Once A Tree Want to Save Your Soul

Photo courtesy of Once A Tree

When the word "duo" is used in the realm of music, it rarely speaks to the relationship between two artists. Yet the term aptly describes the genuine union between the husband and wife couple and Toronto-based electro-R&B outfit Once A Tree, and their music process. “I remember the first song we ever wrote was 'Light Me Up,'" says one half of the duo and singer, Jayli Wolf. “He [producer Hayden Wolf] made this really cool beat but was struggling with the lyrics and was saying ‘I can’t come up with something for this.’ Then I listened to it and I was like ‘Ooh I can.’ It's just this organic process that we both loved and wanted to continue.” By the same token, it's this same “organic process” that allowed the two to connect in their shared home province of British Columbia.

Separated by over 200 miles—Jayli was born and raised in Creston, BC, while Hayden lived essentially on the opposite end in Vernon, BC—the two have almost identical upbringings. Both were raised as Jehovah’s Witnesses, a practice with which they no longer identify, and were exposed to a wide range of influences before making their own art as teenagers. Jayli started writing her own music on the guitar and soaking up the sounds of Johnny Cash and Elvis, while Hayden became more and more interested with the sonic threads of Conor Oberst. Eventually, Jayli left university to pursue music full time, doing television spots and releasing loosies in the form of singles like “I Can’t Remember.” In the midst of building herself as an artist, it would be a toque that caught her fancy and led her to Hayden. “Back in the day he used to make these toques, and I saw this girl and I asked her where she got it from, and she told me it was this guy named Hayden,” says Jayli. Hayden, who at the time was working in a longboard factory and did photography, received a Facebook message from her, and, after realizing they had a shared interest in music, he took the bus to work on a song.

“I was like, if you can give me a place to crash I’ll come and make music with you. After helping her with a shoot and doing some visuals for her I ended up staying three weeks,” Hayden explains. “We had such similar upbringings and a love for music that everything just jived.” In late 2012, the two got married, pairing together to start on a new project.

Initially starting off as a folk group, Jayli and Hayden gradually started transitioning their sound into the digital realm. They took their first step with the 2013 release of their self-titled EP. “When we initially made the EP we didn’t expect it to go anywhere, the digital, electro stuff was almost like a hobby,” says Hayden. “But when we started to see audiences and blogs pick up it was like maybe we should start focusing on this and honing our skills.” Melding together personal tales of self-love and religion with relaxed trap snares and air-tight synths, the two have released their newest EP Thousand Lives. From the denial demanding hook-driven pleas on “Lie to Me” to the dream-inspired lyrics of “Howling,” the duo hope to draw audiences with their unique sonic imprint while also carving out an identity for themselves through each song. “I think it's cool that we express ourselves through music and a bunch of different art forms. The messages we try to share are really special to us and I hope we can make a serious impact and reach people,” says Hayden.

In describing the album you've talked about how self love, and more particularly God, are present throughout the EP. Why are those important themes for you guys to tackle?
Jayli Wolf: When it comes to self-love it's important to us because that’s something that we’ve only discovered lately. Whether that be self love or self respect those are things you need to be a happier person. I think we want to be able to share that idea with other people because it's a great feeling knowing you’re uplifting your audience as well as yourself.
Hayden Wolf: Self-discovery is also a really big theme in the Thousand Lives EP; just in general finding your path because there are so many roads you can take and learning how to respect everybody else's choices. We’re all trying to find that groove where we fit in when it comes to life and it's important not to feel bad for doing that.

How does religion and your upbringing as former Jehovah's Witnesses factor in your music and your musical concepts? Jayli: It factors a lot because being raised religiously has completely shaped who I am today.
Hayden: Without being raised as a Jehovah’s Witness me and Jayli probably wouldn’t have connected like we did. We never would have met.

Were you two still practicing when you met?
Hayden: I think we both were in a time of transition and finding our own path, and that's what the EP is about.

In the music, it seems like a lot of the songs are about coming to a sort of catharsis. When was it that you felt that you wanted to separate yourself from religion and find yourself outside of it?
Jayli: I think it's when I figured out my faith was supposed to be my foundation and everything was supposed to be built on top of that. Whereas in my heart, I knew I had to be a musician and do it full time. As far as how I was raised I wasn't really supposed to have something consume my heart the way music has consumed me now so, that was my moment where I realized making music made me happy.
Hayden: I think for me it's the same: just honing in on what makes you happy. I’m not saying that religion can't make people happy because it makes so many people super happy, but I think for us we had to find what our true calling in life was, and focusing on that whole heartedly has been the greatest experience.

Where do you guys want to take your musical career?
Hayden: I hope to make a serious impact and just spread our message, our story and just reach people.
Jayden: I want to start touring.

What is the message you want to spread?
Hayden: I think both self discovery and self love as well as just being accepting of everybody.
Jayli: Being yourself unapologetically.

Jabbari Weekes is the Noisey Canada Staff Writer. Follow him on Twitter