Wolf whistles

Karl Wolf is a happy man. He's got a new album coming up and he'll be playing at the Lauryn Hill show. He tells Marie-Louise Olson all about falling in love with music

He's a Sharjah boy. That's what his friends call him. And in his heart he feels the same way. So, it wasn't a complete coincidence that Karl Wolf stumbled upon a half-finished island resort in a secret location off the shore of Dibba, Oman.

That's where he shot the music video for his first single in his soon-to-be-released next album, Bite the Bullet. The song is Africa — an intense and funky R'n'B remixed version of US rock band Toto's hit song from 1982.

The 28-year-old singer, producer and songwriter sat relaxed on a couch in the EMI (his record label) building a few days after the shoot.

Wearing a red cap, white singlet and flowery board shorts, he looked like he was on holiday. The skin was beginning to peel on his shoulders and nose from a sunburn, but he shrugged it off with his cheeky smile.

'Amazing'

"I hate sunblock," he said. He admitted he's been going to the beach every single day to relax since he came back from the video shoot. The shoot itself, Wolf says grimacing, was not easy. Confusion, frustration and heatstroke in a remote location only serve as a hazardous cocktail.

But he's convinced it will be a success. "It looks amazing. We'll have a sick video.

"I've always wanted to direct my own video. I came up with the concept. The story. You know, I'm an artist. I create music. I see the vision as well. I can't have it any other way."

Crush

The essence of the video stems from something deeper — the song Africa, and what it changed for him.

"It was the first song that made me fall in love with music. I fell in love with music, and I fell in love in general with that song. I was like 10 years old, and I was with the first girl that I had a crush on.

"That song made me feel something, and the harmonies just touched me. I've always loved music before then, but I understood music from that day forth. I understood how to make harmonies. It was an epiphany. It was just like 'bang'," Wolf said.

He was smiling, the charming creases around his eyes deepening, but there was no joking around. He knows what he wants, and what he can do.

'Sexier'

And now as his album (which features songs produced at Creative Kingdom studios, Dubai) is soon to be released, he just can't conceal his excitement.

"Oh man, this album. This time around it's all up-tempos. A lot of club bangers. There is some stuff from the old album. But it's the evolution of Karl Wolf. It's sexier, I guess. More hard-edged. More R'n'B, more hip hop. I'm mixing Arabic in there too. This is the best one so far.

"It's really hot. I'm really excited. There are some singles in there… Whooo!!!"

Step back ladies and gentlemen, cause there's no stopping the Wolf.

Soaring career

Karl Wolf's career is skyrocketing at the moment. His last album, Face Behind the Face (EMI Arabia) was a hit with the popular singles, Butterflies and Desensitize. He plays most of the instruments on his songs and writes virtually everything.

"I hear things that people don't hear. I'm sensitive to sound. That's why I create music, right?" he said, a soft Canadian accent peeping through, while he spoke excitedly with his hands.

"Because, I can hear things. I create them in my head first, and then they come out through my hands and piano. I know how to capture a feeling with my music."

The UAE link

Karl Wolf was born in Lebanon, but when he was only 3 his family moved to the UAE.

He grew up in Sharjah and still feels very attached to it.

Later he went to Montreal, Canada, where he started his music career, but comes back to Dubai often to visit his friends and family.

He actually wishes he still lived here and has plans to move back.

"There is no wakeboarding in Montreal," he says with a grin.