Interview With Wolf

Photographer, Musician, All Around Brilliant Person, Wolf

by Cary

Is Wolf your real name?

Yes...it's my last name. No one really calls me by my first name, except for my immediate family, and the government...which is why I'm credited with my full name on records.

Are there any other creative mediums you work in?

Yes...photography is actually my "other" creative medium. I'm a musician/record producer...music is my my career and first love. Photography is my creative outlet.

Do you prefer playing live or recording?

These days, recording. I paid my dues doing live work...worked my way up from tiny clubs to arenas and stadiums. There's absolutely no substitute for that kind of experience. I also got to see the world from all the touring. That being said, I don't miss touring at all. Nonstop travel = nonstop jet lag.

I also got really bored musically; no matter who I worked with, I'd eventually get bored of playing the same material night after night...and after a decade or so of being on the road, I made the decision to stop. Now I spend all my time in recording studios (usually my own), and I'm much happier this way.

I also get to flex my nondrummer muscles (programming, producing, writing, remixing, etc) in the studio. I never say never though, and for the right money, with the right artist, I'd go on the road again...and in the meantime, I play live in NYC once in a while for special occasions, or I'll do a TV gig every so often.

What inspired you to pick up a camera?

It was Bob Coulter (crazybabe.com) who indirectly inspired me to get into photography. I've always been into visual art, and I used to draw and paint nudes. I also did the usual home porn thing (video and stills) with assorted women in my life, but I never approached that as an artistic thing. The way I became aware of Bob Coulter was when my ex wife (when she was still my wife) did a shoot with him. When she showed me his work, it really resonated with me, and that was the first time I thought about getting into shooting as an art form.

Do you prefer to shoot with film or digital?

Digital. I've only ever shot digital. I feel the same way about the "digital vs. film" photography debate as I do about the "digital vs. analog" music debate. Analog (tape) recording has a certain warmth...but to me, the benefits of recording digitally far outweigh the benefits of recording to tape...same goes for digital shooting.

How did you become interested in fetish/BDSM?

I'm a very sexual person...and I have been for as long as I can remember. I was into certain things long before I even know that they were considered fetish/BDSM. It wasn't until later, when I was exposed to "the scene", that I was able to put labels on all of it.

Do you enjoy fetishism/BDSM play in your personal life, and if so what are you into?

I do...but I see BDSM as just one aspect of my sexuality...I don't feel the need to compartmentalize it. It's just part of sex to me...and the amount of kink I get into, depends on who I'm with. My only constant in terms of kink is that I'm 100% dominant sexually (much to the dismay of a certain someone). Even though I've been involved with a number of pro Dommes, they've all been subs in their personal lives with me.

What kind of music do you like?

I have a colossal, eclectic music collection, but I don't listen to music a lot when I'm not working.

I work a lot, and my work involves listening to music over and over...and I like to give my ears (and brain) a rest when possible. When I do listen to music just for the pleasure of it, it's very different from the music that I work on. (I mostly work on pop, which isn't exactly my cup of tea, but it's lucrative, and I respect the craftsmanship involved) I have so many artists in so many genres that I like...but if I had to pick one favorite overall, it would be James Brown. JB is the shit.

What do you like to do for fun?

Everything. I'm a "follow your bliss" person...and I've always followed my own path in order to do so.

What music first captured your ear and got you interested in music?

My mother says that she knew I was going to be a drummer before I was born. When she was pregnant with me, and she was around music, I'd kick along with the music. I don't remember what the very first music that hooked me was... whatever my father had on in the house...probably the Beatles?

Do you come from a background of training in the arts?

With music, yes...private lessons, music school, etc...

With visual art, I have no formal training. (although my mother, who's an artist, taught me a lot about visual art when I was a kid)

How would you describe your style of photography?

I've only been shooting for a few years, so I'm still evolving. I do have my own visual aesthetic which I can trace back to my early memories of looking at my mother's art books...especially Klimt. Klimt's work blew my mind the first time I saw it. When I saw his stuff in person, it was life changing. (his work is way more substantial than what you can see in a 2 dimensional print) I also grew up looking at Playboy and Penthouse (and other similar) magazines...and when I got older, it wasn't a surprise to anyone that I began dating strippers, porn stars, pro dommes, etc. My childhood exposure to girly mags, and my subsequent experience in the sexual underworld has shaped my vision as much as my early exposure to fine art. I used to describe my work as "Gustav Klimt meets Larry Flynt", but there's more to it than that. It has elements of erotica, fetish, pinup, fine art, and more. As much as it's about my eye, the quality of my work is also dependent on having good models to shoot with. I've included shots of some of my favorite models for this...including Goddess Narcissa, Anais Sin, The Great Kathryne Von Marks (who I know by another name, and who really helped me when I was first starting to shoot), Kitty Lerouxx, Adrian Louise, Forest, Danni Daniels, and Victoria A Taylor.

See more of Wolf:

WOLF PHOTOGRAPHY SITE:

http://wolfalicious.tumblr.com/

WOLF MUSIC SITE:

http://www.wolfedelic.com/

MODEL MAYHEM:

http://www.modelmayhem.com/wolfedelic