by Brianna Redding
To say Shadwick Wilde has had a busy year would be an enormous understatement. He, along with Jim Bob Brown, Aaron West, Ryan Scott, and Nick Goldring make up Quiet Hollers, an indie band that has been making waves in the music scene with the anticipation of their upcoming sophomore album.
The Louisville, KY based group is currently on tour to promote their new album, which is set to be released on October 23rd. Coincidentally, they will be playing at Philadelphia’s own Ortleib’s that day. Wilde, the band’s lead vocalist and guitarist, is still enjoying the success of their first album, which received a nomination for best roots album at the Louisville Music Awards in 2013. He says it’s a feat that makes him feel “a little less existential dread at night.”
Due to the success of their first album, the group was able to produce and press their upcoming album without the help of a record label. Wilde has remained humble, however, and says the band would have kept making music regardless of whether or not a label was supporting them. “The record execs weren’t exactly breaking down our door, you know,” he admits. “We’re a band—we live to make music, and put that music out into the world. And while it might be nice to have a label pay for everything so you can focus on “your craft”, you can’t sit around waiting for that magic phone call.”
That determination and passion definitely comes through in Quiet Hollers lyrics’, as Wilde is the band’s primary songwriter. The words are earnest and descriptive, each song telling a story and giving listeners a glimpse into Wilde’s psyche. “Early on, I was writing mostly about my failed relationships or girls that I had crushes on,” Wilde shares. “It seems pretty juvenile now. There are a lot more interesting subjects to take on than your own shitty feelings, shitty job, shitty whatever, you know?”
The band is touring almost entirely through the month of October and the guys like to keep it light on rare free days. “If we do ever get a day off, we usually make videos or catch up on emails,” Wilde says. But despite the man-hours put into promoting their new album, Quiet Hollers still manage to maintain a sense of humor about the whole experience. When asked where they would love to play that they haven’t so far, Wilde playfully replies, “either in space, like on Mars, maybe, or on a giant cruise ship with an open bar!”
