BC-born, Toronto-based Indigenous electro-pop trailblazers, Once A Tree (led by Jayli and Hayden Wolf), return with a dreamy new tune, 3 Day Trip, premiering via CBC Radio One program, Reclaimed, today. The song imagines the journey of its title, keeping gratitude top of mind, and will be included on the duo’s new EP, Fool’s Paradise, out November 20. Listen to 3 Day Trip here.
On the song, Once A Tree says: “With this being such a hard year we wanted to make something light-hearted and hopeful. This song is really about love, gratitude, and generosity. Gratitude for the blessings you have, and the joy of sharing that prosperity with the ones you love. A light-hearted song to soak up the last of the summer vibes.”
Prior to 3 Day Trip Once A Tree teamed up with Toronto artist, Boy Pape, for an acoustic remix of their single Rush, who added a signature verse to compliment the meditative and reflective vibe of the song. Listen to Rush (Boy Pape Remix), arriving with a visualizer. Watch Once A Tree’s self-directed video for the original version here, which sees vocalist Jayli Wolf wandering the streets of Los Angeles, living in the moment.
Fool’s Paradise explores a more upbeat and care-free direction than the band’s previous releases. Focusing on themes of falling in love against the odds, getting rid of toxic people, and slowing down to enjoy the little things in life. Though upbeat in melody, the EP’s outro nods to the duo’s past of growing up in a dooms-day cult and the realization that they had been living in a fantasy world. Essentially coming to terms with the fact that they will not live forever and playing with the notion that sometimes “ignorance is bliss”.
In addition to music, Jayli is a seasoned actor who is featured in the new 2020 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) film, Trickster; where three OAT songs are included, and worked with composer to write music for another TIFF feature, Beans. Jayli’s latest film from the Director Dan Mazer (Borat) and writer Tim Long (The Simpsons), entitled The Exchange, starring herself, Justin Hartley, Ed Oxenbould, and Avan Jogia is set for release in the near future. Hayden has a passion for visual storytelling and played a vital role as Sr. Photographer for Drake’s OVO Brand. He oversaw and executed visual content creation for the brand from 2014 to 2018. While Hayden is at the helm for producing Once A Tree’s music and overall creative from graphics to music videos, he is also working as a producer with Boy Pape on a new album, and on Jayli’s forthcoming solo project. Hayden recently shot and produced all cover art for Toronto singer renforshort’s debut EP, Teenage Angst.
Once A Tree is a Toronto-based Indigenous electronic music duo comprised of BC-born Hayden and Jayli Wolf. They are multidisciplinary artists that combine an array of skills, vision and DIY work ethic to blaze their own path. They released their debut album, Phoenix, in November 2017 (winning Best Electronic Album of the Year at the 2018 Indigenous Music Awards) and met while leaving the doomsday religion they were both raised in. Excommunicated by their community, they decided to use music as their voice.
The duo began writing folk music in a small valley town near the Canadian Rockies. When Jayli won a songwriting competition, the two were flown to Toronto to shoot a music video. They arrived in the city with two suitcases and a guitar; looking for a fresh start and determined to pursue their dreams. After relocating to Toronto, Hayden was accepted into The Remix Project, where he was able to hone his music production skills. The two began to evolve their sound, infusing mellow beats with dream pop melodies. To date, Once A Tree has released numerous singles received to critical acclaim, including Whatever You Do Kid, What You Say, Run, Worth, Born For This, Coming Down and more.
Learn more about Once A Tree below and continue following them on their journey as they prepare to release Fool’s Paradise.
About Jayli Wolf:
Raised in a doomsday cult. Forged in the wild. She lost everything and everyone for renouncing her childhood faith. That is when she discovered herself; began to heal through music; and started the work of reclaiming her indigenous heritage. Jayli Wolf is an Indigenous singer-songwriter, actor, and filmmaker based out of Toronto, Canada. She works to be a role model in her community, speaking to indigenous youth about the entertainment industry and empowering them to follow their dreams. She started creating music, producing, and directing film with her partner and collaborator Hayden Wolf to fully execute their vision for their band’s music videos. Their debut releases and self-directed videos had them featured on platforms like Rolling Stone, PEOPLE Magazine, MTV, Billboard, and Nylon; This followed with them winning Best Electronic Music Album at the 2018 Indigenous Music Awards for their debut album, Phoenix. She now begins on a new journey to tell more personal tales from her past, and stories of reclamation, with a debut solo project on the way.
About Hayden Wolf:
Raised in a doomsday cult in the mountains of British Columbia, Canada – Hayden Wolf holds a unique perspective on life and philosophy. He is now a multi-faceted visual and sonic artist based out of Toronto. Over the recent years Wolf has lent his creative talents to Drake’s clothing brand, October’s Very Own – overseeing and executing their visual content creation. He is known for his role in the Canadian electronic music duo Once A Tree, composed of himself and partner Jayli Wolf. Their self-directed music videos, records and stories have premiered and featured on platforms like Billboard, Rolling Stone, People Magazine, Nylon, and MTV.
