Aaron Wylder grew up in a landscape most dream about or at most, merely vacation in.
His unique upbringing in the Caribbean was one of joy but also isolation, and even in his adolescence, he knew his dreams lay elsewhere. As he came of age, he became obsessed with country and rock and roll music, and all that comes with the lifestyle.
His family would move to Canada when he was 14, and as the years went on, he would hone his chosen craft of guitar playing and songwriting.
Happiest with his guitar, the Montreal-based songsmith’s blend of rock, folk, country, and Americana has ultimately led him to his newest EP, Folk Star.
Released April 5th, 2024, the title track of the EP stars Wylder’s Jeff Tweedy-reminiscent voice over a T-Rex like groove. The song is an ode to the dreamers and the folk rock lifestyle we all have envisioned from time to time. This includes and is not limited to fashion, as he croons, “Bought myself some boots and an old suede jacket / A black denim shirt and a rusty little bow tie / Oh, I’m trying to be a folk star.” The song is a true admission of longing for stardom and the slippery beauty that comes with it. “I even started smoking but it’s making me feel sick,” he sings, acknowledging he’d do what it takes to play the part.
The second track, “Wouldn’t Mind That Now,” offers an almost 90s/early 2000s acoustic-pop energy. “I dream of California / Nothing but the wind in front of me,” he sings longingly for the West Coast, being a cowboy, but also raising a family. It’s a song about “not minding” the thought of your dreams becoming a reality, and offers a sticky chorus throughout.
The third track and final single, “Holy Sun,” has a folk-blues progression, serving as what seems to be a callout to idols of his like Johnny Cash. The shuffling drums eventually sneak in, picking up the groove of the acoustic number. “Oh holy sun / Watch over me / While I sleep,” he sings, offering a message of seeking peace and rest from a worried mind.
“Handshake” is the final track of the EP, giving the listener a call to action of sorts to simply be a good person. “Imagine if we just gave this one more try / We could save the world one handshake at a time,” the bouncy folk-pop chorus goes. An ode that aspires for peace — especially these days where it seems to be needed more now than in a long time — Wylder harkens to John Lennon’s “Imagine.” The song feels like it would be in a coming of age film, and it serves as a sweet and positive finale to Folk Star.
Each song off of Folk Star is an intimate expression of Wylder’s journey as a songwriter, performer, and individual. And whether it’s a song about his dreams, reality, and perceptions, it’s all sung from a place of vulnerability and his heart.
