Aby Wolf Album: âÄúSweet PrudenceâÄù Technology has given the world many a thing: Tamagotchis , HD porno, bug zappers âÄî even the Microsoft Zune . The above are indisputably great, but âÄî as with the Manhattan Project of yesteryear âÄî technology can be a destructive force, too. Enter: Pro Tools . The slick software program gives the masses the ability to âÄî if they choose âÄî gloss over, manipulate and polish sub-standard voices into those of angels. ItâÄôs the studio trickery that acts as a respirator for Ashlee SimpsonâÄôs career. Thankfully, local singer/songwriter Aby Wolf âÄôs organic approach relies not on digital crutches, but rather, on her prodigious pipes. The result? Simply put, the Twin Cities most dense, complex and subtly beautiful vocal performer in recent memory. Aby Wolf operates in the folky singer/songwriter vein, but to reduce her music to one genre is unfair. WolfâÄôs sound spans the sonic landscape, employing heavy doses of R&B, the vocal complexity of Björk and even, at times, hip-hop conjured beats. The songs benefit from skillful looping, studious arrangements and groove substantially more than most artists in the same niche. The real weapon, of course, is her voice. Local critics have dipped heavily into the âÄôol bag of fringe-mainstream voice comparisons, arriving at the usual suspects: Ani DiFranco , Cat Power and Feist . While the listener can certainly hear tinges of DiFrancoâÄôs charisma, touches of Cat PowerâÄôs soulfulness and dollops of FeistâÄôs charm in WolfâÄôs rangy vocals, itâÄôs her hybrid uniqueness that truly allures and, eventually, endears. Recorded in what can only be described as a very minimalistic fashion (a lone mic in the apartment of her onetime band mate Omaur Bliss ), Wolf has just released her debut LP âÄúSweet PrudenceâÄù onto an increasingly eager Minneapolis scene. A&E had the chance to chat with Wolf a day before her big CD release show at The Cedar. HowâÄôd your solo work get started? Well, IâÄôve always been singing to myself. ThatâÄôs why much of the album IâÄôm putting out is very much introspective. Most of the songs IâÄôve sung to myself, you know, during the inception, during the writing process. I started performing this stuff really minimally. ItâÄôs sort of really personal music that IâÄôve only sung for a handful of people. It feels pretty amazing to get to share it with a wider audience. Now that your album is complete, are you happy with the finished product? Yeah, I think it couldnâÄôt be any other way. It has an intimate, homemade feel and thatâÄôs what I wanted for it. It has a very comfortable, chilling with yourself kind of vibe. IâÄôm super stoked I got to work with so many totally awesome musicians, a lot of talented people. A review of your record mentions the surplus of talented female singer/songwriters in MPLS. Do you feel any sort of kinship with the Bonars , Michelles and Caroline Smiths ? ItâÄôs incredibly inspiring to witness young women standing up and presenting their artistic expressions. ItâÄôs very much set by example. Every time anyone of us does something that has to do with art, it affects everyone in the community. IâÄôve definitely taken some hints from other girls out there. ItâÄôs pretty awesome thereâÄôs a lot woman getting some press. What do you draw on for lyrical inspiration? It totally depends. [For] the music on âÄúSweet Prudence,âÄù I used these, sort of, really intense introspective feelings, the things I was going through as I was writing the music. I was really trying to get to know myself. In particular, I was noticing detrimental patterns, things I was trying to heal within myself. If you wanna call it inner demons, that kinda works. WhatâÄôs your general take on the Twin Cities music scene? I feel kinda blessed to be involved in a lot of different circles. I work with Dessa, who is in Doomtree , so thereâÄôs a definite genre difference with those guys. Minneapolis was a really great place to come into my own. There are so many different kinds of music. I really love the hip-hop scene. ThereâÄôs a lot of great emcees, great producers. Where do you eventually want your music to take you? I would be overjoyed to be able to sing, work and write with musicians on a regular basis. IâÄôd love to make that my full-time work. IâÄôd love to tour. I just want to keep making music. ItâÄôs funny, putting up this album has been the catalyst for so much expansion, which is really exciting.