Nova Wolf’s “Set Me Free” looks back at the people we thought we would become and wonders how far we have drifted from them. The image of a corpse that died lifetimes ago, a past that keeps shaping the present even after its time has passed. Happiness remains within reach, at least in theory, but fear keeps getting in the way. The melodic house setting gives these lines a steady pulse, while the repeated plea to hold on adds a more vulnerable note.
“What happened to the kids we thought we’d be?” is the question that gives the song its weight. The image of children staring at stars suggests a time when the future seemed full of possibility. Now they are “ghosts in expensive clothes,” going through the motions in lives that may look successful from the outside. The scars have become part of the image they present to the world, but the lyrics suggest that dressing them up does little to make them disappear.
Nova Wolf has said he prefers not to explain the song, since listeners have started sharing their own interpretations with him. It offers enough clues without settling on one story. The voice keeps asking to be kept safe, promising to find its way back home someday. That destination remains uncertain, but the need to reach it does not go away.
For those who might not know you yet, how would you introduce yourself?
I’m Nova Wolf, a Canadian-born musician, producer, and multi-instrumentalist. Forever curious. I’ve worn a lot of hats over the years… Producer, creative director, business owner, photographer, filmmaker but music has always been my true love. I just love to create things no matter the medium. I guess you could say I have a bit of a commitment problem.
I’ve spent the last few years wandering around the world, collecting instruments, collaborating with incredible musicians,
My sound lives somewhere between indie electronic, melodic house, and organic world music. I love blending electronic production with live instruments, intimate vocals, and sounds that feel a little raw and imperfect.
I love experimenting, mixing genres, and finding unexpected ways to bring different sounds together.
At the end of the day, I just want to make music that inspires me and that moves people. Whether that’s dancing with their eyes closed at 3 a.m. or crying alone in their car.
If you had to bottle up your sound into just three words, which ones would you choose?
Dance music with emotional depth … as if Ry X had a baby with Rufus Du Sol.
I’ve always had a deep love for the darker, sadder, more melancholic side of music. The kind of melodies that crack your heart wide open and make you feel things you didn’t even know were buried in there.
But I equally love the groovy, funky, danceable stuff. The kind of music that takes over your body, makes it impossible to sit still, and reminds you how fucking beautiful it is to be alive.
My music is really just an eclectic blend of all those things I love and cherish about music. Sometimes it’s dark and introspective, sometimes it’s playful and euphoric, and sometimes it’s a little bit of everything.
I guess I’m just trying to make music for all the different versions of myself. The one that wants to cry under the stars and the one that wants to dance until sunrise.
Which artists (not only music-related) or moments have left the biggest mark on your music?
So many, as I travel the world, I’m constantly inspired by everything.
My musical influences are also all over the place, which probably explains why my music is too.
Growing up, I was obsessed with bands like Tool, Radiohead, and Nirvana. I loved the raw emotion, the darker undertones, and the willingness to experiment and push boundaries. Later, I fell in love with artists like RY X, Bon Iver who blend emotional melancholic sounds with electronic vibes. And later it was RÜFÜS DU SOL that really cracked open the electronic world for me. When I saw that a band could perform like that in this world, that changed everything for me. ,
But some of my biggest influences haven’t come from other artists at all.
Traveling the world and immersing myself in different cultures has had a huge impact on me. I’ve spent a lot of time exploring various countries in Africa, Asia, and South America, and I find it endlessly fascinating how different cultures express themselves through music or art in general. The rhythms, the instruments, the melodies, the stories.
I’ve been lucky enough to collaborate with some incredible musicians along the way, from recording with a 40-person choir in South Africa to working with traditional musicians in Bali. Those experiences have opened up entirely new worlds of sound and changed the way I approach making music.
I think at heart I’m just a curious kid who never stopped discovering music. Except now I have a studio full of instruments and a slightly concerning obsession with guitars. 😂
When you hit play on your songs, what kind of feeling takes over?
I personally don’t really hit play on my own songs haha. It’s a weird thing making music in that regard. When I’m in the writing process I’m very enthralled with what I’m creating. Getting lost in every nuance. Probably listen to the sound over thousands of times by the time it’s finished. And then when it’s done and released into the world, I almost never listen to it again. It’s as if I’ve moved on, and I’m fully consumed by the new thing I’m creating. And the old stuff makes me cringe a little bit because I feel I’m constantly evolving and expanding. I think a lot of artists experience that. That window between being proud of something and the feeling that the new stuff you are working on now so much better defines you, it tends to be a rather small window.
If you could team up with anyone in the world, no limits, who would be that dream collaborator?
Oh that’s so tough. Can I pick a few?
Producer and song writer … that would be Ryan Tedder. it’s not even close. He’s been one of my favorite writers of all time since I started all this, he just has such a knack for these big beautiful songs. Not to mention he seems to always be ahead of the curve.
Composer – Hans zimmer. He’s been an idol of mine my entire life. His ability to create melody accompanied by moodier darker undertones. His work is just legendary and iconic. I pull a lot of inspiration from and learn a lot from his music.
Artists – sleeping at last or Frank Ocean. It’s weird not to say Rufus or Ry X as they are my favorite artists. But the thing is, what they do as artists is already so amazing and there’s not really much space In what they create for me to weave myself into it. Where as I think what Frank or Ryan (from sleeping at last) do, is remarkably creative and inspiring, and would love to be part of that creative process.
What are you working on now, and what are your plans for the future?
I finally have some down time from touring all year with JAGWOLF which was a remarkable experience. So I’m taking this time to recharge and write a new album for Nova Wolf that we intend to release next year. After which I will switch gears and write and produce an album for JAGWOLF as well. So a lot of new music in the works for next year.
Anything exciting you can tell us about?
Quite a bit, actually! I’ve been spending a lot of time in the studio working on new music, experimenting with different sounds, and probably buying more instruments than any reasonable person needs.
One thing I’m particularly excited about is bringing more live instrumentation into my performances. I’ve spent most of my life playing in bands and playing different instruments, and I’m working on bringing all those worlds together. electronic music, live vocals, guitar, keys, percussion, and a little improvisation. I want the shows to feel alive, where no two performances are quite the same. A bit more like a rock concert meets electronic music.
As I mentioned above, I’m also working on my first full-length album for 2027, which I’m really excited about. It’s a chance to explore a much bigger musical story and bring together all the different influences and experiences that have shaped me over the years.
There’s a lot brewing. I’m just trying to enjoy the creative chaos and see where it all takes me.
Can you walk us through the story or emotion behind “Set Me Free”?
Ah, now where’s the fun in giving away all my secrets? 😉
This is a tricky one for me. Not because the answer is insanely vulnerable or revealing. But since it’s been released I’ve had several people come up to me sharing that this song means something to them. Everyone having their own unique interpretation.
I think there’s something really beautiful about that. Once you put music out into the world, it’s no longer yours, it takes on a life of its own. It stops belonging about you and instead becomes a part of other people’s stories.
Maybe one of these days I’ll do a tell all, haha my Ex’s might be a little shocked.
