Resound Presents: Why? in Austin, Texas at Mohawk on September 7, 2024.
For nearly three decades, WHY? has thrived in subverting expectations. Across seven unpredictable and adventurous studio albums, the band led by Cincinnati songwriter Yoni Wolf has stretched the fringes of psychedelic pop, hip-hop, and electronic music. Despite genre experiments and thematic departures, their discography remains consistent, anchored by Wolf’s disarming lyrical transparency. His writing is provocative and self-lacerating, coming from a place of blunt emotional openness. The Well I Fell Into, the eighth full-length from WHY?, showcases Wolf at his most cohesive and poignant. An autopsy of heartbreak, the album charts the ups and downs of a devastating breakup while trading bitterness for healing. Self-released on Waterlines Records, Wolf's new label following Anticon's footsteps—the artist-run collective he co-founded—its 14 tracks stand as the band’s prettiest and most immediate work yet.
“Making a WHY? album is an opportunity for me to button up a period of my life,” Wolf explains. “I’m bad at realizing how I feel or how something is affecting me in the moment. Things just sit inside me, but writing is a way to really take stock.” Though the dissolution of a years-long relationship inspired Wolf to start writing, he considers The Well I Fell Into autofiction—a chance to interrogate his grief and journey to acceptance rather than air out real-life details or pick at emotional scabs. “This is not a bitter kiss off,” he says. “While the songwriting was cathartic, I can see my life beyond some story or mythology I’ve cornered myself into artistically.”
The songs on The Well I Fell Into often feel like vignettes that jump around time and offer glimpses into turbulent emotions stemming from personal upheaval. Songs like “Brand New” find Wolf navigating indecision over delicately plucked acoustic guitars as he sings: “Is it me do I fight or flee? I do But I need to be brand new.” Elsewhere, tracks like “When We Do The Dance” capture bittersweet nostalgia for better times while "Marigold" ruefully embraces finality after its intro kicks off the record.
Though most material was written between late 2021 and early 2023, musical origins of grimly loping "Jump" date back at least seven years. Buoyed by a mournful piano arrangement, Wolf sings: “My nowness has waned It takes valor to change out of a pattern of shame extract the air from the flame.” This album concerns losing one's sense of self and attempts to recapture it.
Every WHY? album since 2012’s Mumps Etc., was recorded at various home studios; however, Wolf and his bandmates Josiah Wolf, Doug McDiarmid, and Andrew Broder tracked The Well I Fell Into with Brian Joseph (Sufjan Stevens, Bon Iver) at Eau Claire's Hive Studio in Wisconsin. This move resulted in compelling arrangements enhancing strong hooks grounding these songs.
“On this one I'm very interested in classic songwriting,” explains Wolf who enlisted collaborators including Gia Margaret; Finom’s Macie Stewart; Lala Lala’s Lillie West; Serengeti; Ada Lea—to flesh out recordings further: "I want my songs able played unadorned by just one person still hold up."
Compared short collage-like songs on 2019’s AOKOHIO these breathe lush curated textures feeling patient intentional palette inviting yet unconventional—as on minimalist lush ballad featuring strings set motion twinkling prepared piano harmonies soar throughout exemplary diaristic cathartic chorus array choral voices singing: "Maria letters last-ditch effort rattle death." Nis(s)an Dreams Pt slowly evolves clanging guitars Beatles-esque outro complete grand piano Greek chorus singing: "Keep buffing brighter day."
The Well I Fell Into ultimately hopeful record dealing messy emotions tackling them disarmingly lucid candor profound grace no external villains wallowing frank dissection past diligence move forward stands near top catalog document artist pushing through finding peace: "I don't know if it's ketamine therapy meditation what feel little second wind songwriting," says flowing many years."