we as people often communicate our emotions not only through the things we say, but also with movement and posture. I dove into exploring what it means to be human within my own experience as well as observing the people I would see on my day to day. My art became my way to communicate what I could not with words.
Even though I loved the physicality of being able to touch, move, and mold the media, I still felt too detached from the viewer. My creations felt more like relics that only held the evidence of my original creative intent. And while that was captivating in its own right, I wanted to deliver my message first hand. It was when I started taking my guitar to class with me and playing in the stairwells on my breaks, that I discovered the directness and accessibility music can possess.

With song, I could place a piece of my heart into another’s.



Do you play any instruments?
I am a Singer, Guitar Player, and Story Teller.



Who are your influences?

Honestly my influences are always in flux.
If playing music is my number one love, listening and discovering new sounds that resonate with me is my second.
That is the most beautiful thing about the hyper connectivity the internet gave us. It gave artists’ the ability to inspire and be inspired by one another like never before!
Who’s been on my playlist lately:

-Little scream
-Gregory Alan Isakov
-The Paper Kites
-Novo Amor
-Husky
-Bears Den
-Mirah
-Death Cab For Cutie
-Motopony
-S.carry
-Grizzly Bear
-The Head And The Heart
-Noah Gundersen
-Tiny Ruins
-Fleet foxes
-Radiohead
-Bon iver
-Daughter




How do you get inspiration to write songs?

For me it’s more a matter of showing up first. It’s unrealistic to think that I will wake up everyday inspired and ready to create. The important part is that I take 30 minutes to an hour every day to sit and see if something comes up. If nothing does, that’s okay I just go out into the world and live my life. Chances are, I’ll come back with something beautiful.



Where do you see yourself now in 5 Years?
Still Happy :)


When you’re not doing music, what do you do?

I love yoga, people watching, cozy coffee shops, and hanging out on creaky wooden docks. Most of all though, I love spending time with an old or maybe new friend one-on-one, and listening to their stories. We as humans can experience the world so differently, and yet the same all at once.



What was the song you listened to most that influenced you to go more into the music scene?

Man… it would have to be “Gagging order” by Radiohead. It’s kind of an obscure Radiohead song, but one day it came up on shuffle on my iPod while I was sculpting and I could not stop listening to it.
I would wander the San Francisco streets for hours just listening to this one song on loop while occasionally finding eye contact with people when it was natural.. It sounds kind of crazy, but it felt like that song allowed me to see past the surface and deeper into their being.



What’s the best advice you have ever been given?

“With great power comes great responsibility.”
-Uncle Henry “Spider Man’s Uncel”
Haha no but seriously, an incredible teacher at Evergreen named Andrea Gulickson taught me about how music throughout time has played incredibly vital roles in nearly every major mass movement. Whether it was The Beatles breaking down the barriers of segregation, or Bob Dylan giving voice to the struggle of America’s growing pains, or Henry Van Cliburn finding warmth in the hearts of America’s sworn enemy “The Russians” during the cold war. There is nothing that can bypass the mind and empathically connect people like music. It only makes sense to do great with it.



What advice would you give to aspiring musicians not about the industry and just as an artist?

Be vulnerable, don’t change yourself for anyone, and take off the mask. At all costs be unapologetically yourself, even if that means showing some of your not so refined unpolished bits. If you’re a mess, be a beautiful ruin.



What quote or saying do you always stick by?
“Follow your Bliss”
-Joseph Campbell



When you are at a gig, what are 5 things you cannot forget?
My guitar, my pedal board, my amp, and my cello bow… and maybe the words to my songs.. yeah those are important!



You are away from home on tour for ages and you get back, where is your go to place in your hometown?

I go to The Sunlight Cafe, it’s Seattle’s oldest vegetarian restaurant. If I look back as far as I can, my very first foggy memories are of my parents taking me there as toddler. In all my years I don’t think it’s changed even one bit.



