wolftrap epk
Hey! We’re Wolftrap, an LA-based americana/indie music project. Welcome to our electronic press kit & thank you for your interest.
Please direct any booking, press, or general inquiries to management by emailing howl@wolftrap.band
One-sheet
Bio: Wolftrap is a Los Angeles-based Americana / Indie Rock project created by Miguel Samuel and Bailey Mae Gardener in 2021. Their harmony-driven songwriting is rooted in the narrative folk tradition while embracing a philosophy of musical time-travel that has drawn comparisons to Dr. Dog, The Magnetic Zeros, The Velvet Underground, Fleetwood Mac and the Black Keys.
The project was formed at Mermaid Farm, a dairy farm on the island of Martha’s Vineyard where Bailey and Miguel rented an apartment and worked in the creamery and fields. They gigged for two years at local bars, farmers markets and festivals before moving west to connect with a musical community they discovered online through School of Song songwriting workshops.
Since arriving in Los Angeles in Oct ‘22 Wolftrap has released an EP “The Good Side” and four stand-alone singles. Their 4-piece band plays regularly in East LA, sometimes in Hollywood, and increasingly on the road in California and the Southwest. The band’s sophomore EP “The Bad Side” — dealing in themes of toxic relationships, death, anxiety and heartbreak — is expected late 2024.
Wolftrap has performed with: Brett Dennan, Charlotte Rose Benjamin, The Dustbowl Revival, Spencer Hoffman, Crooked Coast, Jim Kweskin, Ryan Montbleau, The Ghost of Paul Revere, Prewn, Willy Mason, Kate Taylor, Uff Da!, Chris Beland, Workman Song, Rose Guerin, The Lion Heart, Bearly Dead
Select venues and fests: The Venice West, AmericanaFest West, The Grand Ole Echo, The Fable, Silverlake Lounge, Club Car Bar, Red Dog Saloon, The Loft MV, Beach Road Festival ‘22, Escondite, The Burren, Ojai Underground Exchange, Brighton Music Hall
Radio Appearances: WMVY w/ Jess Phaneuf, The Summit FM w/ Brad Savage
Thanks for listening <3
Girl Tripping - Single
Recorded live to 8-track tape with producer Ryan Pollie, Girl Tripping draws on blues, bossa nova, and old school r&b to set a foundation for playful back-and-forth vocals, recalling a bizarre phone conversation between bandmates Bailey Mae and Miguel Samuel.
“It’s so damn fun and it’s insanely creative… blends the realms of Velvet Underground and the Magnetic Zeroes.”
-The Wild Is Calling
“Through the alluring glow of a psychedelia / folk / Americana blend, this stunning track exudes pure sonic magic.”
-Tonic Grain
“A late summer anthem for romantics that has an ability to bloom further with each new play. Never want to admit to being besotted but it might just be happening here with LA’s Wolftrap”
-Kevin Hugger (.mp3 hugger)
The Good Side EP
“Wolftrap’s latest offering is a nutrient-rich, five-song long EP, The Good Side, set to be released on September 22, created with producer Sam Plecker at Hound Sound Studios in Glassell Park. The first single, “Little House in the Woods,” out now, gently encourages a wholehearted belief in love; the EP, in its totality, is what love actually is: it’s respect. A respect heard through elements of rhythm, melody, harmony, timbre, dynamics, texture, and form; a respect for both everyone who collaborated on each song and for everyone who will listen to each song, in lyric and in instrument.”
-Christina Holland / Wooo Media
“[The Good Side] has that classic Cali kinda freak-folk vibe flowing through in all the best ways. It really captures what I think has been a lost west coast groove — hints of 60s psych, Laurel Canyon harmony, with modern tech in all the right places!”
-Jimmy Ansourian
I Know You Rider
Live studio taping of the American traditional I Know You Rider for WMVY Radio’s 50th anniversary. Filmed at Sound Hound Studio in East LA with friends Spencer Hoffman (steel), Raymond Joseph (wurli), Gabe Follettie (bass), and Ryan Bondi (drums).
People are saying…
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"[A] collaborative spirit choruses throughout the EP’s entirety, making each moment with Wolftrap’s music feel like hanging with old friends."
Christina Holland / Wooo Media
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“Yeah this is fucking great… what an incredible set”
Ryan Pollie / Musican, Producer
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"Vintage catchy... this is how we imagine Fleetwood Mac might have sounded if produced by Dan Auerbach."
The Wild Is Calling Us
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"For aficionados of folk-rock and narrative-driven music, Wolftrap is an essential addition to their playlist, perfect for both reminiscing and cherishing the present."
Neon Music
Wolftrap (longer) Bio & Select Press
Wolftrap is an LA-based Americana / indie music project created by Miguel Samuel and Bailey Mae Gardener. Founded in spring 2021 on the island of Martha’s Vineyard, their performances have been described as “a grungy Fleetwood Mac” by talent buyer Johnny Bares of the Ritz Cafe. Wolftrap performs with a full band and as a duo.
The group was born after a chance meeting at a local dairy farm where Bailey Mae was working as a cheesemaker. The two songwriters bonded over their love of harmony singing and the music of Elliot Smith and The Beatles and before long they were living together in a barn at the farm and had a weekly residency at a local dive bar.
In their first year Wolftrap built a loyal island fanbase and was opening for national acts including Ryan Montbleau, The Dustbowl Revival, and Brett Dennan, at Massachusetts venues such as The Brighton Music Hall, ONCE presents, Lady Fest and The Loft MV. Wolftrap gave a live acoustic performance on 88.7 WMVY at the invitation of program director Jess Phaneuf and was selected to be part of the radio station’s concert series at the Winnetu Resort. In 2022 they played the Beach Road Weekend music festival with The Dock Dance Band, presented by IAE and headlined by Wilco, Beck, and Lord Huron.
In December 2022 Wolftrap moved to Los Angeles and released their first single “Ghost Girl”. Self-produced in a shed using a guitar, microphone, synthesizer, and laptop, the track was mixed by Anthony Saffery (Portugal. the Man, Cornershop, Disq) and received positive blog coverage. The Wild Is Calling Us writes:
“Wolftrap caught our attention with their new single Ghost Girl. The single is vintage catchy. It showcases an indie heart with a classic spirit. This is how we imagine Fleetwood Mac might have sounded if produced by Dan Auerbach. The singers compliment each other with polar traits that blend elegantly… It’s upbeat with swagger and attitude, and some punk influence in the female lead.” -The Wild Is Calling Us
Settling into the Glassell Park neighborhood of East LA, Wolftrap found themselves in the heart of the indie music scene. They moved into a house with another band of Massachusetts expats, Los Elk, and set up a writing studio in the garage where work began on demos for their debut EP The Good Side, produced by Sam Plecker (Vista Kicks).
“Wolftrap’s latest offering is a nutrient-rich, five-song long EP, The Good Side, set to be released on September 22, created with producer Sam Plecker at Hound Sound Studios in Glassell Park. The first single, “Little House in the Woods,” out now, gently encourages a wholehearted belief in love; the EP, in its totality, is what love actually is: it’s respect. A respect heard through elements of rhythm, melody, harmony, timbre, dynamics, texture, and form; a respect for both everyone who collaborated on each song and for everyone who will listen to each song, in lyric and in instrument.” -Christina Holland (Woo Media)
Input List
Miguel: Vocal mic, guitar amp, acoustic DI
Bailey: Vocal mic, bass amp
Mason: Vocal mic, guitar amp
Charlie: Drum kit