Wolf Uses the Majestic Landscape of His Native State of Montana to Inspire His Artistry
Written by Matt Corirossi
Iconic memoirist and poet Maya Angelou was once quoted in her autobiography Conversations with Maya Angelou as, “You can never go home again, but the truth is you never leave home, so it’s all right.” This smart affirmation brings forward the point that regardless of an individual’s current location, they will never lose sight of their home. A person’s hometown is the building block of their identity. Everyone ends up becoming a product of their environment. Through every local interaction, a person forms their beliefs, attitudes, and approaches that become integral to their personality. Every decision made and action undertaken includes elements of their homestead. If a person decides to change their surroundings, the foundation will remain. Anyone who pursues a creative endeavor is especially tied to their abode. It is natural for an artist to reflect on the community around them within their work. Art can be used to produce vivid visuals and keep traditions alive. In addition, it will attract a significant nearby audience. Local support tends to remain loyal as the artist achieves subsequent milestones.
Rob Wolf is a country music artist born and raised in Livingston, Montana. Livingston is the home of the Paradise Valley, a major river in the state. The town is wind-blown and at the base of a mountain. Wolf’s hometown is the type where people stay for life and has become a collective of cowboys, ranchers, and artists. The rugged terrain around Paradise Valley established a set of guiding principles for how Wolf lives his life. He explains these rules to publication Music City Melodies as, “I live by three rules, love God, love your family, and don’t take anything for granted.” Chief among the things that he does not underestimate is the sweeping landscape that defines his artistry. Wolf is an avid outdoorsman and takes advantage of his state’s natural splendor. When he must leave Montana to pursue his dreams, he lives by the motto “You can take the boy out of Montana, but you can never take Montana out of the boy.” His mind is firmly affixed to regular outings of fly fishing along the river’s edge or riding his horse in the Montana wild. This recollection is needed to focus on his songwriting. Wolf’s debut single “Home” vividly confesses that while he is thousands of miles away in Nashville, Tennessee realizing his music dreams, his mind drifts back to his home fires and tranquil scenery of Montana. Wolf explains his mindset to publication Music City Melodies as, “The outdoors may fuel me, but music has my soul. Creating and performing good music has my soul. Creating and performing good music is my passion and therapy. I write about ordinary life and do my best to make it entertaining and enjoyable.”
Along with a deep reverence for Montana’s eternal wilderness, Wolf’s upbringing entrenched in him a set of cowboy values. These values of working hard, working early, and never backing down are ones that he proudly proclaims today. He has heard countless times that cowboys are a dying breed and pessimistic predictions that the lifestyle will fade away. Wolf does not subscribe to that viewpoint. He believes that if there is land that needs to be worked on, cowboys will step up to answer the call. Wolf wrote his single “The Cowboy Way” to share with listeners the daily routine of those who choose this noble profession. He details the song’s intentions to publication Lovin’ Lyrics Music Promotions as, “I feel like this song tells the world what to expect of a cowboy – hardcore grit and an iron work ethic. Being a cowboy is a way of life, not a hobby, and I wrote this song to share not just my experiences but the experiences of all the farmers and ranchers in Paradise Valley, Montana, where I’m from.” With Wolf’s continuing to amass memories forged in Montana, he was ready to release another single. Wolf’s latest song “100 Degrees” was released on August 2nd and is available now on all major streaming platforms.
“100 Degrees” Cover Art. Photograph Credit: Lena Rich
Wolf grew up in a family that supported both his artistic and athletic endeavors. He remembers being raised on country music. His father was a John Denver fan and Wolf recalls learning most of his catalog. He began performing in school productions in fifth grade. Over time, Wolf became more involved in music. During his freshman year of high school, he started to learn the guitar. His performance career was initiated when he worked as a dishwasher at Sage Lodge in Paradise Valley. That job provided him with the opportunity to perform every Friday night. At the weekly gig, Wolf shaped his sound and perfected his skills though connecting with the local audience. He enjoyed singing to the town’s regulars and visitors. As he continued performing, Wolf realized that the crowd sizes increased, and he was becoming known as the person for Friday night entertainment.
