The Cinematic Sounds of Grief Resurrection: In Conversation With Heren Wolf
August 20, 2021By Laurine Payet, Music Journalist
Heren Wolf is an ethereal singer-songwriter who creates chamber pop for the most sensible of us. Chamber pop is defined by blending pop structures with classical orchestration, often alongside important strings arrangements. The cinematic aspect of Heren Wolf’s music is what mostly comes out to be defining his sound. A second into his musical world and the feeling of being a part of an independent coming of age movie will hit you. We talked to the Italian artist, now London-based, for the release of his next single ‘Sun God’, out today.
“With music I exercise my grief and my suffering, trying to find hope and find the grace again after the traumas that I've had.”
Francesco started music and became Heren Wolf while seeking the transformation of grief into art. Heren Wolf was at first called Ren. Meaning “lotus” in Japanese, the symbology of the lotus flower was very important for the songwriter. They grow from mud and stay pure and beautiful, which was a reminder for Heren Wolf not to let negativity change him, or corrupt him. The idea of keeping purity and grace despite traumas and despite negativity was important for him. Heren is a mix between Ren, and the bird called heron. When he was performing on stage, Heren Wolf was always being compared to a bird for dancing and singing powerfully in front of his audience. The wolf is the symbol of the artist’s region in Italy: Irpinia. “Heren Wolf” represents the balance between air and earth.
“I believe in the power of crying to feel better and to experience something. When someone can do that by listening to my music, I think it's the best thing because they're in touch with their feelings and my music is a catalyst.”
Heren Wolf, now 24, moved to London in 2016 on a last-minute decision, motivated by the thought of finding a place where his identity and musical expression could find a place to fit in. It is in the big city that the artist went to music school and navigated through finding his sound. For Heren Wolf, who says he hasn’t been crying in a long time, this feeling is heavy, making his proudest musical ability to make other people cry. This powerful experience is what makes performing so important for the singer. Heren Wolf’s songwriting is also driven by being relatable to bring people together as a community.
“Transformative. Cinematic. Dramatic.”
Taking influences from artists such as Sigur Rós, AHNONI or Enya, it is without surprise that Heren Wolf’s music can be described as a visual experience. He connects his obsession with such atmospheric melodies to his childhood growing up and listening to Enya. However, it would be with Aurora that the Italian singer would love to collaborate. Her sweet personality seems to be felt through her soft voice and the blend of both artists would make an ideal sound. Whenever he feels down or wants to have some positive energy, Heren Wolf admits to putting on ‘You Can’t Stop the Beat’ from the Hairspray Musical. The explosive end is what gives the thrill of it for the singer.
“I think art should have the responsibility to generate questions and to make people question the reality, their surroundings.”
Thankful for having grown up in a family where their social awareness always questioned the political and social rules surrounding them, Heren Wolf is proud of the impact it had on his songwriting. As he grew older, he understood he didn't want his music to be self-indulgent and individualistic. He didn’t want to solely use it to celebrate himself. As well as trying to create beautiful songs, he now tends to raise questions about social issues that he cares about, taking the responsibility he believes art should have. Heren Wolf is about creating campaigns that are both artistic music but also involved with politics to try and play his small tiniest role in this world to make it different if he can.
“I don't think that you should care about queer rights just because you're queer. But the fact that I am, made me want to delve into this topic.”
Heren Wolf doesn’t consider his sexuality to have directly impacted his songwriting in the sense that he has never written about same-gender relationships. However, it is what raised his sensibility to social issues, and indirectly impacted his lyrics.
Queer representation in the icons he grew up with was a big help in accepting and embracing who he now is. Being that role model for someone else is what Heren Wolf aspires to be. Being an artist allowed him to feel freer to express his identity by wearing earrings, makeup and dramatic outfits. It doesn't just relate to him being queer, but also being able to express himself freely, have fun with his expression, because that's all it is.
“‘Sun God’ is a song that is still part of a collection of songs that I've written to process some grief but this one was more optimistic. I know that I'm going to feel better and know that I'm going to resurrect again.”
Out today, Heren Wolf’s new single is to surprise a lot of his original fans. A bit more upbeat, the artist expresses more hope than in his previous catalogue. Heren Wolf however doesn’t escape his atmospheric sound. Using the metaphor of the sun, he knows it’s going to shine and he knows that he’s going to go through this. Whereas maybe other songs could be a bit more centred around the grief, this one is centred around the resurrection and the healing. The hope in healing.
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