New York, NY (Top40 Charts/ WiFi-PR Group) For his latest single, the
Fleetwood Mac cover, "Go Your Own Way," Lebanese-Canadian pop, R&B and hip hop artist
Karl Wolf has produced a video that modernizes the song's approach to life and music while visually portraying its overall message.
Filmed in Dubai under the direction of
David Zennie and with the help of Ford Middle East, the video has the potential to propel this already popular single straight to the top of the charts. Wolf has released the "Go Your "Own Way" video on his Vevo channel and website.
Karl Wolf, Canadian Billboard chart-topper and winner of the 2008 MTV
Europe Music Award for Best Act, has appealed to the masses in Canada and beyond with his sultry blend of pop, R&B and hip hop, and he's slated to achieve this same success in the United States with his latest single, "Go Your Own Way." The
Fleetwood Mac cover has already jumped 15 spots to #39 on the Hot AC Billboard Canadian Charts as of July 30. The track was one of the most added songs to the charts according to the Nielsen ratings and is gaining momentum with each passing week.
After blowing up on the global music scene with his 2009 single and Toto cover, "Africa," Wolf enjoyed immediate fame as his track jumped from #32 to #2 on the iTunes charts, peaked at #1 and then remained at #2 for the next four weeks. "
Africa" topped the MuchMusic Top 30 Countdown charts and also peaked at #20 on the Japan Hot 100 chart. After its huge success in Canada, the track was his first single released in the United States after signing with Universal Republic Records for U.S. distribution.
His latest single, "Go Your Own Way," has also already achieved massive success in Canada, and it's only a matter of time before he earns his much deserved spot on music charts in the U.S.
Wolf explains to Canada MSN Entertainment his choices for "
Go Your Own Way" and "
Africa" as singles: "I do this because it was personal for me; I love the originals, and I am trying to showcase these songs in a way that kids today can understand. […] I try to twist these songs into an urban vibe which is kind of dancehall/R&B, and it makes sense for them [younger listeners]."
There are two versions of the track: one with Arab strings that Wolf himself co-produced and a club version that is taking off and that he and his team are pushing across the world. The teaser for the "
Go Your Own Way" video, released earlier this month, has everything one could want in a video trailer: a beautiful, golden-plated woman (dressed by Amato Haute Couture), a fast car (Shelby Cobra Mustang from Ford Middle East), a dark rider on horseback and, for the ladies, a shirtless, soulful singer. The video's Dubai backdrop is gorgeous and rustic with endless mountains and a picturesque lake.
Director David Zennie is a young, flourishing American filmmaker who directed some of the first hip hop videos in the
Middle East back in 2008, with several of them peaking at #1 on the MTV Arabia's International Express Chart. He also won awards for "Best Director" and "Best Clip" at the 2012
Middle East Music Awards, among other awards and nominations throughout his career. Zennie was a great fit for bringing Wolf's vision alive, and the video speaks volumes as to the combined talents of these two artists.
On his upcoming album, Wolf has collaborated with more artists than on any album before—a trend he has built upon with every consecutive album leading to his latest. After dozens of past collaborations, from
Snoop Dogg and Culture to
Choclair and Sway, Wolf now bases his choice of fellow artist based on the sound he's going for. He's reaching for a darker, more R&B feel, so expect collaborators of that nature to appear on this effort.
One notable aspect to Wolf's career is that every year, no matter where he is, he always returns to his home country to play the Ottawa Lebanese Festival—and he contributes his time, effort and performance for free, now for seven years in a row. He affirms his dedication in an interview with
Kenny B on Hot 89.9 in Ottawa: "I love my community, and we're celebrating Lebanese culture. […] So I gotta be part of it. The fans love it. How can I say no? It doesn't matter how big we get, how busy we are—we gotta come back. It's a community. You can't forget where you came from."
In addition to his popular music, it is this passion and dedication to bridging his homeland with the English-speaking world that earns him a spot among music lovers everywhere. His annual performance at a Lebanese festival in Canada, where his popularity is surging to the top, draws fans into a new world of Arab music. It is this ardent take on his music and hometown that makes him a welcome addition to the U.S. music scene, which is filled with artists who represent their hometowns with their music and performances.
In an interview with Say News at MuchMusic's Juno Fan Fare just before the Juno Awards, for which he received two nominations, Wolf shared his reaction to the nominations and his goals as a musician."I came as an immigrant here, and to finally come to this point, I think that shows a lot. And it gives hope to other people who are in my position as well who didn't think they could ever make it. And then to be recognized by the industry itself—trust me, I fought really hard to come where I am. I love to fuse music, cultures and stuff. Because I'm Lebanese-Canadian, I love showing people a different view of the world. Not the world that you were just born into. But let me play you an Arabic song […] just to mess with your mind and think outside the box."
Wolf's down-to-earth attitude shows in his constant interaction with fans on social media, including plenty of retweets, and his fans feel like they can connect with him and his music on a deeper level. A majority of his audience ranges from teenagers to young adults, and he hopes to continue to attract a fan base on the level of Boyz II Men.
His recent shows included a week long trip to Africa this month in support of Feed the Children. With his album set to release this fall, his anticipated tour dates are late fall and early winter but are subject to change.
About
Karl Wolf Music
Singles:
• "
Butterflies" (2005)
• "Desensitize" feat.
Choclair (2006)
• "Referee" (2006)
• "Triple R" feat.
Snoop Dogg (2006)
• "She Wants to Know" (2007)
• "
Africa" feat. Culture (2008) - CAN: 4x Platinum
• "
Carrera" (2009) - CAN: Gold
• "
Yalla Habibi" feat. Rime Salmi & Kaz Money (2009) - CAN: Gold
• "
Hurting" feat. Sway (2010)
• "80s Baby" (2010)
• "
Ghetto Love" feat.
Kardinal Offishall (2011) - CAN: Gold
• "
Mash It Up" / "Fuck Shit Up" feat.
Three 6 Mafia (2011) - CAN: Gold
• "
DJ Gonna Save Us" feat. Mr. OxXx (2012)
• "#1" feat. Demarco (2012)
• "
Go Your Own Way" feat. Reema Major (2013)
Website: https://www.karlwolf.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KARLWOLFFANPAGE
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KARLWOLFs
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/artist/karl-wolf
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/KarlWolfs
