Chicago-based singer-songwriter, Xoe Wise, built upon her folk pop roots to create a healing rock record in the form of Wounds, which is coming out this Friday, Oct. 20.
These deeply confessional songs take on a heavier, layered texture as Wise worked with producer Howie Beno (Ministry, Depeche Mode) and a full supporting band including guitarists Steve Stone and Pat McKillen, drummer Chris Pagnani, Curtis Ruptash on bass, and her Kinky Love bandmate Dan Zima on bass, synths, and programming. Songs like “Back on Earth,” “Side Effects” and “Dollhouse” are among the tracklist standouts.
“The record Wounds was completed in 2016.” explained Wise. “We were looking for a label to release it on, wanted to have some industry backing for it, as well as needing a final mix/mastering. I put the record on the back burner as I was also beginning to get more involved in school, and exploring spending time in music outreach and the mental health field. Since then a pandemic hit, I played a bunch of shows on my motor scooter (reconnecting with my busking roots from North Carolina but on wheels), and I started working as a therapist.”
She continued, “Most tragically, we experienced a huge loss when Howie died in 2020. I knew I wanted to release our album, and as time passed, I felt unsure of how, and wanted to make sure I honored Howie as well as find a mixing engineer I trusted to finish the project. So much has changed, but I still love the songs and want to release them for the world, remember the art we made with Howie, and the messages of the album. There may never be a perfect time or way, but so much of the album speaks to facing the past. So, I want to let these songs breathe, and shed light on them. After all, wounds do not heal in isolation, or without connection. It feels just as important that the album gets a chance to be received with love, just as Howie received me as a young artist trying to make an album, just as music has received me as a young queer person looking for solace, and just as community and therapy received me as a wounded brain and body looking for ways to heal. We do not have to heal or release wounds alone.”
Click here to presave Wounds ahead of its Oct. 20 release and check out a preview of the album below. Head over to Xoewisemusic.com for more information.