Finn Wolfhard, a 22-year-old from Vancouver, is mainly recognized for his role in ‘Stranger Things,’ but his new single “Objection!” offers insight into his personal evolution as a musician through his debut solo album ‘Happy Birthday.’
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Stream: “Objection!” – Finn Wolfhard
Wolfhard is a versatile artist, taking part in acting projects like Stranger Things and The Goldfinch (2019), as well as directing his film, Hell of a Summer (2023). Fans who have tracked his journey know about his more personal work outside of mainstream Hollywood: his angst-filled years with Calpurnia and his duo The Aubreys with his close friend Malcolm Craig, with whom he has been making music since he was eleven. Now, Wolfhard aims to share his growth through his debut solo album, Happy Birthday, which was produced by Kai Slater of Lifeguard and Sharp Pins.
Happy Birthday – Finn Wolfhard
I could hear you in the wind
How often? How many faces
And the locations meant for me?
And what did I do
To make me despise you so much?
It’s always the same, always the faces
And the places that weren’t meant for me
The snow begins to fall as it circles Waterloo
The coat soaked from the bar
The cursed witches’ brew
The joy of it all is dampened by you
Happy Birthday originated from a challenge Wolfhard undertook in 2022 to write 50 songs. After narrowing it down to nine, the album combines contagious melodies with heartfelt ballads, portraying self-reflection, introspection, and his search for identity through music and lyrics.
Wolfhard captures the youthful rawness he experienced while recording each song on an 8-track cassette. He opted for this format to give the album an “authentic, raw, and unrefined” feel. Slater successfully encapsulates this essence by capturing the ambiance of the Chicago apartment where Wolfhard stayed, complete with the sound of a whistling kettle or footsteps in the background. The album emphasizes collaboration, featuring contributions from fellow Chicago-based friends and musicians to create a heartfelt portrayal of youth and friendship.
Some tracks, like the surf-punk influenced “Eat,” reflect Wolfhard’s earlier inspirations from bands like FIDLAR and The Frights, while “Objection!” stands out as a nostalgic, upbeat pop track.
Drawing inspiration from Big Star, Feist, and Alvvays, the vibrant strumming of his acoustic guitar resonates throughout this beautiful ballad. “Objection!” evokes a sense of excitement, reminiscent of rushing home joyfully after school, where anxieties linger but the presence of friends offers comfort. The song feels familiar and warm, akin to a favorite sweater.
In a recent Reddit AMA, Wolfhard shared the story behind its catchy chorus: “The snow is starting to fall, circling Waterloo / The coat that’s soaked from the bar / The cursed witches’ brew.” The lyrics recount encountering a childhood friend at a bar on Waterloo Street during a snowstorm in Vancouver, where he paced drunkenly, waiting for an Uber as snow fell around him. His layered voice throughout the repeating melodies immerses the listener in that wintry moment. The simplicity and genuineness of this experience embody the spirit of Happy Birthday.
Wolfhard croons, “The happiness of it all, set back by you,” referring to the relationship he explores in the song. He writes about losing oneself in another person, where infatuation clouds one’s thoughts. “I felt you on the first day of fall / It’s so consuming and the booming / Of your voice is just for me.”
I felt you on the first day of fall
It’s so consuming and the booming
Of your voice is just for me
I don’t have a type
I don’t have a style
I know I do, it’s just a test
So I object and all the rest
Wolfhard expresses his desire not to be confined by others’ expectations: “I don’t have a type / I don’t have a style / I know I do, it’s just a test / So I object and all the rest.” He invites listeners to accept him as he is, rejecting the notion of being defined by past perceptions of him, as indicated by the exclamation mark in the title.
The music video, directed by Marcus Mazzula, is entirely filmed on 16mm in the snowy settings of British Columbia, featuring Wolfhard playing guitar in a laid-back manner. Its playful nature calls to mind early Beatles and power-pop videos, with quirky elements like overlapping footprints in the snow and Wolfhard’s use of binoculars, adding life to the visual experience. The video is dedicated to Wolfhard’s grandfather Mike, who passed away shortly after its creation. A geologist who enjoyed the outdoors,
Finn Wolfhard, a 22-year-old from Vancouver, is best recognized for his role in ‘Stranger Things,’ but “Objection!” offers insight into his personal journey as an emerging musician with his debut solo album ‘Happy Birthday.’
