Chelsea Wolfe

{{short description|American singer-songwriter and musician|bot=PearBOT 5}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2022}}

{{about|the musical artist|the BMX cyclist|Chelsea Wolfe (BMX cyclist)}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Chelsea Wolfe

| image = Roskilde Festival Chelsea Wolfe 7 (crop).jpg

| image_size =

| caption = Wolfe at Roskilde Festival, 2018

| birth_name = Chelsea Joy Wolfe

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1983|11|14|mf=yes}}

| birth_place = Roseville, California, U.S.

| origin = Sacramento, California, U.S.

| genre = {{flatlist|

}}

| occupations = {{flatlist|

  • Singer-songwriter
  • record producer
  • musician

}}

| instruments = {{flatlist|

  • Vocals
  • guitar
  • piano

}}

| years_active = 2006–present

| label = {{flatlist|

}}

| current_member_of = Mrs. Piss

| website = {{URL|chelseawolfe.net}}

}}

Chelsea Joy Wolfe (born November 14, 1983){{cite web|url=http://www.californiabirthindex.org/birth/chelsea_joy_wolfe_born_1983_16141110|work=The California Birth Index|title=Chelsea Joy Wolfe was born on November 14, 1983, in Placer County, California|access-date=April 11, 2016}} is an American singer-songwriter and musician. Her work blends elements of gothic rock, doom metal, and folk.

Growing up in Northern California with a country musician father, Wolfe began writing and recording songs during her childhood. She began to earn recognition for her albums The Grime and the Glow (2010) and Apokalypsis (2011), which blended gothic and folk elements. In her next few albums Pain Is Beauty (2013), Abyss (2015) and Hiss Spun (2017) Wolfe incorporated elements of neofolk,{{cite web|url=https://consequence.net/2015/04/chelsea-wolfe-announces-new-album-abyss-premieres-iron-moon-listen/|title=Chelsea Wolfe announces new album, Abyss, premieres "Iron Moon" – listen |work=Consequence of Sound|date=April 28, 2015 }} electronic music and heavy metal.{{cite web|last=Manning|first=Erin|title=Album Review: Chelsea Wolfe – Abyss|url=https://consequence.net/2015/07/album-review-chelsea-wolfe-abyss/|publisher=Consequence of Sound|access-date=August 22, 2015 |date=August 7, 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/chelsea-wolfe-mn0000581132|title=Chelsea Wolfe – Music Biography, Streaming Radio and Discography|author=Phares, Heather|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=September 17, 2018}} Her evolution continued with Birth of Violence (2019) and She Reaches Out to She Reaches Out to She (2024).

In addition to her solo career, she has collaborated with the band Converge on the album Bloodmoon: I (2021) and composer Tyler Bates on the soundtrack to the 2022 film X. She has also featured on songs by artists including Russian Circles, Deafheaven, Myrkur and Xiu Xiu.

Early life

Wolfe was born in Roseville, California,{{efn|Some sources erroneously state Wolfe was born in Sacramento, but the California Birth Index lists her birthplace as Placer County; Sacramento is located in Sacramento County, not Placer County. Furthermore, a 2015 profile on Wolfe from a Sacramento online magazine states she is from Roseville, which is located in Placer County.{{cite web|url=http://www.sactownmag.com/August-September-2015/Through-the-Glass-Darkly/|work=Sactown Mag|title=Through the Glass Darkly|author=Vanairsdale, S.T.|date=September 2015|url-status=live|archive-date=April 30, 2020|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200430210351/http://www.sactownmag.com/August-September-2015/Through-the-Glass-Darkly/}}}} near Sacramento, and raised in both towns. She is of English, Norwegian, Swedish, and German descent.{{cite web |title=Chelsea Wolfe - Full Performance (Live on KEXP) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdLSBDY3AjQ&t=1318s |website=WWW.YouTube.Com |publisher=KEXP |access-date=May 16, 2023 |date=July 9, 2018}}{{cite web |title=Interview with Chelsea Wolfe at Bottom Lounge Chicago |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPMcqvCWJGw&t=206s |website=WWW.Youtube.Com |publisher=Boxx Magazine |access-date=February 1, 2022 |date=September 22, 2013}}{{cite web|url=http://www.chelseawolfe.net/category/interview/|work=Death and Taxes|title=Interview: Chelsea Wolfe on 'Pain is Beauty'|date=September 20, 2013|access-date=October 5, 2016|archive-date=July 16, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140716154141/http://www.chelseawolfe.net/category/interview/|url-status=dead}} Her father was in a country band{{cite web |date=March 31, 2011 |title=Video interview with "Indie-eye network" |url=http://www.indie-eye.it/recensore/generi/folk/chelsea-wolfe-indie-eye-una-video-intervista-connettiva.html |publisher=indie-eye.it/recensore}} and owned a home studio. Wolfe lived with her grandmother during a part of her childhood, who taught her about aromatherapy, Reiki and "other realms".{{Cite web |date=August 26, 2015 |title=Chelsea Wolfe May Be Your Goth Queen, But She Doesn't Consider Her Music Dark |url=https://galoremag.com/chelsea-wolfe-may-be-your-goth-queen-but-she-doesnt-consider-her-music-dark/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727202911/https://galoremag.com/chelsea-wolfe-may-be-your-goth-queen-but-she-doesnt-consider-her-music-dark/ |archive-date=July 27, 2020 |access-date=February 19, 2018 |work=Galore}}{{Cite web |last=Moore |first=Jonathan |date=October 2016 |title=Chelsea Wolfe interviewed by Nero Journal |url=http://sargenthouse.tumblr.com/post/152566586813/chelsea-wolfe-interviewed-by-nero-journal |access-date=February 19, 2018 |website=Sargent House}}

By the age of 7, she had written her first poem,{{Cite news|url=https://www.revolvermag.com/music/chelsea-wolfe-search-brutal-honesty|title=Chelsea Wolfe: In Search of Brutal Honesty|date=August 31, 2017|work=Revolver|access-date=February 19, 2018}} and by the age of 9, had written and recorded songs which she later described as "basically Casio-based gothy R&B songs".{{cite web |url=http://www.thewritingdisorder.com/reviewswolfe.html |title=Interview with 'The Writing Disorder' |publisher=thewritingdisorder.com |access-date=February 22, 2013 |archive-date=January 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200118183135/http://www.thewritingdisorder.com/reviewswolfe.html |url-status=dead }}

