Ellie Rowsell performing live with Wolf Alice on stage
Music

Wolf Alice Completes 'The Clearing' Era With Stomping New B-Side 'Hit The Sky'

Ellie Rowsell and company wrap up their extra tracks with a fiddle-driven folk-rock jam featuring Julia Cumming.

By Dee AlvarezPublished Updated 2 min read

Wolf Alice isn't letting their latest era end quietly. The beloved British rock outfit has officially dropped "Hit The Sky," marking the third and final installment in their *The Clearing: B Sides* release series. The fresh track brings a distinctly folksy energy to the table, giving fans a final taste of the creative output surrounding their latest album cycle. The new cut leans into a stomping folk-rock vibe that stands out from their usual alternative soundscapes. It features intricate live fiddle arrangements performed by musician James Gavin, adding an organic, foot-tapping texture to the production. Sunflower Bean vocalist Julia Cumming also returns to the fold, supplying soaring background harmonies alongside frontwoman Ellie Rowsell.

What is Wolf Alice new song Hit The Sky about?

According to Ellie Rowsell, the upbeat track wasn't originally intended for immediate release. The singer revealed that "Hit The Sky" started out as an early demo recorded inside a home studio setup in London's Seven Sisters neighborhood during the primary studio sessions for *The Clearing*. Rather than abandoning the tape, the group decided to unearth and polish the track roughly twelve months later. They brought in extra live instrumentation and fresh backing vocals to transform the initial rough draft into a fully fleshed-out single. Lyrically, Rowsell explained that the track centers around love, confidence, and radical encouragement. The singer wrote the song as a message to help boost someone special, urging them to embrace who they truly are without fear or hesitation because their inner brightness is so obvious to everyone around them.

Ellie Rowsell performing live with Wolf Alice on stage
Ellie Rowsell performing live with Wolf Alice on stage

Where can you listen to Wolf Alice new B-sides?

"Hit The Sky" effectively caps off a trio of extra songs connected to *The Clearing*. The band kicked off the mini-era by dropping "Gospel Oak," a delicate and tender piano ballad that showed off their quieter side. They followed that up with an ambitious cover of The Roches' classic "Hammond Song," which saw Cumming and artist Bria Salmena join forces with the group. For those eager to hear the entire trilogy, the complete collection of B-sides is available on all major streaming services right now. Fans who prefer physical media don't have long to wait either, as a special seven-inch vinyl press containing the tracks is scheduled to hit record stores on Friday, August 21.

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People also ask

What is the final B-side track from Wolf Alice's The Clearing?
The final B-side track is 'Hit The Sky,' a folksy song featuring fiddle work by James Gavin and background vocals by Julia Cumming.
When is the physical vinyl release for Wolf Alice's B-sides?
The physical seven-inch vinyl version of the B-sides collection arrives on Friday, August 21.