About Little Wise
Little Wise makes music for the drifters and the dreamers. Brimming with melodic hooks and a piercing, heart-on-sleeve lyricism, she conjures a magnetic collision of vintage Americana and modern folk-rock. Little Wise is Sophie Klein, artist and songwriter living and creating music on the lands of the Boonwurrung and Wurrundjeri Woi Wurrung people.
A festival favourite, Little Wise has toured widely across Australia, with appearances at Nannup (WA), Tamworth (NSW), Yackandandah (VIC), Tablelands Folk Festival (QLD) and St Kilda Live n’ Local (VIC), among others. She has ventured to the USA to perform at the hallowed Bluebird Cafe in Nashville TN and has also performed in New York City. Her dynamic live show, equal parts swagger and swoon, has seen her handpicked to support the likes of Frazey Ford (Canada), and ARIA award-winners The Audreys and Mia Dyson.
In 2024, Little Wise is set to release her highly-anticipated third studio album ‘Taken by a Feeling’. Recorded at The Aviary Studios in Abbotsford VIC, the album fuses warm folk sounds with a modern pop-rock palette and is already receiving accolades prior to its release, with two songs selected as semi-finalists in the International Songwriting Competition.
Composed during Melbourne’s rolling lockdowns, the songs on ‘Taken by a Feeling' explore themes that are both raw and timely. From a mother navigating the complexities of modern parenting, to a protagonist longing for the simpler times of their youth - this album offers a fresh perspective on family life, friendships, mental health and the power of music to help us heal.
Little Wise first made her mark on the Melbourne music scene with 2016’s ‘Silver Birch'. The album garnered critical acclaim, picking up the prestigious Best Debut Release award in Rhythms Magazine’s Writers Poll, and receiving airplay on Melbourne’s Triple R, PBS FM, and community radio across the country.
In 2019 Little Wise released sophomore album ‘Want It All’, a timeless LP that conjures a classic pop-rock landscape. Where Silver Birch eschewed production bombast in favour of understated home-spun warmth, ‘Want It All’ enthusiastically embraces a full-band sound, while remaining true to Klein’s distinctive knack for authentic, song-based storytelling.
This creative honesty is on further display in 2020’s live EP ‘I Want To Really See You, And You See Me’. A mix of live-to-air radio performances and concert recordings from the ‘Want It All’ album tour, the 6-track mini-album was released in lieu of a canceled Australian/Canada tour.
Unafraid to touch on the tender parts of the human condition, Little Wise seeks to find a glimmer of hope amongst the cut glass; a hope hymn to sing in the aftermath.
Photo by John Perthuis - Melbourne album launch
Press
Media Quotes
“Little Wise is destined for big things. Sophie Klein sings with the wisdom of an old soul”
“A shining example of focused and refined song-craft.”
“She calls herself Little Wise, but I think she’s a lot wise”
“I love the instrumental outtake. So cool and so dreamy.”
“This is a fine exercise in musical experimentation – Klein and band don’t go too far, they don’t add extras for extras’ sake; Want it All is just right.”
“I was initially reminded of Paul Kelly or Missy Higgins at their best, although it seems unfair to compare a new artist to established Australian icons, because Klein warrants viewing as an original artist of her own merit. She has a stunning, soaring voice and it resounds on this latest album, but there’s definite similarity in Klein’s revealing poetic lyricism which both artists have made their names with.
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“Somewhere between the growl of PJ Harvey and simmering tension of The Velvet Underground sits Melbourne songwriter Little Wise with her return single ‘Want It All’”
“It’s a fantastic listen from start to finish. It’s one of those classic albums in the old sense of albums in that it’s a nice concise 10 tracks, beautifully written and beautifully recorded.”
“The collection of 10 songs ranges from folk to blues to rock in a way that reminds me of the Pretenders, with jangling guitars and a great melodic gift, and Sophie’s melancholic and charming voice is a treat that works so well for the material.”
“‘Want it All’ is filled with beguiling vocal tones and varied, sparkling musicality. It has many moods, all of them carrying a special charm.” [4 Stars] ”
““This is a lament to lost love, a mantra for growing up, an album that ebbs and flows, that rocks and cries. Sophie has poured herself into every aspect, whether it be the heart-felt lyrics, the layered guitars, the painstakingly produced sonic tapestry. ‘Want it All’ is a work of the finest art, crafted to make you feel.”
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“A modern slice of Aussie rock-pop that harks back to the sounds of the ‘80s-‘90s”
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’Want It All’ breathes with such intensity and immediacy, it somehow captures the unsuspecting listener off-guard (4 Stars)”
“It’s nothing short of breathtaking. Each little guitar lick that’s flawlessly placed between vocal phrases seems so at ease and cradles my calm... I think I’ve found my soundtrack.”
“A stunning, raw take on rootsy folk and alternative country. The evocative songbird is on the rise.””
“Klein has such a tender and open hearted spark to her, that fans of Australian folk and country would be direly mistaken to overlook Little Wise.
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“Absolutely beautiful!”
Upcoming shows