Of her childhood, Wolfe said, "I grew up pretty fast. I had older sisters. By the time I was 11, I was drinking 40s." She struggled with sleep paralysis as a child and through her teens, which landed her in the hospital for sleep studies; these experiences eventually became material for her albums Abyss and Hiss Spun.{{Cite web|url=http://www.matadorreview.com/chelsea-wolfe/|title=Chelsea Wolfe|website=Matador Review|access-date=February 19, 2018|archive-date=September 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210927085645/http://www.matadorreview.com/chelsea-wolfe/|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|url=http://submergemag.com/music/chelsea-wolfe-2017/|title=Thundering Haze • Chelsea Wolfe Parts the Veil on Sixth Studio Album, Hiss Spun|work=Submerge Magazine|date=October 31, 2017 |access-date=February 19, 2018}}

Career

= 2006: ''Mistake in Parting'' =

In 2006, Wolfe composed an album, titled Mistake in Parting, which was never officially released.{{Cite web|url=http://www.prefixmag.com/features/chelsea-wolfe/chelsea-wolfe-on-las-strange-darkness-and-her-dark/68922/|work=Prefix Mag|title=Chelsea Wolfe on LA's Strange Darkness And Her Dark, Deep Secret|author=Bugbee, Tim|date=October 8, 2012|access-date=June 12, 2016}} Of the album, Wolfe said: "I was 21 years old and wrote a shitty singer-songwriter breakup album. I didn't even really want to be a musician back then, but a lot of my friends were like 'let's do this, I've got some producer friends' and they helped me make this over-produced, terrible record... I sort of took a break from music for a while since I wasn't happy with what I was making". Wolfe later commented that she scrapped the album largely because it had been written about events in her personal life: "I was writing really personal stuff about my own life, and I didn't feel comfortable at all... I didn't want [my music] to be so much about myself, and I just had to find a new perspective".{{cite interview|interviewer=iDS Imagem do Som|last=Wolfe|first=Chelsea|date=November 4, 2014|location=Portugal|title=Entrevista Chelsea Wolfe}} {{YouTube|Lu7gABtbvMQ}}.

= 2010–2012: ''The Grime and the Glow'' and ''Apokalypsis'' =

Wolfe's first widely released album, The Grime and the Glow (2010),{{cite web|url=http://chelseawolfe.bandcamp.com/album/the-grime-and-the-glow |title=The Grime & The Glow |publisher= Chelsea Wolfe |date=December 28, 2010}} was issued on New York-based independent label Pendu Sound Recordings, preceded that same year by the limited-edition albums Soundtrack VHS/Gold and Soundtrack VHS II.{{cite web|url=http://www.cvltnation.com/chelsea-wolfe-abyss-in-depth-review-full-stream/|title=Chelsea Wolfe – Abyss In-Depth Review + Full Stream -|date=August 7, 2015}} Her 2010 cover of Burzum's "Black Spell of Destruction" helped her receive her first exposure after it was highlighted in a notable blog.{{Cite web |date=2014-02-12 |title=The Weekly interview: Singer/songwriter Chelsea Wolfe - Las Vegas Weekly |url=https://lasvegasweekly.com/ae/music/2014/feb/12/weekly-interview-singersongwriter-chelsea-wolfe/ |access-date=2023-01-31 |website=lasvegasweekly.com}} Her next album, Apokalypsis (2011), stylized as Ἀποκάλυψις, gained her an underground following,{{cite web|url=http://chelseawolfe.bandcamp.com/album/apokalypsis |title=Ἀποκάλυψις (Apokalypsis/Apocalypse) |publisher=Chelsea Wolfe |date=August 23, 2011 |access-date=2012-02-07}} as well as critical acclaim, receiving favorable reviews in Pitchfork{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/15893-chelsea-wolfe-apokalypsis/|work=Pitchfork|title=Chelsea Wolfe: Apokalypsis|date=October 20, 2011|access-date=June 19, 2013|author=Raposa, David}} and CMJ.{{cite web|url=http://www.cmj.com/reviews/chelsea-wolfe-apokalypsis/|work=CMJ|title=Chelsea Wolfe: Apokalypsis|access-date=June 19, 2013|date=August 25, 2011|author=Patpatia, Sasha|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923222714/http://www.cmj.com/reviews/chelsea-wolfe-apokalypsis/|archive-date=September 23, 2015|url-status=dead}} Wolfe toured extensively in North America and Europe to support both albums, and suffered from extreme stage fright; when she initially began performing live, Wolfe would wear a black veil over her face.{{cite journal|url=http://pendusound.com/news/subbacultcha-interviews-chelsea-wolfe-for-april-20au12-issue/|journal=Subbacultcha|title=Interviews: Chelsea Wolfe|date=April 2012|access-date=June 19, 2013|pages=19–22}}{{Dead link|date=November 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} "Performing was something that I had to learn," she said. "I could barely handle being onstage for the first few years, and it's the reason it took me so long to start my career as a musician".{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/11/30/entertainment/chelsea-wolfe-musician-anxiety-feat/|publisher=CNN|title=Stage fright hasn't sidelined singer Chelsea Wolfe|date=November 30, 2015|access-date=June 12, 2016|author=Parks, Chris}}

