Wilderado
Formed in the California mountains, but originally hailing from Tulsa, OK, Wilderado have been steadily building a passionate fan base and defining who they are since 2015. When they first came together, Max Rainer (lead vocals, guitar), Tyler Wimpee (guitar, vocals) and Justin Kila (drums) spent a summer in Latigo Canyon, a secluded part of Malibu, with longtime Sufjan Stevens collaborator James McAlister, immersing themselves in writing and recording. Those songs went on to form early EP releases with tastemaker indie labels IAMSOUND and National Anthem, which garnered 50 million streams, but more crucially provided the backbone to years of touring.
Following initial recording sessions at their one-time home and creative space named “The Misty Shrub” (the title of the first EP) in Latigo Canyon (the title of the second EP), the band returned Tulsa to base themselves from their hometown. Since then, they’ve crisscrossed the USA a half dozen times playing with artists as diverse as Lindsey Buckingham and Christine McVie, Mt. Joy, and Rainbow Kitten Surprise, and have performed on the main stage at such festivals as Lollapalooza, Bottlerock and Austin City Limits.
These experiences have given Max new confidence in his own writing, but while he is the main songwriter, Tyler and Justin’s contributions to the music and signature sound cannot be downplayed. “If we’re going to continue the sacrifices of being on the road as a touring band, then the thoughts, and the songs and the melodies and the mood, have to be something that we can all get behind,” Max says. “I write a lot of the music but at the same time I’m with three other guys that put themselves into these songs, they are band songs.”
In 2019, Wilderado released “Surefire,” their single that is now over 40 million streams, streaming over 300k a week in the U.S. In 2021, the band released their self-titled debut album. In 2022, the band appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live for their television debut, and performed on CBS Saturday Morning, ‘Saturday Sessions’ for their AM TV Debut. Wilderado is playing the long game. “We want to put out lots of different songs, to spread the spectrum of what our music sounds like, that’s going to give us longevity. We want a career based off of a catalog of great music. A career that we’ve developed through hard work.”
“Surefire,” is a perfect example of the confluence of soaring melodies and lush harmonies. The staple Wilderado sound. Something they’ve spent years refining and perfecting.