A Dirty Dozen with EMILY WOLFE – September 2026

According to a recent press release: “Emily Wolfe is an Austin-based singer, songwriter, and powerhouse guitarist who has spent 13+ years building a reputation as one of rock’s most self-sufficient forces. With millions of streams, major media recognition from The Wall Street Journal, MTV, Guitar Player, Paste, and American Songwriter, and a Spotify smash in “Atta Blues” surpassing 2 million streams, her reach continues to grow. Coming off her tour with Yungblud, Emily Wolfe returns with “Power,” a new single that continues her pursuit of rawness, honesty, and authenticity. The track marks Wolfe’s second single from her forthcoming new album due out this year through Judge & Jury Records.” We get Emily 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?

“Power” is probably the most overt song I’ve ever released, and it comes from a place of aggression and sexuality.  As far as hidden nuggets, I’d say it’s definitely a lyrical call back to my 2019 song “Bad Behavior”…it’s almost a part two to that song. But instead of it being slow and suggestive, it’s fast rock & roll, and more of a demanding song.

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

I’ve always been into music. It’s just something I’ve always done ever since I can remember. There’s even a home video of me somewhere in my parent’s collection of nostalgia of me as a 3 year old where I’m playing around on a piano. I’ve always been a musician so there just hasn’t been any other option for me.

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

My family really guided my musical taste growing up, though I will say my taste evolves constantly. My mom listened to Motown so I was very familiar with The Temptations, Smokey Robinson, the Supremes, etc. But she also really loves 80s female rockers like Pat Benetar, Linda Ronstadt, Heart, and Joan Jett. My Dad loves classic rock so I grew up on that too, and my sister introduced me to a ton of emo stuff when we were teenagers. The combination of all of that is the foundation of where I’m at today.

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

Josh Homme because Queens of the Stone Age is my favorite band.

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

Bird watching, mowing my grass, spending time with my wife and dogs.

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?

Rock & Roll. The thing that makes me cringe is when people call me a blues-rock artist. I have one song with the word blues in the title and somehow that became a genre box that took me years to break out of.

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?

My band lives in LA and I live in Austin, so we don’t really jam or live together in that kind of sense. On tour, we do talk and listen to podcasts and music while driving for hours to the next show. We love door dash because we’re always exhausted after the drives. I do love hanging out with those guys.

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

I saw Alison Mosshart backstage at a QOTSA concert. I didn’t know what to do with myself. I found myself being the same kind of star struck when I saw a crow in my tree the other day tho. I’ve been trying to attract it for months and they are kind of rare in Texas.

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?

The best part is definitely playing the shows. I like to escape for an hour into whatever space I go to. If I could no longer be a musician I’d say I’d be a guitar pedal builder. I love to solder and tinker with electronics.

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?

I’ve always wanted an interviewer to ask me why I love Diet Coke so much. The answer is because it’s the best drink to ever exist. It also keeps me sober. The question I am tired of answering is “how did you get into music?” Because it’s truly just something I don’t have an answer for. I’ve literally always been into it since I can remember. Tho, I do appreciate the intent behind the question.

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?

I think the biggest misstep I’ve made in the past is taking a backseat on the business side. It’s really important for artists to also be business people. It’s important for artists to know what’s going on in their own career. We’re told we’re creatives – to just focus on the creative stuff – don’t worry about what’s going on with the business side, but that’s the most important part in a foundation of longevity. So, if I had a do-over, I think I would have gone to music business school after high school. Today I’m very much involved in the business side of things and always will be.

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?

I would go back to the making of Thriller. I would want to be a fly on the wall and learn from those sessions. That record is what I strive to make – something that’s a huge piece of pop culture history that left such a musical legacy. 

EMILY WOLFE LINKS:

OFFICIAL SITE

FACEBOOK

INSTAGRAM

Category: Interviews