Garrixers.com : Hi Chad, for the people who wouldn’t know you, could you introduce yourself in a few words?

Chad Wolf : Hey, I’m Chad, from the band Carolina Liar. You might know me from our song “Show Me What I’m Looking For.” I’m also part of The Federal Empire. A few years back, we collaborated with Martin Garrix on a track called “Hold On and Believe.” So, basically, I’m the guy who’s always trying to sneak a little rock into your electronic playlists.

How did this collaboration with Martin Garrix happen?

It’s a funny story. Martin and Brett Bassock called me up, and I thought it was just for a casual Zoom chat. Next thing I know, they wanted me in the studio on a Thursday morning in May. I jumped at the chance because, well, who wouldn’t? At first, I thought it was just a jam session, but it snowballed into a single, a video, and more performances than I ever imagined. So, here we are, living the dream!

Did you know Martin before?

Yes, I knew Martin. We previously worked on “Hold On and Believe” years ago, making this collaboration much more direct and cooler. It’s been a blast getting to work with Martin again and getting to know his incredible team. It’s like being part of a big, talented family.

Thanks to electronic music, sometimes Martin can record the instrumental in Europe and the singer can record the voice anywhere else. Is that how the process worked?

Nope, this time I actually got to go into the studio. The track was mostly ready when I arrived. I laid down my vocals, and then Martin sprinkled his production magic. It’s always an adventure because I never know what my voice can do until a great producer like Martin pushes me. The result? “Smile” is something we’re really proud of.

Sometimes, when Martin “finds” a voice, he records several tracks with it. Did you or do you work on other songs with him?

So far, we’ve only done “Hold On and Believe” and “Smile.” I’m hoping for more in the future, but for now, I’m just grateful for these awesome tracks we’ve created together.

What’s in the future for you?

I’m releasing a couple of new Carolina Liar singles this year. The next one is called “Slowly Breaking My Heart,” a good old rock song. It might not have the same punch as “Smile,” but it’s something our long-time fans will appreciate. And in January 2025, we’re dropping a vinyl release of our first album “Coming to Terms,” complete with two new singles, one of which was written with Max Martin. So, lots of exciting stuff on the horizon!

This interview was first published in Garrixers Mag 02 – Summer 2024. All rights reserved.