Masked Wolf Splits From Major Label To Forge Independent Path

Masked Wolf has announced that he's departing from his major label, Elektra Awards, a subsidiary of Warner Music Group, where he had a multi-album deal and returning to independent label Teamwrk Records.

"This year has been a weird one for me. Spending 3 months touring Europe and playing my music live was a surreal experience. Connecting with fans in countries I only dreamed of being able to travel to - let alone playing my music in," Masked Wolf began in a post shared on Instagram.

However, he noted where he felt tremendous highs; there were also lows. His 2019 single, Astronaut In The Ocean, was initially released by Teamwrk. After the song went viral on TikTok, he signed to Elektra in early 2021, re-released the track and now, Astronaut In The Ocean has hit over one billion streams on Spotify.

"After releasing Astronaut in the Ocean, I was thrown into a world I knew little about and in no way I mentally prepared for. Going into 2022 I was trying my best to pave my way as the artist I had always envisioned," the Aussie rapper added.

"However along with a popular song comes pressure to follow it up, peoples opinions, people trying to take creative control and direction of me and my music, the hateful messages, the backlash of being an Aussie artist gaining traction outside of your country. Along with being a massive introvert battling anxiety I had no idea how to manage."

Masked Wolf noted that with success came times when he didn't feel authentic to his artistry, which led to the decision to depart Elektra and return to the Teamwrk fold "with complete creative control over my music again."

Earlier this year, the rapper shared a songwriting mistake artists tend to make: “Going into the studio thinking you are going to write a hit and trying to write something exactly the way an artist you listen to does.” 

At Groovin The Moo festival in Canberra, Masked Wolf went off on the Moolin Rouge stage, especially with TikTok sensation, Astronaut In The Ocean, prompting a massive singalong, particularly during the song’s chorus. 

Listen to his latest single, Butterflies & Bandaids, below.