Wolf Alice Talk Staying Fresh: “Not Resting on Your Laurels Is Really Exciting”

Some musicians begin with grand ambitions, but Wolf Alice’s early aim in the 2010s was modest and charmingly specific. They wanted to perform at The Old Blue Last, a small east London pub that held around one hundred fifty people and served as the heart of the area’s indie culture. More than ten years later, they have far surpassed that original dream. Not only have they returned to that venue many times, but they have also climbed the ranks of British music and now perform in far larger spaces. This week they will headline arenas across the UK, including a pair of shows at London’s The O2 on December 2 and 3.

“I still kind of feel like that dream is the real thing and everything else is just an extra level,” guitarist Joff Oddie says with a smile when NME brings up their old goal. When we speak, the band is midway through the European leg of their tour, crowded together on a black leather sofa backstage and leaning toward a laptop screen.

This moment feels like a natural point in Wolf Alice’s evolution to make such a big jump. Realistically, they could have filled arenas during the era of their third album, the gorgeous 2021 release Blue Weekend. But instead of rushing into something they were not quite ready for, they allowed themselves the time to grow into it.

“Doing arenas during Blue Weekend probably would have been too soon,” bassist Theo Ellis reflects as the others nod. “I really believe this is the right moment for us to try something on that scale. Our growth has felt steady and healthy. We move forward only when we are ready, and we take creative risks only when we believe we can deliver the kind of show we want to give.”

The group’s live show today feels perfectly suited to arenas and possibly even larger settings. When they returned to the stage this past summer after three years off the road, their newfound strength was unmistakable. Frontwoman Ellie Rowsell performed with an intensity and confidence that exceeded anything they had shown before, and the entire band played with explosive focus, determined to make their concerts joyful, emotional, and full of impact. That surge of energy can be traced back to many of the ideas behind their fourth album, The Clearing, released in August, which saw the four musicians settling comfortably into their thirties and creating songs with the live experience in mind.

“No matter what size stage we are on, it feels like stepping into a real production, almost like a play,” Rowsell says of their goals for this tour. “I wanted the songs to carry that sense of performance from the writing stage onward, rather than figuring it out later. People keep telling us this is our most relaxed album, and maybe that is true, but when we perform it, I feel the complete opposite.”

“It was difficult to make this album and it is definitely a challenge to perform some of the parts live,” Ellis continues. “That sense of stretching ourselves rather than feeling comfortable is exciting. I feel like we are pushing into new territory and that there is always something more to reach for in these songs.”

For some listeners, The Clearing, with hints of Americana and traces of sunny West Coast pop, might seem like a new stylistic path for Wolf Alice. But if you revisit their earlier records, you can see the threads running throughout their work. The band has consistently moved forward, giving themselves permission to explore new ideas rather than sticking to one tightly defined sound. As Ellis puts it, in many ways, “this is the most Wolf Alice album we have ever made.”

The bright and breezy Just Two Girls showcases Rowsell’s continued ability to capture the emotional richness of female friendship, following the lineage of early single Bros and 2017’s Beautifully Unconventional. Meanwhile, the deeply romantic Leaning Against The Wall feels like a companion to their beloved Don’t Delete The Kisses from their second album Visions Of A Life. It has the same heart fluttering quality and dreamy slow motion glow, with Rowsell singing lines like “You put my world in slow mo, you put my name up in lights.”

“Lyrically, Don’t Delete The Kisses is anxious and nervous and very grounded in reality,” Rowsell explains. “Leaning Against The Wall embraces the joy, the fantasy, the movie like feeling of love.” The two songs highlight not only the band’s growth but hers as well. “When I was younger, I loved films and books that felt exactly like real life. Now, I want something with magic in it, something that stretches beyond the everyday.”

In the eight years since its release, Don’t Delete The Kisses has become particularly meaningful within Wolf Alice’s story. It slowly built momentum to become their biggest and most cherished song, and it now closes their concerts with a moment that unites entire venues in shared awe. “We have never been the kind of band where people come to hear one specific song,” Ellis notes. “People who come to our shows seem invested in everything. That has been wonderful. But having a song that connects all those different stories and entry points is really special.”

The fact that Wolf Alice now have many different paths for listeners to discover them reflects their long lasting bond as a band. As they have mentioned throughout the promotion of The Clearing, it is unusual for a group to remain intact with the same lineup for so many years. Rowsell and Oddie have been together in the band for fifteen years, and Ellis and drummer Joel Amey for thirteen. Ask them what has kept them growing together rather than drifting apart, and they immediately start teasing one another until Amey gently guides the conversation back to sincerity. “The feeling I had when I first met these guys, the excitement of wanting to play with them in Scar Studios in Camden, that feeling has never left me,” he says. “That is what makes you want to keep going.”

“I still have this inherent excitement of when I first met these guys very much alive in me”
Joel Amey

“And we support each other really well when things go wrong, even more than when everything is smooth,” Oddie says. “That is why some of your best shows happen when things are falling apart, because everyone suddenly joins forces,” Rowsell laughs, while Ellis jokes, “And we have had enough of those.”

Now that they are firmly established, the band feel a responsibility to pass on the same generosity they once received from more experienced musicians. This mindset has been especially present as Irish newcomers Florence Road have joined them on the European tour. “Knowing that someone has committed themselves to the road for a long period of time makes you want to create a supportive and positive environment for them,” Ellis says.

They are also acutely aware of how difficult it is for new bands today, especially with grassroots venues under constant pressure and rising costs making it hard for young musicians without financial support to gain opportunities. “We were pretty fortunate with the opportunities we had, and it would be a real loss if younger acts do not get the same chances,” Oddie reflects. Wolf Alice have joined the LIVE Trust levy on ticket sales, contributing one pound from each ticket to grassroots venues. As a new parent, he feels even more strongly that meaningful changes are needed.

“It always comes down to money,” he says. “Schools need more funding. Music equipment is usually the first thing cut when budgets shrink. There is also a gap in how we support artists. Some groups in the industry have been very good at making a case for why they need support, but I do not think artists have been equally good at advocating for themselves. I would love to see more resources or Arts Council funding going directly to young acts.”

He emphasizes that this is not about wasting funds, but providing artists with access to opportunities that can shape their careers, such as the PRS For Music Foundation’s International Showcase Fund. Wolf Alice benefited from this program in 2014, which allowed them to attend SXSW. “That changed everything for us because we really could not afford to go. But it opened so many doors. The reality is, the answer is money.”

Throughout their career, Wolf Alice have spoken up about issues they care about, both within music and beyond. They intend to keep doing so as they continue to evolve, feeling deeply connected not only to their own creative world but also to the wider community of musicians. “There is just so much great stuff happening right now,” Amey says. “Seeing all the new music coming out makes me excited. I feel ready to start creating again.”

Ask the band what they want from the future, and their answer circles back to the simplicity that defined their earliest days. “More music, loads of gigs, happiness,” Ellis says. Rowsell adds, “I get so inspired thinking about what I can learn in the studio. Every time feels completely new. I want to keep improving. There is so much joy in that curiosity, and I am really excited about it.” With their constant desire to grow and challenge themselves, the world should be eager to hear what they do next.

Wolf Alice’s The Clearing is out now via Columbia Records. The band are currently touring the UK and Ireland through December 10, with international dates planned for 2026.