Othello Woolf
London’s latest music star
WORDS | ALEX RAYNER
OTHELLO WOOLF’S BACKGROUND IS, BY HIS ADMISSION, NOT THE MOST GLAMOROUS. “Both my parents are accountants,” says the tall, model-thin 27-year-old, over an iced coke in a Soho pub. “I didn’t know what I wanted to do, but I was aware that I didn’t want to follow them professionally.”
While some stars thank parental record collections for their place in pop’s firmament, Woolf appreciates the role of London’s varied music scene in his trajectory. As a teen, he would sneak into some of the capital’s hip-hop spots to check out the city’s breakdancers. A year later, Woolf’s attentions turned toward indie rock, joining a number of bands. “What were they like? Bad!”
Fortunately, Othello has since assembled an artful group of collaborators to produce his considered, synth-heavy love songs, which wouldn’t sound out of place in Bryan Ferry’s back catalogue.
His debut album was engineered by Brooklynite sound technician Chris Moore – better known for working with Hollywood heart-throb Scarlett Johansson and US indie darlings TV On The Radio. The pair communicated via email, with Moore working regular New York hours, while Woolf relayed the tracks back from London, often in the dead of night.
Meanwhile, London designers CaselyHayford, who have worked with The Clash and Lou Reed, are on wardrobe duties, and fêted London photographer Tyrone Lebon has shot Woolf’s promotional photographs.
“When you see Prince on the cover of Dirty Mind you have a good idea as to what he’s going to be singing about,” says Woolf of this attention to aesthetics, “though it’s not like I want to be wearing leg warmers and little pants.”
He has also been watching a fair amount of James Brown concert footage as he assembles his own backing band and prepares for live dates. “I haven’t tried any of the moves,” he claims, “well, only in the privacy of my own home.”
Othello Woolf’s debut single, Stand, is out now. www.myspace.com/othellowoolf
