A Dirty Dozen with CAROLINA LIAR – July 2026

According to a recent press release: “Carolina Liar is the project of Charleston, SC native and Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter Chad Wolf. After working for legendary songwriter Diane Warren and recording in Stockholm with Max Martin — one of the biggest pop producers of all time — Wolf broke through with the 2008 Atlantic Records debut Coming to Terms, which spawned the double platinum-certified “Show Me What I’m Looking For” and gold-certified “I’m Not Over.” Now operating as a stripped-down two-piece with drummer Brian Ulery under the banner of “Garage Gospel” — a raw reinvention built on honest songwriting, delivered with the intensity of a sermon and the intimacy of a living room — Wolf is entering a new chapter. New single “I Am King,” out June 26th, is the first true expression of that direction. Carolina Liar’s music is also heading to the big screen in the upcoming comedy Concert Heroes, starring Chris Kattan and Horatio Sanz, where the songs serve as the soundtrack for the film’s fictional band and Wolf makes a cameo appearance. A limited-edition vinyl re-release of Coming to Terms with exclusive tracks is expected later this year.” We get Chad to discuss new music, influences, and more…

1. Tell us a little about your latest release.  What might a fan or listener not grab the first or second time they listen through?  Are there any hidden nuggets you put in the material or that only diehard fans might find?

Chad: The bell from “Show Me What I’m Looking For.” Can you find it?

2. What got you into music, and can you tell us about the moment you realized you wanted to be a musician?

Chad: The idea that music could free me from the normal day to day. Always looking for more ways to stay free.

Brian: Metallica and Lars. The way those early records sounded, the artwork, seeing them live in ‘91. The way all of that made me feel pretty much decided for me right then and there what I needed to do.

3. Building on that, is there a specific song, album, performer, or live show that guided your musical taste?

Chad: My sister was obsessed with great music she got me into everything the early years for me were what she played early ELO, Duran Duran, and Cheap Trick. Live aid I watched on TV I wanted to be on that stage and I also wanted to be on that good Woodstock reboot.

Brian: Bun E. Carlos (Cheap Trick) showed me that you can contribute musically without showing off.

4. If you could call in any one collaborator to do a song with, who would it be, and why?

Chad: Butch Walker – it seems like no genre is off limits for him. The guy just makes great records and maybe Bruce Springsteen with a slice of Willie and Tyler the Creator.

5. What is your favorite activity when out of the studio and/or not on tour?  What do you like to do to unwind?

Chad: I cook a lot, try to garden, and hang with my son and wife.

Brian: Netflix and chill, just kidding 🙂 hitting the gym and hanging with Tiff.

6. How would you describe your music to someone who’d never listened to you before? What is the one comparison a reviewer or fan has made that made you cringe or you disagreed with?

Chad: My son said for him it was Arctic Monkeys with some Americana thing. I thought that was solid. It should be cringe, but I did get Nickelback and Creed but those dudes have hits and I thought it was a bit of a compliment. If the The White Stripes wrote pop songs…

Photo credit: Brian Ulery

7. When your band is hanging out together, who cooks, who gets the drinks in, and who is first to crack out the acoustic guitars for a singalong?

Chad, Brian, Chad.

8. When was the last time you were starstruck and who was it?

Chad: It was weird. Was working on a film called Concert Hero’s and I got a scene where had to be a real dick to Chris Kattan. It was so random was not expecting to get caught up. I had a moment where I was in my head saying “oh man how am I actually getting direction from him on how to be funny and a jerk at the same time.”

Brian: Keanu Reeves when opening up for his band Dogstar in San Diego.

9. What is the best part of being a musician? If you could no longer be a musician for whatever reason, what would be your dream job?

Chad: Being and to create something that you can share with people without having to explain it.

Brian: I liken drumming to problem solving. Finding a way to get the best out of myself and the rest of the band.

10. What is one question you have always wanted an interviewer to ask – and what is the answer? Conversely, what question are you tired of answering?

Chad: No one has ever asked if I believe in parallel universes or if quantum entanglement is real. I know for a fact that they are. It’s weird but everyone always ask what I’m lying about… and no one will ever know.

11. Looking back over your career, is there a single moment or situation you feel was a misstep or you would like to have a “do over,” even if it didn’t change your current situation?

Chad: Yeah there were so many missteps but the weird thing is over time I’ve come to understand that the missteps had to be there. I honestly can’t even outline one. I do wish I would have spoken up more and really trusted my instincts but now I have a deeper appreciation for them.

12. If you could magically go back in time and be a part of the recording sessions for any one record in history, which would you choose – and what does that record mean to you?

Chad: So many records… Nevermind — this was the high-school dream; Songs In The Key of Life — how did they do this; and Wes Montgomery Full House (live at Tsubo Berkeley).

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Category: Interviews