Easton, Maryland native Caleb Lovell aka Young Wolf is spreading his unique sound around the DMV. Learn more about Lovell’s journey with contributing writer Jaci Jedrych, including why he believes nothing is wasted in creativity.
Raised on the eastern shore of Maryland, Lovell performs under the moniker Young Wolf. His music roots are inspired by his father, who filled his home with music as a child. When he was 10, he picked up his uncle’s old Gibson acoustic guitar. He took six years of lessons, during which he started creating his own music around 12. Lovell didn’t take his music seriously until college. He got involved in school open mics and other events during his freshman year, and released his debut album in 2020 alongside four other singles.
Lovell is very inspired by his Maryland roots. His song “Chesapeake Winds” is a tribute to the shore. He has family in Virginia and attended college in D.C., so the DMV runs through his music.
His genre is most influenced by indie and alternative rock, particularly The War on Drugs, Wilco, and The National. Lovell was raised on classic rock, like Rush, Bruce Springsteen, and Tom Petty, all of whom have an effect on his sound.
“In my songs, I strive to bridge the world of the singer-songwriter with expansive, ambient soundscapes,” said Lovell.
His style of music reflects who he is as a person– “contemplative and constantly searching for truth and beauty in the world.” He hopes that his music reaches people deeply. Lovell sees his music as unique because of its subject matter and sound. He seeks to create atmospheric soundscapes that complement the lyrics.
Lovell says his main muses are beauty and struggle.
“I have always been drawn to the natural world; for me, it is a source of endless inspiration and wonder,” he said. “I also tend to be drawn to music and art that is redemptive – that tells a story about overcoming certain hardships, usually within oneself. The kind of music that I aspire to make focuses heavily on both of these themes.”
To find inspiration for his music, Lovell tries to observe little moments in his daily life.
“There are tons of little things throughout my day that can ignite that spark of creativity, whether it be reading an interesting book, watching the changing light in the trees outside my house, or something as simple as having a good cup of coffee when I’m writing,” Lovell said.
“As an artist, I feel that it is my job to get good at noticing these things and acknowledging them by somehow implementing them into my creative process. This could be writing a few lines to a new song, capturing a picture that may be used later as inspiration for a project, or simply being grateful for that thing in the moment. I don’t believe that anything can be wasted in creativity.”
Alongside these small moments, Lovell explores big struggles in his music. His mental health journey is a theme of his lyrics. Though some of these moments are difficult, they are important to his creative process.
“Writing songs helps me process things internally, and the beauty of it is that it cannot only help me heal, but hopefully can be a powerful force of connection with others through empathy,” he said. “So in that sense, I value the struggle because it can bring about some of my most meaningful work.”
Lovell hopes to reach a wider audience as he moves through his musical journey. Though he hopes to find new and effective ways to promote his music, he says he is extremely grateful that there are people who listen to his music regularly.
“I know that there are people out there who connect with my songs, and that’s really all I could ever ask for as a musician.”
Lovell feels a special connection with the audience when he performs. During his performances, he enters an “intimate space where I can freely express myself and share in a communal experience where music draws people together.”
He is working on recording and mixing tracks for his second full-length record, which he has been working on for over two years. The album will be available for release in the fall. To follow Lovell’s musical journey, find him on Instagram @youngwolf.cl.
Jaci Jedrych is a World Politics student at The Catholic University in Washington, D.C. She loves going to concerts and exploring different genres, and has a passion for arts and news writing.
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