Needtobreathe’s frontman Bear Rinehart who is now known as Wilder Woods has officially released his first debut album today via Atlantic Records. Based in South Carolina, the singer/songwriter debuted his solo project with a three-song EP earlier this year which is now followed up by a ten-track record.
“This music represents a new direction and something totally fresh for me,” he says, “so I wanted to find a producer that I had never worked with before who could match that energy. Gabe [producer] was perfect because he came from a completely different musical world, but he was still somebody I could get really deep into guitar tones and harmonic structure and rhythmic ideas with.”
While this is just the beginning for Bear’s solo project, Wilder Woods, he’s going to have a busy schedule with the remaining months left of the year! He will celebrate the release of his debut LP by embarking on a North American headline Fall tour starting September 5th at Mod Club in Toronto, Ontario and wrapping it up on October 10th at Trees in Dallas, Texas before he travels off to Europe.
You can read below our interview with Bear Rinehart of Wilder Woods conducted by our staff member, Jennifer Goodman. Make sure to stream his brand new self-titled album via Spotify below and check out his website here for more information!
Wilder Woods is your name for your latest project. Can you explain to us how you came up with the name?
Wilder and Woods are the names of my 4 and 1-year-old sons. They were the catalysts for me finally taking a leap and doing a solo project.
What made you decide to release music under Wilder Woods instead of your chart-topping band Needtobreathe?
For one, the music is very different. I think, in the end, the audiences will be different as well. I also wanted to collaborate with a bunch of people that I hadn’t had the chance to previously.
Do you think it was a shock when fans knew you wanted to do your own thing?
It’s hard to say. I’ve been working on it for over a year now, so it seemed really natural to me. It feels like they’ve been really supportive so far!
When did you realize it was time to start releasing music under a solo project?
I started getting the itch about 5 years ago. Mostly because I was writing songs that I didn’t think really fit what the band did, and I wanted to be able to release them.
You have an upcoming album out for release soon. What can you tell us about this album so far and how do you think this differentiates from other artists in the industry right now?
I love the record, and I’m incredibly proud of it. I’m extremely lucky to have years worth of experience in making records and touring to draw from as well. Not many artists making their “debut” can say that.
Your album releases today on August 9, and you also have a show in Boulder, Colorado. Do you have anything particular in mind when you release it? Perhaps a party?
No, just that the band and I put together for this thing is out of control!
Lastly, what can fans expect on your upcoming tour?
Fans can expect for these shows to be a non-stop party and to leave really sweaty.
WILDER WOODS’ HEADLINE FALL TOUR 2019
SEPTEMBER
5 Toronto, ON Mod Club
7 Philadelphia, PA World Café Live
8 Cambridge, MA The Sinclair
9 Brooklyn, NY Music Hall of Williamsburg
11 Washington, DC 9:30 Club
13 Raleigh, NC Lincoln Theatre
14 Charlotte, NC The Underground
15 Birmingham, AL WorkPlay Theatre
16 Nashville, TN The Basement East
18 Atlanta, GA Terminal West
19 Nashville, TN The Basement East
23 Chicago, IL Metro
24 Minneapolis, MN Fine Line Music Café
25 Madison, WI Majestic Theatre
27 Lawrence, KS The Granada Theater
28 Omaha, NE Slowdown
30 Denver, CO Bluebird Theater
OCTOBER
2 Salt Lake City, UT Metro Music Hall
4 Portland, OR Hawthorne Theatre
6 San Francisco, CA The Independent
7 West Hollywood, CA Troubador
10 Dallas, TX Trees
20 Hamburg, DE Hakken
21 Cologne, DE Helios 37
23 Paris, FR 1999 Club
24 Amsterdam, NL Paradiso
25 Glasgow, UK King Tuts
27 Manchester, UK Deaf Institute
28 London, UK Camden Assembly