= 2012–2022: Sargent House =

File:Chelsea Wolfe Great American Music Hall 2013.jpg

In 2012, Wolfe covered five songs by British anarcho-punk band Rudimentary Peni, and issued them as A Tribute To Rudimentary Peni on February 17 as a free download via Pendu Sound. She later rerecorded the Peni songs with her band at Southern Studios in London,{{cite web|url=http://www.chelseawolfe.net/category/rudimentary-peni/|title=Rudimentary Peni|date=March 27, 2013 |publisher=Chelsea Wolfe|access-date=2015-08-10}} and released them as an EP, Prayer for the Unborn, in January 2013 on Southern Records.{{cite web|url=http://shop.southern.com/chelsea-wolfe-prayer-for-the-unborn-vinyl/|title=Chelsea Wolfe – Prayer for the Unborn [Vinyl]|date=September 24, 2012|publisher=shop.southern.com|access-date=2012-09-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120919232011/http://shop.southern.com/chelsea-wolfe-prayer-for-the-unborn-vinyl/|archive-date=September 19, 2012|url-status=dead}}

Wolfe signed with the label Sargent House in 2012 to release her third album.{{cite web|url=http://www.chelseawolfe.net/2012/02/27/sargent-house/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130221084114/http://www.chelseawolfe.net/2012/02/27/sargent-house/|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 21, 2013|title=Chelsea Wolfe moves to Sargent House|date=February 27, 2012|publisher=chelseawolfe.net}} Unknown Rooms: A Collection of Acoustic Songs was released on October 16, 2012,{{cite web|url=http://chelseawolfe.bandcamp.com/ |title= Unknown Rooms on bandcamp |date=October 16, 2012|publisher=chelseawolfe.bandcamp.com}}{{cite web |url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/14279-appalachia/ |title=Tracks |work=Pitchfork |date=September 20, 2012 |access-date=September 26, 2012 |archive-date=September 14, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150914150640/http://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/14279-appalachia/ |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|url=http://www.chelseawolfe.net/bio/|title=Chelsea Wolfe's bio|publisher=chelseawolfe.net|access-date=February 3, 2017|archive-date=October 21, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021151140/http://www.chelseawolfe.net/bio/|url-status=dead}} and featured a more folk-oriented sound, as opposed to her earlier work, which had been heavily centered on droning electric guitars and distortion. The acoustic album contained {{" '}}once-orphaned' songs",{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/blogs/allsongs/2012/07/24/157000434/song-premiere-chelsea-wolfe-way-we-used-to |title=Song Premiere: Chelsea Wolfe, "The Way We Used To" : All Songs Considered Blog : NPR |publisher=NPR.com |date=July 28, 2012}} according to Wolfe. On July 28, 2012, the first single, "The Way We Used To", was premiered on NPR. On September 20, the second single, "Appalachia," was premiered on The Fader.{{cite web|url=http://www.thefader.com/2012/09/20/stream-chelsea-wolfe-appalachia/ |title=Stream: Chelsea Wolfe, "Appalachia" : MP3/STREAMS : THE FADER |publisher=thefader.com |date=July 28, 2012}}

Wolfe released a live album, Live at Roadburn, on September 28, 2012, recorded that April 12 at the Roadburn Festival in Tilburg, Netherlands.{{cite web |url=http://www.roadburnrecords.com/2012/08/15/chelsea-wolfe-live-at-roadburn-lp-pre-sale-started-artwork-revealed/ |title=CHELSEA WOLFE Live at Roadburn LP pre-sale started. Artwork revealed! |publisher=roadburnrecords.com |date=August 15, 2012 |access-date=September 26, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021134409/http://www.roadburnrecords.com/2012/08/15/chelsea-wolfe-live-at-roadburn-lp-pre-sale-started-artwork-revealed/ |archive-date=October 21, 2013 |url-status=dead }} Wolfe's fourth studio album, Pain Is Beauty, was released September 3, 2013,{{cite web|url=http://chelseawolfemusic.tumblr.com/search/pain+is+beauty |title=Pain Is Beauty announcement on Wolfe's official Tumblr |date=June 3, 2013}} as well as an album trailer,{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8fU_pxLWKM |title=Pain is Beauty album trailer |website=YouTube |date=June 3, 2013}} followed by a supporting North American tour. During 2013 and 2014, Wolfe released two split 7-inch singles with King Dude, Sing Songs Together... and Sing More Songs Together...,{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/16629-chelsea-wolfe-king-dude-be-free/ |title=Chelsea Wolfe / King Dude: "Be Free" | Tracks |work=Pitchfork |date=February 19, 2014 |access-date=2015-08-10}} and a live EP, Chelsea Wolfe Folkadelphia Session May 31, 2014.{{cite web|url=https://folkadelphia.bandcamp.com/album/chelsea-wolfe-folkadelphia-session-5-31-2014|title=Chelsea Wolfe Folkadelphia Session 5/31/2014, by Chelsea Wolfe|website=Folkadelphia}}

Wolfe also contributed guest vocals to the American post-metal band Russian Circles' fifth studio album, Memorial, released in October 2013. Wolfe and Russian Circles toured Europe together in late 2013.{{cite web| last = Adams| first = Gregory| title = Russian Circles Unveil 'Memorial,' Premiere New Track| work = Exclaim!| date = August 8, 2013| url = http://exclaim.ca/News/russian_circles_unveil_memorial_premiere_new_track| access-date = September 14, 2013}}{{cite magazine| last = Blistein| first = Jon| title = Russian Circles Brood on Meditative 'Memorial' – Song Premiere| magazine = Rolling Stone| date = September 13, 2013| url = https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/russian-circles-brood-on-meditative-memorial-song-premiere-20130913| access-date = September 14, 2013}}

In 2014, she released a long-form film, Lone, featuring music from Pain Is Beauty and directed by Mark Pellington.{{cite web |url=http://www.chelseawolfe.net/terrorizer-film-review-chelsea-wolfes-lone-directed-by-mark-pellington/ |title=Terrorizer Film Review: Chelsea Wolfe's "Lone" directed by Mark Pellington |publisher=Chelsea Wolfe |date=May 20, 2014 |access-date=August 10, 2015 |archive-date=July 22, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150722014712/http://www.chelseawolfe.net/terrorizer-film-review-chelsea-wolfes-lone-directed-by-mark-pellington/ |url-status=dead }}

"Carrion Flowers", "Iron Moon" and "After the Fall" were released as the second, third and the fourth singles, respectively, from her fourth album, Abyss (2015). Abyss featured Wolfe exploring neofolk and electronic music and embracing more of her heavy metal influences.{{Citation |title=Chelsea Wolfe – Abyss Album Reviews, Songs & More {{!}} AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/abyss-mw0002845688 |language=en |access-date=2022-12-11}}

