Canadian musician (born 1979)
Karl Wolf
|
---|
|
|
Birth name
| Carl Abou Samah
|
---|
Also known as
| KW, Karl Wolf
|
---|
Born
| (
1979-04-18
)
April 18, 1979
(age 45)
Beirut
, Lebanon
|
---|
Origin
| Toronto
, Ontario, Canada
|
---|
Genres
| Pop,
R&B
,
soul
,
fusion
|
---|
Occupation(s)
| Singer, songwriter, record producer, musician
|
---|
Instrument(s)
| Vocals, guitar, piano
|
---|
Years active
| 2001?present
|
---|
Labels
| LW Records
LW Entertainment
EMI (2001?2010)
Universal Republic
(2010)
Universal Music Canada
(2011?present)
|
---|
|
Website
| www
.karlwolf
.com
|
---|
Musical artist
Carl Abou Samah
(
Arabic
:
???? ??? ???
; born April 18, 1979),
[1]
better known by his stage name
Karl Wolf
, is a Lebanese-Canadian musician based in
Toronto
, Ontario, Canada.
He has been a singer, songwriter, and producer since 2001, releasing his first solo album
Face Behind the Face
on MapleNationwide/Universal in 2006, followed by a second album
Bite the Bullet
in 2007. His third album
Nightlife
was released in 2009 followed by
Finally Free
in 2012,
Stereotype
in 2014 and
WOW
in 2015. His biggest hit has been a remake of
Toto
's "
Africa
" sampling from the song and providing new lyrics and arrangements.
Through his company, Lone Wolf Management, Wolf also manages a number of new artists. In 2015, he announced a new collaboration under the name BAE (Be All Equal) with Show Stephens, Brenda Mullen and producer MasterTrak. Wolf signed a new solo contract in Canada with British Columbia-based Cordova Bay Records as well as two new worldwide deals in Los Angeles, one for a publishing contract with
BMG
and another Digital "YouTube" deal with Collective Digital Studios. He co-wrote the
OMI
hit "
Hula Hoop
".
Early years
[
edit
]
Wolf was born as Carl Abou Samah in
Beirut
, Lebanon. He came from a musical household. His mother was a piano instructor and his father played the
oud
,
derbake
and guitar. He moved on with his family to
Sharjah
,
UAE
when he was three years old due to the
civil war in Lebanon
. He studied in the UAE. In an interview with
Shave
Magazine, Karl explained that in Arabic, his family name (Abou Samah) means 'father of forgiveness'.
[2]
His stage name 'wolf' comes from a nickname he received on his high school
basketball
team because he was the smallest and quickest in his team. He also says his mother and father drove him to a career in music. Wolf's mother was a piano teacher and his father played guitar, drums, and the traditional Middle Eastern
oud
.
At 16, Wolf immigrated to Canada in 1995, residing in
Montreal
, Quebec.
[2]
He studied Film Studies at Montreal's
Concordia University
. He began his career "behind the scenes," and has been writing co-producing since 2001. Initially he was a backup singer for some hits by the Quebec band
Dubmatique
. The 2001 hit album from
Gabrielle Destroismaisons
generated two singles co-written by him that reached No. 1 on the BDS Francophone Charts, and the record earned him a
Felix Award
at the L'
ADISQ
Awards for "Best Mix and Sound of the Year".
Wolf's work with Gabrielle brought him to the attention of
Antoine Sicotte
, of the top-selling Canadian pop band
Sky
, where he was recruited as a singer-songwriter becoming Sky's new lead singer in 2002.
[3]
Wolf co-wrote and co-produced the third
Sky
album,
Picture Perfect
(on Sextant/EMI), with strong airplay across Canada. Sicotte and Wolf cooperated on the hugely successful
Star Academie
reality TV show in
Quebec
. The subsequent album was the biggest-selling album in Canada in 2003, notching a phenomenal sales in Canadian terms and earning Karl Wolf a
SOCAN
Award for Most Popular Song. A
Star Academie II
sequel in 2004 was another big success, the album going double-platinum.
Solo years (since 2005)
[
edit
]
In 2005, Wolf ventured into a solo career. He released his debut solo album
Face Behind the Face
"
[4]
in January 2006. Since its release, the album broke in the Canadian Top 100 sales chart and spawned three singles, "Butterflies".
