Wolf Mail

Wolf Mail
Mail playing The MG-Hybrid in 2017
Background information
Birth name	Wolf Mail
Born	1972 (age 51–52) Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Genres	Blues rock roots
Occupation(s)	Musician singer songwriter
Instrument(s)	Guitar vocals
Years active	1984 (1984)–present
Labels	ZYX, Productions LEA, BSMF Records

Website	www.wolf-mail.com

Wolf Mail (born 1972) is a Canadian-born guitarist, singer-songwriter who embarked on his Blues & Roots music journey at the age of fourteen. Mail has recorded eight full-length albums, internationally distributed and has toured in over twenty-six countries. He is influenced by blues, jazz, soul and country.^[1]

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Early years

Born in Montreal, Quebec, raised in the South of France and California, Mail spent much of his early years traveling. He began playing the guitar at the age of ten, heavily influenced by Elmore James and John Lee Hooker.^[2] Later, Mail received guitar lessons from fellow Canadian guitarist David Goodman.^[3] At age seventeen he put his own project together and left home shortly after to tour with his band.^[4]

Career

Mail recorded two independent albums in the mid-'90s before signing up with ZYX records. Since then he has released eight albums.

His first effort, Solid Ground, included the ballad "Hello" which stayed in the best selling music charts in Japan for three weeks and had fans declare their "favorite love song of all time".^[5]^[6]

Pre-production for his second album Blue Fix ^[7] started in Los Angeles with Gary Mallaber on drums and Gerald Johnson on bass. The recording was completed in France with Niko Sarran on drums.^[8]

Mail then recorded a live CD and DVD Live Blues in Red Square ^[9] in Moscow.

His fourth album Electric Love Soul ^[10] was recorded in 2009 in Los Angeles at Dawghouse studios by Grammy Award winner Alan Mirikitani, and Robert Cray producer Dennis Walker.

His follow-up The Basement Session ^[11] was recorded in Sydney, Australia, at the Basement, which has hosted artists such as Prince and Albert Collins.

His sixth album, Above The Influence ^[12] was released in October 2013. Rhythms Music Magazine said "it sees Mail return to where he cut his teeth, our teeth, everyone's teeth – again, searing electric blues."^[13]

Mail wrote and recorded his seventh album "The Wolf is at our door" in Sydney, Australia. The album was released in March 2023. "A contemporary bluesy vibe, slow burn vocals, and moments of psych-like sound that bring to mind Muddy Water’s Electric Mud, wrote the Blues Rock review ^[14]

Influences

Elmore James is the artist that Wolf cites as his first inspiration.

Wolf's playing style is a fusion of traditional blues, soul, and rock influences. He draws inspiration from guitar legends such as Albert Collins, Johnny Winter and Peter Green who have contributed to his playing style.

Wolf's playing ranges from stop-start staccato runs to Winter's more fluid style with lightning-fast runs. His intense, feverish style cuts a swathe between Buddy Guy and Rory Gallagher.

International

For over two decades, Wolf has toured the US, Japan, Australia, and Europe, performing at clubs, festivals, small towns, and big cities. His passion for music has earned him a dedicated following, and he has developed a niche but loyal global audience.^[15]

Awards and recognition

Player Magazine Japan selected Mail as the "Close-up" artist of the month in June 2005.^[16] Other artists have included Robert Cray and Brian Setzer. MusicOz Australia gave Wolf Mail best top 10 international performer of the year award for 2012.^[17]

Musical instruments and gear

Wolf uses a Mark Gilbert WM1 signature bearing his name along with the Mark Gilbert BC electro-acoustic guitars.^[18]

For recording sessions Wolf also uses a 1957 Fender Telecaster and a 1972 Gibson Les Paul Deluxe.

His guitar rig also includes several effects pedals such as an original 1978 Boss OD1 overdrive, a Boss CE-2 and a custom boost pedal.

For many years, Wolf was endorsed by Carvin Audio,^[19] and was one of the first artists with Joe Walsh to use the Carvin Bel Air vintage series.

Although Wolf still owns several Bel Air amps, he now uses Mesa Boogie Lonestar amplifiers.

Discography

Wolf Mail

2002 – Solid Ground^[20]
2005 – Blue Fix^[7]
2009 – Live Blues in Red Square^[9]
2010 – Electric Love Soul^[10]
2011 – The Basement Session^[11]
2013 – Above The Influence^[12]
2015 – Oseana Auditorium^[21]
2023 – The Wolf is at Our Door^[22]

Collaborations

2015 – Blues Christmas (with Leslie West, Eric Gales, Kenny Neal, Pat Travers, Joe Louis Walker, Chris Spedding).^[23]
2018 – Live at the Lazy (with Milena Barrett)^[24]

DVDs

Live Blues in Red Square was released in 2009, and recorded at the Jazz Town Theater, in Moscow, Russia.^[25]
Oseana Auditorium released in 2014 was recorded during Wolf's 2013 tour of Scandinavia, while supporting Blues legend Johnny Winter.