NeverReady

The 3rd Single from Wïlderman, released by Donut Records on 25/08/23

Sleepwalkers

"Only One" is Bristols Wilderman's second release with Donut Records, and is a song about love and sex. Harmful compulsions and casual addictions. It is about learning to think outside the box when the box is you. And realising that whatever life you live, it should always be yours and yours alone

Only One

8 Feet

A wheezing Trump on the White House balcony; a tech giant portraying a utopian workplace; armed right-wing militia protesting lockdown; a chief medic silently aghast at the suggestion of injecting disinfectant. These are the sorts of images that have inspired Wïlderman’s debut offering as the series of unfortunate events that has been bookended by the beyond-bizarre 45th US presidency has unfolded across the pond.

Born in Los Angeles, California, Wïlderman moved to the UK aged nine and, while counting himself a Brit, has always felt keenly his US heritage. It was this feeling of duality – in recent times, he says, akin to watching a load of toxic drama transpire among a group of friends he no longer drinks with – that led to the penning of the new track.

“We’ve always held the US up as the pinnacle of Western society, but they’re just making it up as they go along. This is a different way of viewing a subject we’ve been batting around for so long, rather than just social media shit-slinging; distilling and articulating all the ideas floating around between us to try and make sense of things.” – Wïlderman

Who Wants to Be an American

Wïlderman is the alias of Bobby Anderson – son of Young Disciples singer Carleen Anderson and grandson of James Brown’s right-hand man Bobby Byrd. An intrinsic part of the fabric of Bristol’s live music scene for 15 years, including stints fronting cult band Fortune Drive in the early days and touring with fellow Bristolians IDLES in 2020, he is known for distinctively raw, soulful vocals. Tinged with Americana, its lifeblood a powerful vox that doesn’t fail to deliver a shiver, the folk-flavoured Who Wants To Be An American can be seen as a peaceable protest yarn. A philosophical commentary on continuing conflict, that illustrates Wïlderman’s knack for writing lyrics that communicate what everyone’s thinking but hasn’t quite worked out how to say yet.

Wïlderman

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