[5]
and "Desensitize",
[6]
Wolf followed with a second studio album
Bite the Bullet
in November 2007. The first single release from the album was "
Africa
",
[7]
a remake of the worldwide hit
Africa
by
Toto
. The Karl Wolf remake features Canadian artist
Culture
. In early March 2009, with the release of the single on
iTunes
for digital downloads, it surged up from No. 32 to No. 2
[8]
on the issue of March 14, 2009 based on huge numbers of downloads over the previous week. It peaked at No. 1 on the iTunes charts and It also stayed at No. 2 for four further week on the chart of March 21 and 28 and April 4 and 11, 2009. Prior to iTunes download, it had topped at No. 20 in the same chart. This is so far Karl Wolf's most successful single to date. The song also topped the
MuchMusic Top 30 Countdown
charts and has also found success in Japan, peaking at No. 20 on the Japan Hot 100 chart. His follow-up single this year titled "
Carrera
" climbed to peak at No. 39 on the Billboard Canadian Hot 100.
Nightlife
, his third album was released on November 17, 2009.
After nine years with
EMI
Music, in March 2010 he signed a new recording contract in the United States with
Universal Republic
followed by a worldwide deal with
Universal Music Canada
in 2011. EMI Japan and EMI Middle East who still had exclusive license to Karl Wolf's upcoming album released
Finally Free
, his fourth album on July 10, 2012. Through his company, Lone Wolf Management, Karl Wolf also manages a number of new artists.
In September 2014, he released the album
Stereotype
followed in 2015 with the album
WOW
.
In April 2021, he released his tenth album
2AM Vibes
with a number of collaborations.
[9]
Lone Wolf Management / LW Entertainment / LW Records
[
edit
]
In addition to his solo career, Wolf has established "LW Entertainment" and his own record label "LW Records" and recording studio (with LW standing for Lone Wolf).
Through his company, Lone Wolf Management, Karl Wolf also manages a number of new artists with his long time manager Pascal Malkoun.
Karl Wolf has also produced for Quebec singers
Mitsou
, Emily, Jerome-Philippe (aka Disoul) also becoming for a time, part of the latter's band
Dubmatique
.
BAE (Be All Equal)
[
edit
]
In 2015, Karl Wolf announced a collaboration under the name BAE (Be All Equal) that includes Karl Wolf and hip-hop artist Show Stephens and singer-songwriter Brenda Mullen. Co-produced by Wolf and DJ producer MasterTrak, the act is signed to
Armin Van Buuren
's
Armada Music
label. The formation's first single is "I'm Lonely".
[10]
Karl Wolf and BAE were included as one of the opening acts for renowned singer Akon's 2015 Canada-wide tour which also included acts like Peter Jackson and Afrocen3
Collaborations
[
edit
]
Karl Wolf has collaborated with a number of artists, mainly from Canada. Choclair was featured in one of his earliest hits titled "Desensitize" and Canadian rapper
Culture
is featured in his biggest hit "
Africa
", whereas Rime and Kaz Money are featured in "
Yalla Habibi
".
Sway
was featured in "Hurting" and
Kardinal Offishall
was featured in "
Ghetto Love
". His single "Fuck Shit Up / Mash It Up" produced by
Greg Stainer
& Dany Neville featured
Three 6 Mafia
,
Timbaland
and B K Brasco in "
Magic Hotel
" and
Fatman Scoop
in "
Let's Get Rowdy
".
Also in 2015, Karl Wolf co-wrote with
Omar Pasley
(OMI), Jenson Vaughan and Matthew Humphrey
OMI
's international single "
Hula Hoop
", a follow-up to OMI's hit "
Cheerleader
".
Making a comeback in 2020, Karl Wolf collaborated with up and coming artist Raeshaun and was featured on the track "Dubai" in July,
[11]
paying homage to the city and country that took him and his family in during the Civil War in Lebanon.
In popular culture
[
edit
]
- Karl Wolf was a featured artist on the Arabic version of
Star Academy
broadcast on
Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation
(LBC). In the fifth season of the show, he was seen mentoring the contestants. Some joined him for renditions of his hits, including "Butterfly"
[12]
and "Africa"
[13]
- In 2011, he organized a
Close Up Arabia
campaign for recruiting participants in a music video project of his.
[14]
and the resulting music video.
[1]
- Karl Wolf has also collaborated and performed in concerts with
Akon
,
Ne-Yo
,
T-Pain
and many more artists and as a special guest also. He co-wrote with Jenson Vaughan, Frank Bulles, Matthew Humphrey and Omar Pasley (
OMI
) the latter's international hit "
Hula Hoop
".
