Take Note Aby Wolf

Aby Wolf is a Minneapolis–based singer/songwriter who has opened for Ani DeFranco and whose R & B-tinged single “What U Waitn 4” gets played frequently on The Current. Her debut album, Sweet Prudence, comes out this month.

Grew Up: Galena, Illinois.

Great Beginnings: My mom says I’ve been singing since I was born. But I started songwriting because my roommates had a lot of musical instruments, and there was a guitar lying around. I didn’t have any formal training, but I discovered that I could find my way around by ear and figured it out from there.

The New CD: I’m excited to get out my first CD, Sweet Prudence, to have something to show for my efforts. Some of the songs are four years old, and some are more recent, but it’s been gestating for all of 2008.

On Turning Pro: There is that question of when you cross the line and commit to doing something you’re really passionate about. But I still have a day job waiting tables—what you might call a time-honored tradition in the music business. Hopefully, I’ll be touring some next year.

Influences: There’s a long list of artists I could name, but I’d say my most profound influence is the countryside where I grew up in Illinois, which is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen. It’s Mississippi River bluff country, but there are rolling hills and trees, and the whole landscape has this feeling of quiet simplicity—which is something I try to get across in my music.

Her Sound: The album itself might be described as acoustic folk/pop, but I’m working toward something more epic and operatic—a sound with layered vocals and heavenly harmonies.

IPod Shuffle: Bjork, Animal Collective, Aphex Twin, The Yellow Magic Orchestra, Emily Haines.

Catch Her Act: Sweet Prudence CD-release party, Jan. 24. Cedar Cultural Center, 416 Cedar Ave. S., Mpls., 612-338-2674