File:AdamWright-Treefort-2016-ChelseaWolfe-49 (31415982664).jpg

On April 1, 2016, Wolfe released the non-album 7-inch single "Hypnos",{{cite web|url=https://consequence.net/2016/02/chelsea-wolfe-shares-new-song-hypnos-announces-north-american-tour-listen/|title=Chelsea Wolfe shares new song "Hypnos", announces North American tour – listen|date=February 29, 2016}} preceded by a music video on March 22. In January 2017, she announced a UK/European tour to begin in April.{{Cite news|url=http://musicandriots.com/chelsea-wolfe-announces-european-dates-with-true-widow-king-woman-or-wear-your-wounds/|title=Chelsea Wolfe Announces European Dates (with True Widow & King Woman or Wear Your Wounds)|date=January 25, 2017|newspaper=MUSIC&RIOTS Magazine|access-date=2017-01-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202024920/http://musicandriots.com/chelsea-wolfe-announces-european-dates-with-true-widow-king-woman-or-wear-your-wounds/|archive-date=February 2, 2017|url-status=dead}}

Her fifth studio album, Hiss Spun, was released by Sargent House on September 22, 2017.{{cite web|url=http://www.theregenttheater.com/event/869945-chelsea-wolfe-los-angeles/|title=Chelsea Wolfe – Tickets – The Regent Theater – Los Angeles, CA – September 25th, 2015|website=Spaceland Presents|access-date=June 14, 2017|archive-date=September 19, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150919181657/http://www.theregenttheater.com/event/869945-chelsea-wolfe-los-angeles/|url-status=dead}} The album featured guitar work from Queens of the Stone Age member Troy Van Leeuwen, was recorded by Kurt Ballou and features a guest appearance from Aaron Turner.{{Cite web |last=MetalSucks |date=June 14, 2017 |title=Chelsea Wolfe: New Album Announced, New Song Released, New Tour Dates Announced! |url=https://www.metalsucks.net/2017/06/14/chelsea-wolfe-new-album-announced-new-song-released-new-tour-dates-announced/ |access-date=2022-12-11 |website=MetalSucks |language=en}} She toured in late 2017 to promote its release. Wolfe also appeared in collaborations on the 2017 Myrkur album Mareridt{{cite web|url=http://www.theprp.com/2017/06/28/news/myrkur-debuts-maneblot-details-new-album-mareridt/|title=Myrkur Debuts "Måneblôt", Details New Album "Mareridt"|date=June 28, 2017|website=Theprp.com}} and the 2018 Deafheaven album Ordinary Corrupt Human Love.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/watch-deafheaven-chelsea-wolfe-duet-in-eerie-night-people-video-705516/|title=Watch Deafheaven, Chelsea Wolfe Duet in Eerie 'Night People' Video|last=Reed|first=Ryan|date=August 1, 2018|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=2018-10-23}}

In March 2019, she revealed that her upcoming album will be largely acoustic, is being recorded in the woods of Northern California, and inspired by current events. Longtime collaborator Ben Chisholm is co-producing the album, featuring some guest players such as drummer Jess Gowrie.{{cite web |title=Chelsea Wolfe on New Acoustic Album, "Embracing the Feminine and Masculine" |url=https://www.revolvermag.com/music/chelsea-wolfe-new-acoustic-album-embracing-feminine-and-masculine |website=Revolver |date=March 12, 2019}} On June 18, 2019, Wolfe announced her sixth studio album, Birth of Violence and released the first single off the album, "The Mother Road". The album was released on September 13, 2019.{{cite web |last1=Minsker |first1=Evan |title=Chelsea Wolfe Announces New Album Birth of Violence, Shares New Song: Listen |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/chelsea-wolfe-announces-new-album-birth-of-violence-shares-new-song-listen/ |website=Pitchfork |access-date=June 18, 2019 |date=June 18, 2019}}

In January 2021, Wolfe chose to get sober{{cite web|url=https://www.kerrang.com/jacob-bannon-and-chelsea-wolfe-take-you-inside-bloodmoon |title=Jacob Bannon and Chelsea Wolfe take you inside Bloodmoon |work=Kerrang |date=November 19, 2021 |access-date=2023-03-12}} and teamed up with Emma Ruth Rundle for the single "Anhedonia" released digitally via Wolfe's Bandcamp store. In March 2021, Wolfe teamed with Xiu Xiu to cover the song "One Hundred Years" by The Cure for Xiu Xiu's duets album Oh No. On May 26, 2021, "Diana," a collaboration between Wolfe, bandmates Ben Chisholm and Jess Gowrie, and Tyler Bates was released as a part of the Dark Nights: Death Metal soundtrack.{{Cite web|url=https://sargenthouse.com/news/blog/chelsea-wolfe-releases-new-single-diana|title=Chelsea Wolfe Releases New Single 'Diana'|website=Sargenthouse.com|date=May 26, 2021|access-date=June 28, 2021}} On September 21, 2021, Wolfe released the B-Side of her sixth studio album, Birth of Violence, featuring the previously unreleased track "Green Altar" and a cover of Joni Mitchell's "Woodstock."{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/CCHELSEAWWOLFE/status/1440341588882833414|title=Chelsea Wolfe|access-date=September 21, 2021}} A documentary detailing the 2019 tour was released alongside it.{{cite web|title=Under the Radar|url=https://twitter.com/Under_Radar_Mag/status/1440341940227084301|access-date=September 21, 2021}}

On November 19 2021, Bloodmoon: I, a collaborative album comprising Wolfe and metalcore band Converge was released. The album also includes contributions from long-time Converge collaborator Stephen Brodsky of Cave In, and Ben Chisholm. The project originated from a performance at the Netherlands’ Roadburn Festival in 2016, where Wolfe and Converge performed a set of reworked Converge songs under the moniker Blood Moon.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/converge-detail-collaborative-album-with-chelsea-wolfe-ben-chisholm-and-stephen-brodsky-3057533|title=Converge detail collaborative album with Chelsea Wolfe, Ben Chisholm and Stephen Brodsky|work=NME|date=29 September 2021}}