Discography
[
edit
]
Studio albums
[
edit
]
Compilation albums
[
edit
]
Extended plays
[
edit
]
Singles
[
edit
]
Year
|
Single
|
Chart positions
[16]
|
Certifications
|
Album
|
CAN
|
JPN
|
2005
|
"Butterflies"
|
?
|
?
|
|
Face Behind the Face
|
2006
|
"Desensitize"
(feat.
Choclair
)
|
?
|
?
|
|
"Referee"
|
?
|
?
|
|
2007
|
"She Wants to Know"
|
?
|
?
|
|
Bite the Bullet
|
2008
|
"
Africa
"
(feat.
Culture
)
|
2
|
20
|
|
2009
|
"Carrera"
|
39
|
?
|
|
"Yalla Habibi"
(feat. Rime Salmi & Kaz Money)
|
24
|
51
|
|
Nightlife
|
2010
|
"Hurting"
(feat.
Sway
)
|
55
|
?
|
|
"80's Baby"
|
?
|
?
|
|
2011
|
"
Ghetto Love
"
(feat.
Kardinal Offishall
)
|
20
|
?
|
|
Finally Free
|
"Mash It Up" / "Fuck Shit Up"
(feat.
Three 6 Mafia
)
|
28
|
?
|
|
2012
|
"DJ Gonna Save Us"
(feat. Mr. OxXx)
|
58
|
?
|
|
2013
|
"Peace Out"
(feat.
P Reign
)
|
?
|
?
|
|
"
Go Your Own Way
"
|
?
|
?
|
|
Stereotype
|
2014
|
"Magic Hotel"
(feat.
Timbaland
&
BK Brasco
)
|
75
|
?
|
|
"Summertime" / "Let's Get Rowdy
(feat.
Fatman Scoop
)
|
48
|
?
|
|
2015
|
"Not Over Me Yet"
(feat. MasterTrak)
|
46
|
?
|
|
WOW
|
"Toronto Love"
|
?
|
?
|
|
2016
|
"Amateur at Love"
|
100
|
?
|
|
The Export Vol. 1
|
2017
|
"Wherever You Go"
|
?
|
?
|
|
The Best of
|
2019
|
"Yes"
(feat.
Super Sako
, Deena,
Fito Blanko
)
|
?
|
?
|
|
Non-album single
|
2020
|
"City of Lies"
(feat. Julius Wilson)
|
?
|
?
|
|
2AM Vibes
|
"Get Away"
|
?
|
?
|
|
2021
|
"Not Too Late"
|
?
|
?
|
|
"Ya Hilwe (Dance with Me Now)"
(with Sandy)
|
?
|
?
|
|
Non-album single
|
- Others
- 2007: "Hollow Girl"
(feat.
Striger
)
- 2007: "Butterflies"
(with Eve)
- 2008: "Like This"
(feat. Sandman)
- 2009: "Maniac Maniac"
(feat.
Culture
)
- 2009: "You Forgot About Me"
(feat.
Imposs
)
- 2009: "No Way Nobody"
(feat.
Loon
)
- 2011: "Tell Me"
(feat. Nirvana Savoury)
- 2013: "Go Your Own Way"
(feat. Reema Major)
Featured artist
[
edit
]
Date
|
Song title
|
Performing credits
|
Peak Chart
Position
CAN
|
Peak Chart
Position
SWI
|
Album title
|
2006
|
"Get Down / Respire"
|
VJ Malik Shaheed feat. Karl Wolf
|
–
|
–
|
Franglais
by Malik Shaheed
|
2006
|
"Weekend"
|
Choclair
feat. Karl Wolf
|
–
|
–
|
Flagship
by Choclair
|
2006
|
"Makes Me Wonder"
|
Chopovski
feat. Karl Wolf
|
–
|
–
|
Bite the Bullet
by Chopovski
|
2008
|
"Crazy Girl"
|
Taio Cruz
feat. Karl Wolf
|
–
|
–
|
|
2010
|
"Si jeune"
|
Jacob Guay
feat. Karl Wolf
|
–
|
–
|
Si Jeune
by Jacob Guay
|
2011
|
"Enta Ma'ai"
|
Diana Haddad
feat. Karl Wolf
|
–
|
–
|
Bent Osol
by Diana Haddad
|
2011
|
"
Yalla Asia
"
|
Jay Sean
and Karl Wolf featuring Radhika Vekaria
[18]
|
–
|
–
|
non-album single
|
2011
|
"Everything Is All Wrong"
|
Marc Mysterio
feat. Karl Wolf and
Jamie Sparks
|
–
|
–
|
non-album single
|
2012
|
"Awel Mara Atgara"
|
Sandy
feat. Karl Wolf
|
–
|
–
|
|
2012
|
"Turn It Up"
|
Kardinal Offishall
feat. Karl Wolf
|
32
|
–
|
|
2012
|
"Frente A Frente"
|
DJ Ricky Campanelli
feat. Karl Wolf
|
–
|
–
|
Modestia Aparte
|
2013
|
"Unbreakable"
|
