New popstrel Wolfette is very good, and sounds a little bit like Little Boots after three Bacardi Breezers. She is also related to lady-writer-and-owner-of-a-large-nose Virginia Woolf. So, naturally we decided to have a chat with her about Enya, and whether she’d punch The Saturdays.

HM: Hello Wolfette!  We presume that’s not the name on your bus pass. What were you before Wolfette?

Dominique Woolf! I sort of felt that I needed something that was a bit punchier, and Dominique is quite a girly name, it’s a pretty name actually. And I wanted something that reflected my name without being a complete lie. I’ve been playing with my band for about three months. Wolfette is me, and then live I’ve a drummer, bassist and keyboard player.

HM: We are disappointed that you are wearing a leather jacket, as we kind of wanted you to be wearing some wool, so we could shoehorn a joke in about a Wolfette in sheep’s clothing. 

Well, in the winter I do wear wool- I live in my faux-fur coat. Does that help?

HM: Kind of. Where are you from, then Wolfette?

I’m half-Thai and the rest is quite mixed. My grand-mother is Dutch, and there’s some French there. I grew up in the Middle East, my passport says Saudi on it. It was cool growing up there, it makes you more aware of other cultures. 

HM: International! When did you decide to enter the eternally lucrative music industry?

I didn’t go to Uni, I did different kind of officey-jobs, sales and so on. In the last two years I’ve been really focusing on this. I met my producer about two and a bit years ago, a guy called Gizli Christensen. It’s a really unusual name - he’s Icelandic. When I met him we really clicked, and now we’ve done 13 tracks and I’m going to the studio this afternoon to do more.

HM: Do you think you have a definite sound then?

Yes, I think so. I like Prodigy and MSTRKFT and guitars, and I think that transfers over to my music.

HM: What’s the opposite of  your sound?

Enya. My music is quite punchy, there’s an angst and an attitude. I didn’t realise until I did a gig the other day, and a guy came up to me afterwards and said ‘you were great, but you were really scary!’ And I really do love electro music, but also love guitar music. 

HM: Ok, angry. Let’s say we’re in a lift with The Saturdays and one of them makes a mean comment about your shoes. What would you do?

I’m generally not confrontational, but when the moment comes, I can stand my ground. 

HM: Would you punch them?

No, but the blood comes rushing to the surface and I’d probably start shaking. I’d need to go and have a lie down. 

HM: Would you like to be in a group? You seem to be diplomatic. That’s useful. 

I’ve been in other bands, and I realised that I like to be the one in charge. I like it to be my own thing. 

HM: There seems to be a bit of background here...What’s been your worst experience in the industry so far?

There have been a few. There’s been that thing of being dismissed as just a pretty girl or whatever. Or being perceived like that, and guys think they can be controlling. I’ve definitely come up against controlling guys, whether it’s band-mates or managers or whatever. They kept trying to tell me what to do and I have a real aversion to being told what to do. And I’m not very confrontational at the time. 

HM: So will you release a version of Alanis ‘Have a Glass of Water and Calm Down, Love’ Morrisette’s screechy ‘Right Through You’  then?

Yeah- kind of! I’ve got a song called Trophy Girl, and that sounds like it’s about a controlling relationship, but it’s about being controlled by your band. 

Subversive. Would you like to do a guest spot for anyone?

Yeah, I mean, look at Nicki Minaj; she’s girl for hire at the moment! But I think there’s a lot to be said for collaboration, it would have to be someone I really liked. Like Beck maybe. I wouldn’t want to Blu Tac it on. Although if Lady Gaga wanted to do something, I wouldn’t say no! But at the moment I’m focusing on solo stuff. We’re gearing up for the single release, and then after that we’re hoping to do some more live shows and maybe release an EP. Keeping up the momentum. 

Wolfette's single, ‘Different Story’ is released 8th August.