Do you have social media accounts so your fans can follow you?
Website: Wolfchildmusic.com
Facebook: facebook.com/gabrielwolfchild
Twitter: @wolfchildmusic
Instagram: @wolfchildmusic

- October 22, 2016 - Music Of The Future

I’ll be really honest here. I have thought after watching so many seasons of “The Voice,” that I have seen and heard every possible back story. Every once in awhile I am surprised, but usually there are a lot of common, underlying themes in contestant’s inspirations and history. Tonight I was surprised by a few. Gabriel Wolfchild’s story was one of them. I’ll admit it. When he, his father and his brother first appeared on my screen I snickered. I thought to myself, “Oh this should be good.” And it was. In a non-sarcastic, musically inclined, pure and nice kind of way. There was so much about it that was good. Gabriel Wolfchild was a very pleasant and welcome surprise. One thing I loved about his back story: it wasn’t sad. It didn’t try to play on pity or the viewer’s heart strings. It was about finding yourself and going where your spirit leads you in life. That’s what we all are hoping to do, right?

Read more at http://www.business2community.com/social-buzz/gabriel-wolfchild-unique-talented-voice-contender-01167920#toMlRodvzUj15K7f.99 - business2community

The Voice Season 8 battle rounds continued Tuesday night, which meant some contestants were heading home.

Christina Aguilera won over Gabriel Wolfchild during the blind auditions and he was paired against Joe Tolo for the battle rounds, in which they sang For the First Time.

"Gabriel over here paints all the way outside the lines, but Joe, you have undeniable technical skills," Aguilera said at the end of their battle.

"The winner of this battle is Joe," she announced, which sent Wolfchild home.

His elimination hasn't halted his ambitions though.

"There is so much goodness I can't wait to tell you all about!" he gushed on Twitter Wednesday.
With the tweet came a video of him hinting at what's to come for his future musical endeavors. That video can be watched below along with his blind audition and a snippet from his battle against Tolo.

In the video Wolfchild recorded and uploaded he said, "I just want to say thank you so much for the incredible support you've given me."

He said he's "totally blessed" for all the messages he has received since appearing on this season of The Voice.

"I have a lot coming," he then dished.

He commented on his "involvement with the show" coming to a close, but declared, "I am still going to be here."

He said he'll be creating new music and touring and he'd like to share it with all of his supporters so stick with him on social media for updates.

"Let's take a ride together," he concluded - ENSTARZ.com

"Finally had the chance to spend some quality time with A Cry to the Moon. Great, great album! Filled with vocal richness, great songwriting, and a warmth of spirit that really shines through. So glad that I finally got a copy!"
-Tobias TheOw

l“Gabriel Wolfchild enchants audiences with soulful voice, poetic lyrics, and hypnotic guitar work. His songs encapsulate the full pallet of emotions, reflecting life itself, and the people you meet along the way.”
Dr. Lew Abrams

“Wolfchild’s engaging voice and authentic story-telling brings up memories of Dylan, James Taylor, Dave Mason, and Jackson Browne.”
- Blue Mountain

“Awesome passion and vibe,I love the concept and the spirit,Well crafted music!”
-Irena, singer from London UK

?“Chills and tears, your music helps me face my fears, with every rhythmic harmony I get closer to finding me, there exists irony in finding relief in acknowledging and embracing the painful and uncomfortable, the sweet release of knowing over wondering. thanks for being a soul explorer and not some fame thirsty popubeast.”
-Ziz Seykota - The people

“Hey great music! I think I listened to most of it this week befor playing some Wed. on KAOS Rookie radio! Sweet tunes indeed yours was an easy CD to want to play but hard to figure out which of the songs to play... too many great choices!”
- Jimbo Jitsu, KAOS Radio

Sometimes, a story needs to be told through a third party. There is always someone out there who can take the littlest detail of someone's life and turn it into a work of art. Other times, the one meant to create the work of art is too inspired by the story. In the case of Gabriel Wolfchild, his storytelling is so dazzling to read that leaving out a single sentence could misinterpret the story completely. This is his story, in his own words:


I was around music often, being raised in household that often held shows and harbored passing musicians. However, my creative outlets originally took shape in the visual arts realm. I predominantly identified as a painter and sketch artist until much later in life. It wasn't until my time studying in figurative sculpture at art school in San Francisco that I even entertained the idea of making music my profession. Gestural figure sculpture was the first art medium that got me in touch with the subtleties of the human experience and emotion. It allowed me to clearly see the core of what I wanted to create with my art. Ultimately I have found that all artists alike share a deep desire to connect. We strive to achieve that connection by creating something that evokes emotion within the viewer. During my breaks at the studio, I would play guitar in the stairwell. Soon I discovered that, for me, music was a more direct way to create that emphatic connection. And soon music became my sole focus. I allowed myself to be fully immersed into music after transferring to Evergreen State College.

After the release of my first solo record "A Cry To The Moon" in 2012, I traveled either alone or with my brother Elion, who played drums, mandolin, and sang backup vocals. Together we toured the US as well as parts of Europe. It was a much more simple time of playing music. At some point we began to hunger for new textures and sounds, so we began working with other musicians. One of these people was Maesyn. She was a wandering gypsy violinist who ended up helping me compose the music for my solo album.

I was a contestant on The Voice in 2015. That experience helped me to become really clear on what my message was and what I wanted to create. I got back in touch with myself in a beautiful way, but it also became apparent that I couldn't create what I wanted to alone.

With all the interviews and camera time, the reality of thousands of people watching the show can create a lot of pressure. That forced me to really reconcile with myself and get clear on what I want to stand for. All those loosely sketched dreams of creating connection between people with my work suddenly felt concrete and within reach. I left with a clear vision and renewed ethos that I could carry into my work. Once I found that core, the people that were also aligned with this vision found me.

After the show I returned to Seattle and began seeking collaborators to make a new record. Through that process, the members of "The Northern Light" revealed themselves.

Meeting Eric [Lilavois, producer of Mornings Like These EP] was an act of universal alignment. We knew of each other through mutual acquaintances, but once we finally did meet and he toured us through London Bridge Studios, it felt so right. Somehow, I knew we were going to make something incredible together. Now that the record is done and about to be carved into vinyl, I know I was right.

Even now, Eric is still an incredible ally and friend. Whether our band is going through conflict or just needs someone to bounce ideas off of, he is always there for us. He has come through for us in ways well above and beyond anything we could have asked for. Eric Lilavois is truly an incredible human.

Many of these songs came about during a time when both my partner and I were changing an immense amount. It was poetry and music brought us together in the first place. As we started to push and pull in different directions, they became the threads that would stop us from drifting apart completely. It was our way to get past the chitter chatter of our minds and get to the core of what we were feeling. There were many things we needed to communicate that neither of us knew how to say with words alone. Poetry and dance became her method to communicate, and music became mine.

The title track "Mornings Like These" is one of our more avant-garde songs on the EP. It is an epic [story] that travels through all the different seasons and sensations of love. It is an appreciation of those soft, still moments we get to share with the people we love…even as fleeting as they can be.

"Runaways" came from a realization that no matter how separate we may appear from one another we still can affect each other in meaningful ways. This is especially true when it comes to romantic encounters. When we get hurt, it can be so hard to understand how someone we loved so dearly could do such a thing. Yet more often than not, it won't take long for us to find ourselves in the same situation… just on the other side of the story. At some point we have to decide if we will continue the pattern of pain and act as we have been treated or act as we would like to be treated. The is also true with feelings of love; it's way easier to act out of love when we are treated with love. Our goal was to create a physical representation of this pattern by starting a hug train that traveled all over the city of Seattle. We involved as many friends as we could as well as many strangers passing by who wanted to participate. We had so much fun and we made a lot of new friends!

I want to send a message of love and togetherness. Even when it’s difficult to see, there is beauty in every shade of darkness as well as every ray of light that life shines our way. Maybe there is no such thing as ‘strangers’…and we are all just a little ‘strange’. - Black is the New AP Style