= 2023–present: ''She Reaches Out to She Reaches Out to She'' =

On September 20, 2023, Wolfe announced that she had signed with Loma Vista Recordings, and released her debut single with the label, "Dusk".{{Cite news |last=Pearis |first=Bill |date=September 20, 2023 |title=Chelsea Wolfe shares new single "Dusk", announces 2024 tour w/ Divide and Dissolve |work=BrooklynVegan |url=https://www.brooklynvegan.com/chelsea-wolfe-shares-new-single-dusk-announces-2024-tour-w-divide-and-dissolve/ |access-date=October 24, 2023}} On October 24, she announced her seventh album, She Reaches Out to She Reaches Out to She, and released the second single, "Whispers in the Echo Chamber".{{Cite news |last=Minsker |first=Evan |date=October 24, 2023 |title=Chelsea Wolfe Announces Album, Shares New "Whispers in the Echo Chamber" Video |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/chelsea-wolfe-announces-album-shares-new-whispers-in-the-echo-chamber-video-watch/ |access-date=October 24, 2023 |work=Pitchfork}} The album was released on February 9, 2024 to positive reception. Wolfe toured the album throughout the year, including appearances at European festivals including Roadburn, Primavera Sound and Hellfest.{{Cite web |last=Hobson |first=Rich |date=2024-04-23 |title="A doom take on trance by way of Radiohead." Chelsea Wolfe bewitches and delights with spellbinding set at Roadburn |url=https://www.loudersound.com/reviews/chelsea-wolfe-live-review-roadburn-festival-2024 |access-date=2024-09-02 |website=louder |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2024-06-04 |title=The big review: Primavera Sound 2024 |url=https://www.kerrang.com/live-review-primavera-sound-2024-barcelona-spain-deftones-chelsea-wolfe-amyl-and-the-sniffers |access-date=2024-09-02 |website=Kerrang! |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Watch: Hellfest 2024 livestream sets, plus stream schedules |url=https://lambgoat.com/news/43231/watch-hellfest-2024-livestream-sets-plus-stream-schedules/ |access-date=2024-09-02 |website=lambgoat.com |language=en}} She accompanied the album with the Undone EP of remixes and the Unbound EP of acoustic versions.{{Cite web |last=Murray |first=Robin |date=2024-07-30 |title=Chelsea Wolfe Announces New 'UNDONE' EP {{!}} News |url=https://www.clashmusic.com/news/chelsea-wolfe-announces-new-undone-ep/ |access-date=2024-11-15 |website=Clash Magazine Music News, Reviews & Interviews |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |title=Chelsea Wolfe faces the future |url=https://www.thefader.com/2024/11/07/chelsea-wolfe-she-reaches-out-to-she-unbound-ep |access-date=2024-11-15 |website=The FADER |language=en}} On May 4, 2025 Wolfe teamed up with the industrial/noise rock band Health for their collaborative single "MEAN" released digitally via Health's Youtube channel{{Cite web |date=2025-05-05 |title=HEALTH & Chelsea Wolfe Share New Single "MEAN": Listen |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2306778/health-chelsea-wolfe-mean/music/ |access-date=2025-05-22 |website=Stereogum |language=en}}.

Collaborations

= Converge =

File:Converge f4304335.jpg for their album Bloodmoon: I.]]

In April 2016, Wolfe and bandmate Ben Chisholm were special guests for Converge's collaborative live performance, Blood Moon, along with Stephen Brodsky of Cave In and Steve Von Till of Neurosis. Limited to four European performances, the collective performed "ambient/post-rock interpretations"{{cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/roadburn-day-3-2016/|title=Roadburn Day III: Blood Ceremony Soars, Tau Cross Roars, and Converge Goes Goth|last=Kelley|first=Kim|date=April 17, 2016|work=Noisey|access-date=April 17, 2016}} of various tracks from Converge's discography, particularly songs of their "lesser-heard and slower work".{{cite web|url=http://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/converge-blood-moon-brixton-2016|title=Converge 'Blood Moon': The Hardcore Heavyweights Bring Their Tour To London|last=Hartley|first=Tom|date=April 14, 2016|work=NME|access-date=April 17, 2016}} The first Blood Moon set took place at Postbahnhof in Berlin on April 11.{{Cite web|url=http://www.theprp.com/2015/12/22/news/converge-announce-more-blood-moon-shows-with-cave-in-chelsea-wolfe-members/|title=Converge Announce More 'Blood Moon' Shows With Cave In & Chelsea Wolfe Members {{!}} Theprp.com – Metal And Hardcore News Plus Reviews And More|date=December 22, 2015|website=Theprp.com|access-date=2016-12-27}} The second took place at La Cartonnerie in Reims on April 12. The third took place at Electric Brixton in London on April 13. The fourth and final Blood Moon show took place at the Roadburn Festival in the Netherlands on April 16. On September 28, 2021, Converge announced that the band and Chelsea Wolfe had collaborated again for the former's tenth studio album Bloodmoon: I, released on November 19, 2021.{{cite web |title=Converge + Chelsea Wolfe Team on 'Blood Moon,' Announce Collab Album |url=https://loudwire.com/converge-chelsea-wolfe-blood-moon-song-collab-album/ |website=Loudwire |date=September 28, 2021 |access-date=October 6, 2021}}

= Mrs. Piss =

On May 14, 2020, Wolfe and her friend and drummer Jess Gowrie announced their collaborative project Mrs. Piss and their debut album, Self-Surgery with release date on May 29, 2020, through Sargent House.{{Cite web |date=May 14, 2020 |title=Chelsea Wolfe & Jess Gowrie Form New Band Mrs. Piss, Announce Debut Album 'Self-Surgery', & Share First Songs: Listen |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2084401/mrs-piss-chelsea-wolfe-jess-gowrie-downer-surrounded-by-uppers-knelt/music/ |access-date=July 30, 2020 |website=Stereogum.com}}

