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Finn Wolfhard, perhaps best known for his role as Mike Wheeler on Stranger Things, but continually proving himself to be a multifaceted artist, has released his debut album ‘Happy Birthday’.
Seemingly, the cast of the hit Netflix series are no strangers to music, with fellow cast member Joe Keery recently releasing his third studio album, ‘The Crux’, under the moniker Djo.
With Wolfhard’s previous musical exploits including rock band Calpurnia and duo The Aubreys, ‘Happy Birthday’ is the first album released under his own name.
Describing the album as an exploration of “identity, anxiety, and coming of age”, ‘Happy Birthday’ has an unassuming intimacy created by thoughtful lyricism and a lo-fi sound. On Finn’s website, one fan commented, “Love how your new album will give me such a throwback to my childhood in a brand new way”. The album opens with the title track ‘Happy Birthday’. With occasional piano motifs reminiscent of the traditional celebration song, this grainy 91-second introduction allows us into Wolfhard’s mind: “It’s your birthday, stop wasting precious time”.
Finn’s choice to work with producer Kai Slater, inspired by his 4-track cassette tape recording of solo work, Sharp Pins, has strongly influenced the intentionally stripped-back soundscape underpinning the album. On this, Wolfhard shared, “I really wanted the record to feel authentic, raw and unpolished. If we recorded in Kai’s living room, I wanted to hear the sounds of the house: footsteps, keys dropping in a bowl, a kettle boiling in the kitchen.”
Released as a single in March, ‘Choose The Latter’ ups the pace with a playful guitar track that feels like a return to DIY indie. Two minutes and forty-two seconds of fun, no-frills pop-rock lightens Wolfhard’s exploration of decision paralysis; “I choose the latter, choose the latter”. Recording across studios and Slater’s apartment creates a hard-to-replicate live atmosphere, which complements ‘Eat’ - a journey of teen anxiety.
Naming his musical influences as The Beatles, The Replacements, and Guided By Voices, ‘Happy Birthday’ is a 9-track exploration of finding your sound; “If I were to walk away and listen to it in 10 years, I think it would feel like the beginning of a specific style and voice,”. For most artists, their first solo music may not have the instant audience that being an internationally acclaimed actor leads to. The next track, ‘Objection!’, released as a single in the run up to the album, proves Wolfhard’s music to be already a hit with fans; “The visuals, the lyrics, the atmosphere—everything hits like a quiet snowstorm.”
Romanticised and slowed down ‘Everytown there’s a darling’, proceeds indie ballad, ‘Trailers After Dark’, a lyrically simple yet nostalgic reminiscence of “rainy days watching the trailer channel”. A perfect soundtrack to a coming-of-age film, the album continues with sonically fuller ‘Crown’, driving drums and more indie-rock guitar inflexions complement the live sound that feels like you have stepped foot into the band’s rehearsal studio. In contrast, the penultimate track, ‘You’, combines melodic, solo electric guitar with floating violin lines from Annie Leeth, and heartfelt lyricism; “I can’t believe anyone but you”. Closing Finn’s debut album is ‘Wait’, the epitome of his aim for a “raw and handmade” sound, with the cassette recording even picking up a kettle whistle: A song of togetherness and making memories.
The nine-track nostalgic exploration of coming of age is available to listen to now. Check out Finn Wolfhard’s debut album, ‘Happy Birthday’, below.
Maisy Neale
Images: Emilia Voudouris
