Now, Alice, the wolf is at your door!

Wolf Alice’s recent signing with Columbia Records under Sony Music heralds a significant evolution in their career. Departing from Dirty Hit after their acclaimed Blue Weekend, the band seems poised to explore even more expansive sonic territories. Their live performance of “Lipstick on the Glass” captures the band’s artistic maturity—where raw energy meets delicate storytelling, creating an emotional resonance that reflects their evolving sound.

Blue Weekend—as Ian Cohen from Pitchfork aptly described it—is the “platonic ideal for big-tent rock music in 2021.” The record blends alt-rock with mainstream pop grandeur, an emotionally extravagant and pristine showcase that upends the boundaries of UK lad-rock while staying true to its roots. Wolf Alice doesn’t just flirt with the genre— they completely dominate, intertwining the emotive grip of grunge and the shoegaze atmosphere with folk-like storytelling. This same mastery echoes throughout “Lipstick on the Glass,” a song that feels like a window into a broader world, much like the cinematic scope of their third album.

The performance begins in a dreamlike state, with Ellie Rowsell’s voice weaving between ethereal whispers and impassioned crescendos. Joff Oddie’s shimmering guitar melodies, paired with Theo Ellis’ steady bass and Joel Amey’s driving percussion, anchor the ethereal atmosphere in something visceral. The track is a masterclass in the band’s ability to blend grunge’s gritty edge with shoegaze’s atmospheric swells. As the song progresses, the audience is pulled deeper into the world of “Lipstick on the Glass”, where heartache and defiance intermingle in perfect balance.

This shift to Sony feels like more than a mere business move; it reflects the ambition of a band that refuses to be confined. Wolf Alice has always straddled genres—indie, folk, grunge, dream-pop—and this versatility continues to set them apart. Their new material promises to push those boundaries further, offering a more refined and expansive take on their unique sound. With Sony backing their next phase, the future seems wide open.

What remains constant is Wolf Alice’s dedication to crafting music that resonates on a deep emotional level. In “Lipstick on the Glass”, they capture both the personal and the universal. The song’s live rendition showcased the band’s ability to connect with their audience in a visceral way—inviting listeners not just to hear the music, but to feel it deeply.

The world Wolf Alice is crafting is one where emotion and sound are intertwined, a place where every whisper and every scream holds the weight of experience. Their transition to Sony feels like a fitting step for a band unafraid to embrace their ever-expanding creative vision.