= ''X'' soundtrack =

In March 2022, film production house A24 announced Wolfe's soundtrack album for the slasher film X. Her cover of "Oui, Oui, Marie" by Arthur Fields was released as a single ahead of the album.{{Cite web |title=A24 announce Chelsea Wolfe score for X, share "Oui Oui Marie" |url=https://www.thefader.com/2022/03/11/-chelsea-wolfe-x-score-a24-oui-oui-marie |access-date=2022-12-11 |website=The FADER |language=en}} The soundtrack involved Wolfe collaborating with composer Tyler Bates, and primary providing vocals for the synthesizer and 1970s-music inspired score.{{Cite web |last=Crouch |first=Rachael |date=May 3, 2022 |title=Tyler Bates and Chelsea Wolfe on Creating the Dark, Funky X Soundtrack: Interview |url=https://consequence.net/2022/05/tyler-bates-chelsea-wolf-x-soundtrack-interview/ |access-date=2022-12-11 |website=Consequence |language=en-US}}

Equipment

She composed her first two albums on her mother's classical guitar, which was missing a tuning peg; as a result, the strings had to be tuned down, which was a stylistic element carried on to the studio recordings. Wolfe frequently plays both a 1979 and 2014 Gibson ES-335, which she used while recording her album Hiss Spun.{{cite web|url=https://www.premierguitar.com/artists/chelsea-wolfe-like-a-ghost-over-a-battlefield|title=Chelsea Wolfe: Like a Ghost Over a Battlefield|date=December 26, 2017|last=Van Bader|first=David|url-status=live|archive-date=September 17, 2022|archive-url=https://archive.today/20220917003014/https://www.premierguitar.com/artists/chelsea-wolfe-like-a-ghost-over-a-battlefield|work=Premier Guitar}} In a 2017 interview, she said that her 2014 Gibson ES-335 was "the best guitar I’ve ever had—every time I pick it up, I want to play it forever." She also performs using several Fender guitars, including a Jazzmaster with a Stratocaster neck, and a Mustang with a Dean neck.

For amplifiers, she has used a 1960s-era Gibson Titan, a 1970s-era Laney Klipp, and a Fender Bassbreaker 45.

Musical style and influences

File:Chelsea Wolfe by Jeremy Perez 2012-06-03.png

Wolfe has mentioned an array of artists and genres as influences, including black metal and Scandinavian folk music, but has said: "I do have a hard time sticking to one genre, and honestly I prefer it that way. I'd rather be free to experiment and make the kind of art I want to make than be easy to define."{{cite web|url=http://thequietus.com/articles/11763-chelsea-wolfe-interview|work=The Quietus|title=Love Is What Remains: An Interview with Chelsea Wolfe|author=Crowe, Jessica|date=March 26, 2013|access-date=June 20, 2013}} Various critics have noted elements of doom metal, drone metal, gothic rock, folk, lo-fi, electronic, noise, and dark ambient in her music.{{cite web|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/chelsea-wolfe/chelsea-wolfe-hiss-spun-review/|title=Chelsea Wolfe: Hiss Spun Review|first=Ben|last=Salmon|publisher=Paste|date=October 16, 2017|access-date=October 28, 2021}} Aside from gothic{{cite web|url=https://consequence.net/2017/07/chelsea-wolfe-unveils-tense-new-song-vex-stream/|title=Chelsea Wolfe unveils tense new song "Vex"|first=Michelle|last=Geslani|publisher=Consequence of Sound|date=July 26, 2017|access-date=September 12, 2017}} and experimental,{{cite web|url=http://issuemagazine.com/chelsea-wolfe/#/|title=Chelsea Wolfe|first=Allan|last=MacDonell|work=Issue Magazine|access-date=September 12, 2017|quote=Experimental musician Chelsea Wolfe ... has been noted for straddling various genres including electronic, folk and psychedelia.}} many critics have dubbed her sound "doom folk".{{Cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/15893-chelsea-wolfe-apokalypsis/|title=Chelsea Wolfe: Apokalypsis Album Review {{!}} Pitchfork|website=Pitchfork|access-date=2017-07-27}}
{{Cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/18456-chelsea-wolfe-pain-is-beauty/|title=Chelsea Wolfe: Pain Is Beauty Album Review {{!}} Pitchfork|website=Pitchfork|access-date=2017-07-27}}
{{Cite web|url=http://www.metalsucks.net/2013/01/31/fear-emptiness-decibel-doom-folk-chanteuse-chelsea-wolfe-is-the-subject-of-the-latest-converse-x-decibel/|title=Fear, Emptiness, Decibel: Doom Folk Chanteuse Chelsea Wolfe is the Subject of the Latest Converse x Decibel|date=January 31, 2013|website=MetalSucks|access-date=2017-07-27}}
{{Cite news|url=http://www.huckmagazine.com/art-and-culture/music-2/chelsea-wolfe/|title=Chelsea Wolfe|date=November 21, 2013|work=Huck Magazine|access-date=2017-07-27|archive-date=September 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170912234430/http://www.huckmagazine.com/art-and-culture/music-2/chelsea-wolfe/|url-status=dead}}
Wolfe has said: "I think deep down I wish I had one of those really gritty voices like Kurt Cobain, so maybe I'm making up for it with distorted guitars."{{cite web|url=http://theworkmag.com/Q-A-with-Chelsea-Wolfe|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130624175836/http://theworkmag.com/Q-A-with-Chelsea-Wolfe|url-status=dead|archive-date=2013-06-24|work=The Work Magazine|title=Q+A with Chelsea Wolfe (Issue No. 5)|author=Campbell, Karyn|access-date=2013-06-20}} Wolfe has been noted as having a soprano vocal range.{{cite web|url=http://doomedandstoned.com/post/146592521983/chelseawolfe|work=Doomed & Stoned|title=Chelsea Wolfe: Dark Goddess|author=Gore, Elizabeth|date=June 27, 2016|access-date= September 3, 2017}} Mojo described her music as "Siouxsie & The Banshees territory [...], with treated strings, echoing drums and lashings of reverb surrounding her double-tracked, crushed velvet voice".{{cite web |url=https://www.mojo4music.com/articles/5080/chelsea-wolfe-we-hit-a-wall|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180326005911/https://www.mojo4music.com/articles/5080/chelsea-wolfe-we-hit-a-wall|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 26, 2018|first=Jenny |last=Bulley|title=Chelsea Wolfe – We Hit A Wall |work=Mojo |date=August 12, 2013 |access-date=March 3, 2017}}

