Koe Wetzel Reveals His True Self On New Album, ‘9 Lives’

Koe Wetzel found himself achieving a new level of vulnerability during the process of putting together his new album, 9 Lives. While working closely with his producer, Gabe Simon, he found that he had more freedom than ever before to openly share stories of his life through songs that continue to reflect his country/rock/hip-hop/grunge sound.

“The way Gabe Simon goes into making music, he cares so much about it,” Wetzel explains of his producer. “He comes at it wanting to get everything out of the songs. Gabe came in and extracted everything from me; he got me talking about stuff, everything going on in my life. Usually, I go in with all the melodies, and then write the lyrics. Not this time.”
 
He continued, “Every song we wrote or found, we kept. There was a freedom: we sat down and talked about the shit going on in my life. By pulling all of that out of me, going in the vocal booth, that’s how free I was – and the most open I’ve ever been. You can hear it in the songs.”

The project was recorded mostly live between the legendary Sonic Ranch in the border town of Tornillo, Texas and Melody Mountain in Stephensville, Texas with additional sessions at Nashville’s Blackbird and historic RCA Studio A. Along with Gabe Simon’s production a string of collaborators like Josh Serrato, Amy Allen, Carrie K and Sam Harris also had a hand in helping the Texas native showcase his skills as a dynamic songwriter and powerful storyteller.  

Wetzel’s community of devoted fans have been eagerly awaiting this 13-track project, and now that it’s out, they finally get to embark on a musical journey that leads them to the realization than there is more to Wetzel than just a powerhouse performer and bonafide party animal. 

“Every record’s almost turning a new leaf, always a left turn because of how honest I am. I want fans to know that there’s a different side of me, not just the sex, drugs, and rock & roll Koe that they may have heard about online,” Wetzel says. “I’ve grown up a little bit. I’m no longer the 20-year-old kid that’s partying down and getting thrown in jail all the time. 9 Lives reveals a vulnerable side that people may not be used to hearing.”

Listeners are faced head-on with clear proof of Wetzel’s diverse musical background with the seeping portrayal of soul-searching on “Hatchet,” frustrated pleas in “Leigh,” the autobiographical addiction in “Twister,” the rowdy, late-night tendencies of “Bar Song” and more. In addition to the new releases, Wetzel tips his hat to the late XXXTentacion with a cover of “Depression & Obsession.”
 
“I always loved that era of music – that Lil Peep era, XXXTentacion – he was one of my favorite artists out of that group,” Wetzel reflects. “I feel like there’s a lot of music that we didn’t get from him, so it’s kind of just a nod to him and I hope we did it justice.” 

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While working so vigorously to cement a name for himself through tireless nights on the road and constantly churning out creativity, Wetzel admits he found a new kind of adrenaline and joy in making this album. Playing the fan-favorites will always be a part of his live routine, but with these new tracks, he’s embarked on a fresh chapter, one that reflects the individual sound he’s been trying to hone in on. 

“Being on the road for so long, you start to think you’ve hit a plateau. You wonder, ‘Is this what I’ll be known for? Will these songs be what it’s all about?’
 
He adds, “I get a lot of joy playing the older songs. But you want to grow. I love playing those records I grew up on, so I understand. But I’ve been honing and growing a certain sound, and we’re hitting it. This is where the rest of it begins…”

9 Lives Track List:

1. “Continued” Skit
2. “9 Lives (Black Cat)” (Ropyr Wetzel, Amy Allen, Gabe Simon)
3. “Depression & Obsession” (XXXTentacion cover: Jahseh Onfroy)
4. “Damn Near Normal” (Ropyr Wetzel, Amy Allen, Gabe Simon, Carrie Karpinen, Sam Harris)
5. “Leigh” (Ropyr Wetzel, Amy Allen, Gabe Simon)
6. “Twister” (Ropyr Wetzel, Steve Rusch, Ben Burgess, Josh Serrato)
7. “High Road” with Jessie Murph (Ropyr Wetzel, Amy Allen, Gabe Simon, Carrie Karpinen, Jessie Murph, Laura Veltz, Josh Serrato)
8. “Reconsider” (Keith Gattis cover: Charles John Brocco, Keith Quenton Gattis)
9. “Hatchet” (Gabe Simon, Mike Coogan)
10. “Sweet Dreams” (Ropyr Wetzel, Amy Allen, Josh Serrato, Gabe Simon, Sam Harris)
11. “Runnin’ Low” (Ropyr Wetzel, Amy Allen, Sam Harris, Gabe Simon, Ben Burgess)
12. “Bar Song” (Blake “Shy” Carter, Breyan Isaac, Dernst “D’Mile” Emile II, Dave Gibson)
13. “Last Outlaw Alive” (Josh Serrato, Ben Burgess, Sam Harris)

Koe Wetzel has a lot in store for his die-hard fans, including a hometown stadium show as he joins Morgan Wallen’s One Night At A Time World Tour in Arlington, Texas on July 26. The following day, he will kick off his headlining Damn Near Normal World Tour with a show in The Woodlands, TX.