Lucius' Jess Wolfe: "Having that shared experience would bring any musicians together"

The sonorous intertwining harmonies of Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig have beguiled many a devoted listener. Even if you’re unfamiliar with their names, you’ve likely heard their voices, with the duo having worked with Harry Styles, Sheryl Crow and Ozzy Osbourne, to name a few.

Kindling Lucius’s success was their 2014 debut Wildewoman. The colourful collection of indie-pop bops turns ten this year and to mark the milestone, they’ve decided to re-record the album.

“It felt like a little celebration,” says Wolfe. “The songs are what connected us to a real audience in the first place.”

A lot can change in a decade. After four LPs and a myriad of tours, what differences can be heard on the new version?

“It’s more lived-in, we’ve been playing those songs for so long that they’re second nature,” says Wolfe. “Listening to the original recordings and remembering the things we did then, and combining them with what we’ve learned, was a wonderful little meeting point.”

There’s also the addition of a terrific guestlist this time around. Features include long-time collaborator Brandi Carlile (who’s won ten Grammys), soul singer Devon Gilfillian (who Wolfe weightily compared to Marvin Gaye) and Marcus Mumford (the one with the sons). Some of these bonds were formed in quasi-religious circumstances – Joni Mitchell’s mythical ‘Joni Jams’.

“We made our friendships sitting in her living room, listening to our hero and singing songs together in a circle, elated like little school kids,” shares Wolfe. “Having that shared experience would bring any musicians closer together. It’s the ultimate reminder of the power of music and how healing it can be. Joni had a brain aneurysm about 15 years ago, and it left her, for the third time in her life, having to relearn how to walk and talk. She’s made quite a tremendous recovery.”

Lucius by Piper Ferguson.

The most pertinent relationship at the heart of Lucius is that of Wolfe and Laessig, who’ve been tightly knit since meeting at Berklee College of Music in 2005.

“It’s a difficult career at times, there’s so many challenges, but I get to do it with my best friend. I get choked up thinking about it,” says Wolfe. “We’ve travelled the world and done so many things that we never would have ever expected to do. We don’t fight. You’d think there’d be a little more drama, but honestly, it’s such a wonderful yin and yang. The things that I don’t have in myself, I see in Holly and vice versa.”

Together, they’re a force of nature, uniquely sharing lead vocal duties across their breadth of work. Their talents lured Roger Waters to have them provide singing duties for his tour in 2017-2018 (their rendition of ‘The Great Gig In The Sky’ is a sensory marvel). How does Wolfe sum up gigging with the former Pink Floyd man?

“He leaves no stone unturned,” she reveals. “He was at every soundcheck with notes from the night before on visuals, lights, arrangements. He was constantly trying to improve and make the show that much more special and meaningful.”

Lucius are well versed in putting on epic concerts of their own, with their shows renowned for their radiant pop art visuals. Ahead of their stop at the Button Factory in Dublin this August, Wolfe reveals pleasant memories of playing in Whelan’s.

“We had no idea what to expect, it was jam-packed, which meant a lot as it was our first time there,” she says. “The crowd was so loud we couldn’t hear ourselves. It was what The Beatles must have felt like on a very micro level, it was one of the most memorable shows of our entire career. We’re bringing back the original set-up. Stand-up drums, Holly and I facing each other playing synthesisers, percussion spread across the stage and, of course, new costumes, with the Wildewoman colours.

“We’ll likely play some new tunes too. We’ve been writing a lot and we’re planning on releasing an album early next year.”

• Wildewoman (The New Recordings) is out now. Lucius play The Button Factory, Dublin on August 22