DJ Antoine
feat. Karl Wolf
|
–
|
–
|
Sky Is The Limit
by DJ Antoine
|
2013
|
"Fire"
|
David Obeji
feat. Karl Wolf
|
–
|
–
|
|
2013
|
"Stick Up"
|
Shawn Desman
feat. Karl Wolf
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
2014
|
"Incredible"
|
Jaden Chase
feat. Karl Wolf
|
–
|
–
|
|
2015
|
"Beat Again"
|
Project 46
feat. Karl Wolf
|
–
|
–
|
Beautiful
by Project 46
|
2018
|
"Ole Ole"
|
DJ Antoine
feat. Karl Wolf &
Fito Blanko
|
–
|
60
|
|
2020
|
"Dubai"
|
Raeshaun
feat. Karl Wolf
|
–
|
–
|
|
2023
|
"Firealarm"
|
Dani Doucette feat. Karl Wolf
|
–
|
–
|
|
Awards and nominations
[
edit
]
References
[
edit
]
- ^
Today's Outlook Magazine :: Lebanese Abroad
Archived
January 27, 2007, at the
Wayback Machine
- ^
a
b
Karmali, Ziyah.
"Interview: Karl Wolf"
.
ShaveMagazine.com
. Archived from
the original
on June 7, 2010
. Retrieved
May 31,
2010
.
- ^
"Artists | Sky"
. MuchMusic.com. Archived from
the original
on May 6, 2009
. Retrieved
March 10,
2011
.
- ^
"Karl Wolf Biography"
. Maplemusic.com. Archived from
the original
on September 26, 2009
. Retrieved
March 10,
2011
.
- ^
YouTube ? Karl Wolf ? Butterflies
- ^
YouTube ? Karl Wolf Feat. Choclair ? Desensitize
- ^
YouTube ? Karl Wolf Feat. Culture of "Africa"
- ^
"Billboard Canadian Hot 100 Chart"
.
Billboard
. Retrieved
March 10,
2011
.
- ^
Cliche mag: Karl Wolf Releases Highly Awaited LP “2AM Vibes”
- ^
EDM Tunes: BAE ? I'm Lonely [Preview]
- ^
Dubai
, retrieved
July 17,
2020
- ^
"Performance of "Butterfly" on
Star Academy
"
. Archived from
the original
on January 19, 2016
. Retrieved
March 10,
2011
– via YouTube.
- ^
"Performance of "Africa" in
Star Academy
"
.
Archived
from the original on December 15, 2021
. Retrieved
March 10,
2011
– via YouTube.
- ^
"Welcome to CloseUp ? Feel Fresh"
. Closeuparabia.com. Archived from
the original
on March 7, 2011
. Retrieved
March 10,
2011
.
- ^
a
b
"カ?ル?ウルフの作品"
.
Oricon
. Retrieved
July 27,
2020
.
- ^
"Karl Wolf chart positions"
. Acharts.us
. Retrieved
March 10,
2011
.
- ^
a
b
c
d
e
f
"Karl Wolf certifications"
. Music Canada. December 1, 2011. Archived from
the original
on May 2, 2012
. Retrieved
December 1,
2011
.
- ^
Cover of single "Yalla Asia"
Archived
September 1, 2011, at the
Wayback Machine
- ^
"MTV Europe Awards ceremony in Liverpool (6 November 2008) with Karl Wolf receiving Best Arabia New Act award"
.
Archived
from the original on December 15, 2021
. Retrieved
March 10,
2011
– via YouTube.
- ^
"Gala SOBA page"
. MusiquePlus
. Retrieved
March 10,
2011
.
- ^
Your Name (this will appear with your post).
"
Broadcaster
Magazine: "Karl Wolf and Nickelback Lead Nominations for Radio Music Awards"
"
. Broadcastermagazine.com. Archived from
the original
on July 29, 2012
. Retrieved
March 10,
2011
.
- ^
"
CBC News
: "Nickelback, Karl Wolf lead race for radio airplay awards"
"
. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. January 13, 2010
. Retrieved
March 10,
2011
.
External links
[
edit
]