Alongside his creative journey was a lifetime spent outdoors. He could be seen playing in the mud, riding four-wheelers, or shooting his dad’s back window out of his pickup with his trusty BB gun. Wolf has an affinity for hunting as he comes from a multi-generational hunting family. Wolf uses his hunting time to reconnect with loved ones and listen to stories of days gone by. Being a mountain locale, he benefits from the plentiful skiing opportunities. He strives to conquer every inch of the mountain. Thus, he challenges himself by skiing the hardest and steepest side of the mountain as it provides the adrenaline rush of knowing that something could go wrong at any moment.
Wolf’s passion for playing baseball provided a dilemma. As he got older, it became apparent that he was unable to balance baseball and his rising performing career. Wolf was talented in baseball and envisioned himself as playing for a college. True to his nature, he hung on to that dream throughout his childhood. However, one night after a tournament changed his viewpoint. While in Denver, one of his teammates wanted to go to a karaoke bar. After locating one that would allow two 18-year-olds to enter, Wolf sang two of his favorite songs. When he returned home from the tournament, his father asked him if he enjoyed singing or playing baseball more. In a moment of honesty and clarity, Wolf replied singing. This revelation led to him dropping baseball and proceeding with chasing his musical goals.
As the potential in advancing in music was limited in Montana, Wolf decided to move to Nashville. His first shows were not as a solo act as he teamed up with his sister Jackie and formed a duo, Rob & Jackie Wolf. Rob & Jackie Wolf were known for writing and performing extremely personal songs that connected with an audience. One of these songs was “Mama, Don’t Give Up”. The song told the story of the pain and struggle of someone battling addiction. In addition, the duo performed a mesmerizing cover of Leonard Cohen’s hit “Hallelujah”.
While the duo was mapping out their debut EP, Rob never lost sight of recording as a solo artist. Rob & Jackie Wolf ended up taking a backseat as he started gaining momentum by himself. Wolf released his debut solo single “Home” in 2022. He followed up that single with additional singles “Everything to Me”, “For the Best”, “What’s Yours”, “How I Live My Life”, “Banks of Yellowstone”, “Destiny”, “Peacefully”, his version of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah”, “The Cowboy Way”, and “The One”. Wolf’s catalog has led him to his latest release of his single “100 Degrees”.
“100 Degrees”, written by Wolf and produced by Tyler Cain, is an up-tempo and breezy song that encapsulates the feeling of having a person’s thoughts dominated by thinking about coming home to a significant other. The song was recorded at Bold Studios in Nashville and included the contributions of an impressive roster of studio musicians. Included in the credits are: Cain (electric guitar), Jackson Eppley (bass guitar), Kevin Murphy (drums), Bruce Bouton (steel guitar), Jenee Fleenor (fiddle/mandolin), and Wolf (acoustic guitar).
The romantic lyrics follow the individual home, as once they arrive, they are completely dedicated to spending the rest of the evening doing whatever the other person desires. The song concludes with a display of gratitude for having their romantic interest in their life. A melody steered by a steel guitar and a fiddle ensures that the song remains rooted in a neo-traditional style that encourages audience participation through singing and dancing along. The robust engagement was intentional as Wolf explains, “When I look out in the audience and see a lot of my fans are dancing really keeps my energy up and puts a giant smile on my face. When I see people singing my songs back to me, I never take those moments for granted.”
Those looking to remain updated on Wolf’s music can follow him online at robwolf.com.
Wolf has built a career taking his experiences and values gained from his Montana hometown and transplanting them into the music that he produces in Nashville. Influenced heavily by the outdoors, he creates a rugged sound and earnest prospective that connects with an audience far beyond his home state’s borders. His atmospheric interpretation is impeccably displayed on his latest single “100 Degrees".