George Hirsch (musician) explained

George Hirsch
Alias:Harm Wülf, Rose Clouds
Origin:Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Genre:Hardcore punk, folk rock
Instrument:Vocals, guitar, harmonica, percussion
Label:Deathwish, Six Feet Under
Associated Acts:Blacklisted, Staticlone

George Hirsch is an American musician who performs as a vocalist in the hardcore band Blacklisted and solo folk project under the moniker Harm Wülf. He was originally from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania but later moved to Chicago, Illinois.

Music career

When his previous band broke up, George Hirsch co-founded the hardcore punk band Blacklisted in 2003.

After Blacklisted released the more experimental album No One Deserves To Be Here More Than Me in 2009—an album with lyrics born out of Hirsch's struggles with depression—the band entered an undeclared hiatus state as each member focused on their respective new families and lives. In this downtime, Hirsch launched his solo project Harm Wülf, a stripped down semi-acoustic act that's often described as "dark folk". He released his debut album as Harm Wülf titled There's Honey In the Soil So We Wait for the Till... in November 2013 through Deathwish Inc.

Three years later, Harm Wülf released its second studio album Hijrah in August 2016 through Deathwish. Hirsch has said he felt like his debut album was more of a demo in some ways and that Hijrah felt like a more proper album. The album's title is a reference and alternate spelling of Hegira, which was the event when Muhammad and his followers traveled from Mecca to Medina. The lyrics of the album deal feelings of isolation and loneliness after moving to Chicago and only knowing his girlfriend and also healing through escape. The album's cover art is a photo of the Solheimasandur plane crash in Iceland taken by Hirsch himself and chosen as the cover because it fit the theme of the album. Hirsch said: "I was torn at first because it is such a recognizable attraction. But, in the end it fit the album/feel so well. It lends itself perfectly to escape, exile, and the abandon I've felt, before ultimately learning the survival I needed. While writing the album I also had an obsession with this certain color; it's a blue, but has hints of green and purple as well."

Recent years have seen Hirsch releasing solo music under his home recording moniker "Rose Clouds", and a return to his roots in a hardcore punk band called "Staticlone".[1]

Personal life

Aside from music, Hirsch has had short stories and his amateur photography published. The story "Goodnight" in the Heartworm Press compilation "#23" [2] and Roger Gastman compiled book "Enamelized" and movie "Infamy",[3] being most notable.

Discography

Harm Wülf

Rose Clouds

Blacklisted

As guest musician

YearBandAlbumTrack
2008CeremonyStill Nothing Moves You"Entropy No Meaning Is Also An Answer"
2008Cold WorldDedicated to Babies Who Came Feet First"Dedicated To Babies Who Came Feet First"
2009ConvergeAxe to Fall"Axe to Fall"
2013DefeaterLetters Home"No Relief"
2014Cold WorldHow the Gods Chill"Omega" (contributing lyricist)
2016NailsYou Will Never Be One of Us"You Will Never Be One Of Us" (contributing lyricist)

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Staticlone: Ex-Blacklisted Singer George Hirsch on His New Band, Overcoming Writer's Block + More | Features .
  2. Web site: 23 Max G Morton Heartworm Wes Eisold Cold Cave | #135052176. Worthpoint.com. 18 September 2020.
  3. Web site: George Hirsch. IMDb.com. 18 September 2020.
  4. Web site: Hirsch . George . Doldrums Heavy Shadows . Bandcamp . 24 April 2021 . Rose Clouds.
  5. Web site: Hirsch . George . Until The Candle Burns Down. Bandcamp . 26 January 2022 . Rose Clouds.