Wolfe has expressed a strong affinity for R&B music,{{cite web|title = The Writing Disorder – Views, Reviews and Interviews|url = http://www.thewritingdisorder.com/reviewswolfe.html|website = thewritingdisorder.com|access-date = November 13, 2015|archive-date = January 18, 2020|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200118183135/http://www.thewritingdisorder.com/reviewswolfe.html|url-status = dead}} citing Aaliyah as a huge influence on her career since her childhood. She said, "I grew up listening to my dad playing guitar while singing harmonies... As a kid I wanted to record my own songs so he set me up with an 8-track. The vibe of those earliest songs was like, Aaliyah meets Fleetwood Mac – what I was listening to mixed with what my parents were listening to. "Age Ain't Nothing But a Number" was my favorite song back then."{{cite web|title = Chelsea Wolfe Talks Aaliyah and Sleep Paralysis|url = http://www.papermag.com/chelsea-wolfe-talks-aaliyah-and-sleep-paralysis-1427630580.html|website = PAPERMAG|access-date = November 13, 2015|date = August 19, 2015}}

Other musical influences include Vladimir Vysotsky, Selda Bagcan, Nick Cave, Hank Williams, Townes Van Zandt, Suicide, SPK, various "1920s and '30s music", Joy Division,{{cite web|title = What Do You Think of When You Think of Goth? – Noisey Meets Chelsea Wolfe|url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cx8qq-RXbf8|website = Noisey – A Vice channel|date=November 15, 2012|access-date = November 26, 2016|quote=when I think about gothic, I think about Joy Division, Siouxsie and the banshees and to be grouped in with that is not a bad thing}} and more recently, Black Sabbath, Sunn O))), Deftones, and Neurosis.{{cite web|url=http://www.thefader.com/2017/10/17/chelsea-wolfe-favorite-metal-albums-hiss-spun-black-sabbath-deftones-gorgoroth|title=Chelsea Wolfe explains her 5 favorite metal albums|last=Mandel|first=Leah|date=October 17, 2017|access-date=May 16, 2019}} In the past she mentioned Burzum as an influence, but later said that she considers Burzum's political views as too extreme.{{cite web|title = Chelsea Wolfe: "Meine Musik ist nicht dunkel" – interview on Krone|url = http://www.krone.at/musik/chelsea-wolfe-meine-musik-ist-nicht-dunkel-krone-interview-story-528576|website = krone.at| date=September 12, 2016 |access-date = November 26, 2016}}

Wolfe has cited the visual elements of filmmaker Ingmar Bergman and photographer Nan Goldin as influences, as well as the writings of D.H. Lawrence and Ayn Rand.{{cite web|url=http://therumpus.net/2012/01/the-rumpus-interview-with-chelsea-wolfe-3/|title=The Rumpus Interview with Chelsea Wolfe |author=Martin, Erin Lyndal|date=January 26, 2012 |access-date=November 25, 2014}} However, on September 24, 2015, she stated that with regard to her supposed affinity with Rand: "When I said I liked Ayn Rand many years ago I didn't know anything about what she stood for or what her books meant. I recant!".{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/cchelseawwolfe/status/647159607752654848 |title=CHELSEA WOLFE on Twitter: "FYI when I said I liked Ayn Rand many years ago I didn't know anything about what she stood for or what her books meant. I recant!" |publisher=Twitter |date=September 24, 2015 |access-date=March 3, 2016}} Other writers she has mentioned as inspirations include Marcel Proust, Louis-Ferdinand Céline and Sylvia Plath.

Since 2011, Wolfe has worked with New York-based costume designer and wardrobe stylist Jenni Hensler,{{cite news |access-date=September 27, 2019 |url=https://www.interviewmagazine.com/music/chelsea-wolfe-apokalypsis |title=Wolfe Eyes |work=Interview Magazine |location=New York, NY |date=October 20, 2011 |author=Kaplan, Ilana}} whom she credits with helping her cultivate and develop her own original image.{{cite news |access-date=September 24, 2019 |url=https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/chelsea-wolfe#slide-12 |title=Indie Crooner Chelsea Wolfe Rocks Her Rad Goth-Glam Style |work=Refinery29 |location=New York, NY |date=December 14, 2012 |author=Chelsea Wolfe}}{{cite news |access-date=September 24, 2019 |url=https://i-d.co/article/chelsea-wolfes-new-album-is-pure-gothic-california/ |title=Chelsea Wolfe's New Album Is Pure Gothic California |work=i-D Magazine |location=London, UK |date=July 28, 2015 |author=Way, Mish Barber}}{{cite news |access-date=September 24, 2019 |url=https://www.flaunt.com/content/chelsea-wolfe |title=Chelsea Wolfe: The Modern American Poet |work=Flaunt Magazine |location=Los Angeles, CA |date=September 13, 2019 |author=Gulyan, Armine}} Hensler's costumes and styling work can be seen both in Wolfe's live performances{{cite news |access-date=September 24, 2019 |url=https://www.flaunt.com/content/music/darkness-comes-keep-eye-light |title=When the Darkness Comes, Keep an Eye on the Light – Tour Diary: Chelsea Wolfe |work=Flaunt Magazine |location=Los Angeles, CA |date=October 23, 2014 |author=Wolfe, Chelsea}} and music videos,{{cite news |access-date=September 19, 2019 |url=http://www.undertheradarmag.com/news/watch_chelsea_wolfe_-_carrion_flowers_video/ |title=Watch: Chelsea Wolfe – "Carrion Flowers" Video |work=Under the Radar |location=Los Angeles, CA |date=June 24, 2015 |author=Roberts, Christopher}}{{cite news |access-date=September 19, 2019 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sb5TszDqYE |title=16 Psyche (Credits listed under the video) |work=Sargent House YouTube channel |date=August 14, 2017 |author=Chelsea Wolfe}} most recently in the video for "Be All Things."{{cite news |access-date=September 24, 2019 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKyX-bWK5xU |title=Be All Things |work=Sargent House YouTube channel |date=August 14, 2019 |author=Chelsea Wolfe}}

