“Sheep, Dog & Wolf Releases New Song ‘Sound of a Distant Wave’ as 13th Floor’s Song of the Day”
New Zealand Album.
In addition to their music career, McBride has delved into the world of music-software engineering. Collaborating on the development of Serato’s stem-separation algorithm and contributing to the creation of Serato’s DAW, Studio, McBride has also been involved in designing software for Akai’s MPCs. Their technical expertise extends to building custom plugins and programs to enhance their own music production and live performances.
Returning in 2025, Sheep, Dog & Wolf introduces “Sound of a Distant Wave,” their latest single. Opening with a delicate blend of clarinets and percussion that evolves into a fusion of jazz, electronica, post-rock, and avant-pop, this new track captures McBride reflecting on the fragility of memory amidst the anticipation of loss. McBride shares, “Memory is such a strange and unstable thing, and that’s thrown into sharp relief when you’re losing someone close to you. When the stakes feel that high, it can be difficult to accept that all things fade and distort with time. Sound of a Distant Wave is about looking for ways to hold on.”
With a dreamlike essence and fluid shifts, the track features distant saxophones harmonizing with McBride’s captivating group vocals. While the driving bassline and pulsating beat infuse the song with a groove, the ever-changing time signatures and intricate pitched-percussion soundscapes twist it into a mesmerizing, otherworldly creation.
Sheep, Dog & Wolf’s unique sound defies categorization, blending experimentalism, math-rock, folk, electronica, and post-classical minimalism with McBride’s distinctive voice that echoes shades of Anohni and James Blake. Each composition exudes a raw emotional honesty, intricately crafted yet vulnerably exposed. Impressively, McBride writes, performs, and records every facet of their music solo.
Starting their musical journey at the age of seventeen, Sheep, Dog & Wolf has continuously evolved their sound with each release. Their debut EP, “Ablutophobia,” recorded during breaks in high school classes, garnered attention for its mix of youthful innocence and well-developed musicality, drawing comparisons to Sufjan Stevens by The Guardian. Following this, their debut full-length album, “Egospect,” released in 2013, showcased their exceptional talent, earning them critical acclaim and accolades, including the Critics’ Choice Prize at the New Zealand Music Awards.
In 2021, Sheep, Dog & Wolf unveiled “Two-Minds,” an album characterized by intricate rhythms and compelling narratives that blend orchestral arrangements, mutant R&B, and off-kilter beats. Praised by Clash as “truly intoxicating” and NPR as “lush and textured… so beautiful,” the album garnered significant recognition and secured a spot on the shortlist for the Taite Prize for Best New Zealand Album.
As Sheep, Dog & Wolf returns with their latest single, “Sound of a Distant Wave,” they continue to push musical boundaries, creating immersive, genre-defying compositions that resonate deeply with listeners. With their remarkable ability to capture raw emotions and complex musings within each track, Daniel McBride proves to be a multifaceted artist with a compelling vision and distinctive voice in the contemporary music landscape.