Interview: Wolf Gang

Wolf Gang aka Max McElligott is a ‘bit of a mongrel’; part German and part Irish he grew up on world music and fairytales.

Not too long ago, the son of a historian father and a violinist mother dropped out of college to chase some dreams. Luckily for us it wasn’t too long before these ‘dreams’ became a reality. Through his enchanting music he immerses you in the ‘otherworldly’; big on imagination Wolf Gang provides the backing tracks to your modern day fairytale.

Song ‘The King and All of His Men’ is an uplifting lyrical melody; a sort of after work pick-me-up sans the hangover. It’ll remind you of your youth back in the 80s, although he insists his impending debut album will offer a variety of songs from pop-synths to ballads. We spoke to Wolf Gang about all things musical, from Karaoke to Britney Spears lip synching - just don’t go comparing him to Mika.

You didn’t start off as a singer. You were attending the London School of Economics?

I did three years and almost finished. I’d been writing songs all my life and became bit disillusioned by education and then Angus my manager got in touch and said: ‘Look this is really great, if you write a few more tracks I really think we could do something with this’. So I dropped out, wrote more songs then we started showcasing to labels and in December '08 I did a deal.

Wow, so you took quite a chance.

When I dropped out I thought if I put all my eggs in one basket then I’ll really work hard. So I kind of put pressure on myself. Like: ‘You’ve dropped out, your parents are really pissed off and everyone thinks you’re a loser. Now you actually have to achieve’. So in a way it was good; it kind of made me really determined.

Tell us about your process of writing a song.

I always write music before I write the lyrics. I like writing metaphors so people can interpret it as they will.

The video for 'The King & All of His Men' is very Alice in Wonderland.

Dan Breton who directed it totally understood what I wanted. It’s got a nice arts and craft feel to it. Kinda low key but theatrical with my mates in the background dancing.

So you’re half Irish, half German but where were you raised?

I was born in Yorkshire and I’ve lived in the US, UK and mostly in Scotland. So I’m a bit of a mongrel.

Growing up what music would you listen to?

I grew up listening to my parents’ records: Talking Heads, David Bowie and a lot of world music. That’s really been ingrained in me in terms of rhythm and I think that’s why I’m not afraid to break a genre or boundary.

How would you describe your sound? I’d say you’re the Scissor Sisters meets Mika crossed with the Killers.

I think because my music is quite diverse; you’ll think that you know it but then you listen to another song and it’s totally different. On the album there’s going to be a mix: ballads, rock and slightly more pop songs.

Are you a karaoke fan?

What? Singing along to other people’s songs? I don’t know. You drag your friends along to your gigs and that’s kind of justifiable but then you drag them to karaoke and you’re like ‘watch me sing’ and they’re like ‘for God’s sake we saw your gig last night. How much do you want to impose on us’?

It’s a bit ironic when singers say they don’t like karaoke.

I’ve never really done karaoke. I’d probably get a bit embarrassed and nervous, actually. I feel like I’d be there and there’d be people going ‘that guy thinks he’s in a band. He thinks he’s a singer. Let’s judge him’. I’d be there singing Marilyn Monroe...

Do you have a favourite fairytale?

I love fairy-tales. There’s an author called Angela Carter, who inverts fairy-tales, slightly more for an adult audience. It’s very feminist and really quite fucked up; it’s called Bloody Chamber. I love the whole sense of a magical world where crazy dramatic things happen but I’ll have to think about that question.  I wouldn’t want to give an irrational answer!

Is the music scene in the UK quite small?

Everyone kind of knows someone who knows someone. You have to watch what you say actually, which is why... I love Mika.

Interview by: Jasmine Phull