Remi Wolf

Based in Los Angeles, Remi Wolf is a singer/songwriter who traffics in a colorful brand of pop that navigates funk, disco, jazz, hip-hop, left-field, and lo-fi pop. She began releasing singles in 2019, earning praise for songs like “Guy” from her whimsical debut EP You're a Dog. After signing with Island Records, Wolf issued two more EPs in quick succession ahead of her 2021 full-length debut, Juno. Singles like the Billboard alternative-charting “Cinderella” laid the foundation for her next release, 2024′s Big Ideas, which found her incorporating vintage instruments into her offbeat sound. A California native, Wolf’s musical passions flowered at a young age, though her unusual story arc also includes ten years of downhill ski competition and Olympic training, as well as a 2014 run as an American Idol contestant. Although she could have adapted her powerful, soulful voice for the masses, Wolf’s vibe was a bit too quirky for the mainstream and she eschewed the typical post-Idol path and spent several years crafting a unique D.I.Y. sound while attending the USC Thornton School of Music (majoring in Popular Music). After graduating in 2018, she finally made her solo debut with 2019′s “Guy,” a winsome slice of tropical funk-pop that lit up blogs and playlists. She later folded it into her debut EP, You're a Dog, which further showed off her range. A 2020 feature on Cautious Clay’s sunny track “Cheesin’” brought her more attention ahead of her second EP, I'm Allergic to Dogs!, her major-label debut on Island. A 2021 remix EP, We Love Dogs!, featured contributions from numerous high-profile producers and artists including Beck, Sylvan Esso, and Polo & Pan. Led by the streaming hit “Sexy Villain,” Wolf finally made her full-length debut in October of that year the critically well-received Juno. Following a tour in support of Lorde and a slew festival slots, Wolf released the Live at Electric Lady EP in August 2022. She kicked off 2023 with an appearance at Coachella and the bubbly single “Prescription,” which was inspired by a phone conversation between Remi and her friend Boots Riley from the Coup. Early 2024 saw the release of the funky “Cinderella,” which marked her debut on the Billboard Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart. Recorded with longtime producer Jared Solomon, the accompanying album, Big Ideas, arrived on Island in July of that year, shortly after tour dates in support of Olivia Rodrigo’s Guts World Tour. Big Ideas introduced a refreshed sound suffused with vintage equipment at Diamond Mine Recording and Electric Lady Studios in New York. ~ Timothy Monger