Nico Rives drops a gritty delta blues anthem with "Wolf"

 

Nico Rives’ latest single, “Wolf,” is more than just a track, it’s a trip back to blues origins, where the street corner serves as a stage and each note narrates a tale. From the initial strum of the dobro to the eerie rasp of his deliberately rough voice, Rives crafts an intense, unrefined experience that feels as primal and wild as the song’s focal figure, a lunatic existing on society's outskirts. Yet hidden beneath its untamed surface is a profound reality, maybe we all have a bit of wildness within us. 

The instrumentation in "Wolf" is an exemplary demonstration of texture. The bottleneck slides on the dobro capture the essence of Delta Blues, as the electric guitar, set in Open G, resonates softly like an unsettled spirit. A cajon emphasizes the beat, its Spanish origins paying homage to the improvisational essence of blues artists who historically employed whatever was available to express their music. Rives performs each instrument by himself, blending bass, treble, and percussion into a vibrant stereo fabric that distinguishes every component while uniting them all with the vitality of a single live take. 

What genuinely distinguishes “Wolf,” however, is its emotional essence. The narrative of social exclusion, expressed with raw sincerity, seems both intimately personal and widely relatable. Rives isn’t merely performing; he’s revealing his innermost self. The flaws, deliberate and welcomed, give this song a sense of vitality, as if it’s happening right now. In "Wolf," Nico Rives not only honors blues traditions but also reclaims them, creating a work that is both timeless and distinctly his own.

Stream HERE