Discography

= Studio albums =

= Compilation albums =

=Live albums=

  • Live at Roadburn (2012, Roadburn Records)

=Singles and EPs=

  • "Advice & Vices" digital single (2010, Pendu Sound Recordings)
  • "Prayer for the Unborn" EP (2013, Southern Records)
  • "Sing Songs Together..." split 7-inch single with King Dude (2013, Sargent House)
  • "Sing More Songs Together..." split 7-inch single with King Dude (2014, Not Just Religious Music)
  • "Chelsea Wolfe Folkadelphia Session May 31, 2014" digital EP (2014, Folkadelphia)
  • "Iron Moon" digital single (2015, Sargent House)
  • "Carrion Flowers" digital single (2015, Sargent House)
  • "After the Fall" digital single (2015, Sargent House)
  • "Hypnos" 7-inch single (2016, Sargent House)
  • "16 Psyche" digital single (2017, Sargent House)
  • "Vex" digital single (2017, Sargent House)
  • "Offering" digital single (2017, Sargent House)
  • "The Culling" digital single (2017, Sargent House)
  • "Be All Things" digital single (2019, Sargent House)
  • "The Mother Road" digital single (2019, Sargent House)
  • "American Darkness" digital single (2019, Sargent House)
  • "Deranged for Rock & Roll" digital single (2019, Sargent House)
  • "Woodstock / Green Altar" (2021, Sargent House)
  • "Dusk" (2023, Loma Vista)
  • "Whispers in the Echo Chamber" (2023, Loma Vista)
  • "Tunnel Lights" (2023, Loma Vista)
  • "Everything Turns Blue" (2024, Loma Vista)
  • "Undone" EP (2024, Loma Vista)
  • "Unbound" EP (2024, Loma Vista)

= With Converge =

= With Mrs. Piss =

Band members

File:Hellfest2017ChelseaWolfe 01.jpg in 2017|250px]]

;Current

  • Chelsea Wolfe – vocals, guitars (2009–present)
  • Ben Chisholm – synth, piano, electronics (2009–present) bass (2012–present){{cite web|url=http://www.facebook.com/cchelseawwolfe/info |title=Chelsea Wolfe |publisher=facebook.com |date=August 26, 2012}}
  • Jess Gowrie – drums (2017–present)
  • Bryan Tulao – lead guitars (2017–present)

;Past

  • Kevin Dockter – lead guitars (2009–2015)
  • Addison Quarles – bass (2009–2012)
  • Drew Walker – drums (2009–2012)
  • Dylan Fujioka – drums (2012–2017)
  • Mike Sullivan – lead guitars (2015–2016)
  • Aurielle Zeitler – lead guitars (2016–2017)

;Touring & session

=Timeline=

{{#tag:timeline|

Imagesize = width:800 height:auto barincrement:18

PlotArea = left:115 bottom:60 top:05 right:20

Alignbars = justify

DateFormat = mm/dd/yyyy

Period = from:01/01/2009 till:{{#time:m/d/Y}}

TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy

Colors =

id:Vocals value:red legend:Lead_Vocals

id:Lead value:teal legend:Lead_Guitar

id:Rhythm value:brightgreen legend:Rhythm_Guitar

id:Bass value:blue legend:Bass

id:Drums value:orange legend:Drums

id:Keys value:purple legend:Keyboards

id:Lines value:black legend:Studio_Album

Legend = orientation:horizontal position:bottom

ScaleMajor = increment:2 start:2009

ScaleMinor = unit:year increment:1 start:2009

LineData =

at:12/28/2010 color:black layer:back

at:08/23/2011 color:black layer:back

at:09/03/2013 color:black layer:back

at:08/07/2015 color:black layer:back

at:09/22/2017 color:black layer:back

at:09/13/2019 color:black layer:back

at:02/09/2024 color:black layer:back

BarData =

bar:Chelsea text:"Chelsea Wolfe"

bar:Kevin text:"Kevin Dockter"

bar:Mike text:"Mike Sullivan"

bar:Aurielle text:"Aurielle Zeitler"

bar:Bryan text:"Bryan Tulao"

bar:Addison text:"Addison Quarles"

bar:Ben text:"Ben Chisholm"

bar:Drew text:"Drew Walker"

bar:Dylan text:"Dylan Fujioka"

bar:Jess text:"Jess Gowrie"

PlotData=

width:11 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-4)

bar:Chelsea from:start till:end color:Vocals

bar:Chelsea from:start till:end color:Rhythm width:3

bar:Ben from:start till:12/31/2011 color:Keys

bar:Ben from:01/01/2012 till:end color:Bass

bar:Ben from:01/01/2012 till:end color:Keys width:3

bar:Drew from:start till:12/31/2011 color:Drums

bar:Dylan from:01/01/2012 till:12/31/2016 color:Drums

bar:Kevin from:start till:12/31/2014 color:Lead

bar:Addison from:start till:12/31/2011 color:Bass

bar:Aurielle from:01/01/2016 till:12/31/2016 color:Lead

bar:Mike from:01/01/2015 till:12/31/2015 color:Lead

bar:Jess from:01/01/2017 till:end color:Drums

bar:Bryan from:01/01/2017 till:end color:Lead

}}

Notes

{{Notelist}}

References

{{Reflist|30em|refs=

{{cite web| last = Pearce| first = Sheldon| title = Chelsea Wolfe Wields Snakes in 'Hypnos' Video| work = Pitchfork| date = March 22, 2016| url = http://pitchfork.com/news/64301-chelsea-wolfe-wields-snakes-in-hypnos-video/| access-date = March 22, 2016}}

}}