Sheep, Dog & Wolf

For other uses, see Sheep, Dog and Wolf (disambiguation).

Daniel McBride, better known under the moniker Sheep, Dog & Wolf, is a multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, and composer based in Auckland, New Zealand.^[1] McBride released his first EP under this name (created in his bedroom) independently in May 2011, at 17 years old.^[2] He was signed to Lil' Chief Records for his debut album; Egospect, released August 2013.^[3] His sophomore album Two-Minds was released on April 9, 2021, through independent London record label Aphrodite.^[4]

Sheep, Dog & Wolf
Birth name	Daniel McBride
Origin	Auckland, New Zealand
Genres	Experimental, alternative, indie-folk, jazz
Occupation(s)	Musician, composer
Years active	2011–present
Labels	Aphrodite
Website	sheepdogandwolf.com

Music and career

The music of Sheep, Dog & Wolf is characterised by its often-dense instrumentation, unusual time signatures, McBride's use of vocal layering and harmonisation, and his 'bedroom artist' approach to recording and engineering. Notably, all releases are performed, recorded, and produced by McBride.^[5]

Releases and reception

Sheep, Dog & Wolf's debut EP, Ablutophobia, was released in May 2011, and was highly praised internationally; he was named "a young Sufjan Stevens" in the Guardian^[6] and Vogue Italia called the EP "a rare pearl."^[7][8]

McBride released his debut full-length album, Egospect, through Lil' Chief Records in August 2013.^[3] The album was one of 8 finalists for the Taite Music Prize for Best New Zealand Album, alongside Lorde and Unknown Mortal Orchestra.^[9]

Sheep, Dog & Wolf was awarded the Critics' Choice Prize at the 2013 New Zealand Music Awards.^[10][11]

McBride's second album, Two-Minds, was released on April 9, 2021, through Aphrodite.^[4] NPR described the record as "lush and textured... so beautiful" and named it one of their top albums of the week,^[12] and Clash (magazine) called it "truly intoxicating... a beautiful evocation of the need to walk towards positivity, a yearning for new light."^[13]

Two-Minds was one of 8 finalists for the Taite Music Prize for Best New Zealand Album at the 2022 Taite Awards. ^[14]

Discography

Albums

• Egospect (2013)^[15]
• Two-Minds (2021)^[4]

EPs

• Ablutophobia EP (2011)^[16]

References

1. "Radio New Zealand -sex Sheep, Dog & Wolf on the pain behind his music".
2. "Ablutophobia EP | Sheep, Dog & Wolf". download.sheepdogandwolf.com. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
3. "Lil' Chief Records: Sheep, Dog & Wolf Album 'Egospect' Released Today!". blog.lilchiefrecords.com. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
4. "Sheep, Dog & Wolf - Two-Minds (bandcamp)".
5. "Sheep, Dog & Wolf – About | Facebook". facebook.com. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
6. "May's best new music from across the MAP | Music | theguardian.com". theguardian.com. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
7. "Young promises – Vogue.it". vogue.it. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
8. "hphotos-ak-ash2/t31/466489_384515628228341_341221526_o". fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
9. "The Taite Music Prize: Announcing the Finalists | Commission News | NZ Music Commission". nzmusic.org.nz. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
10. "Sheep, Dog & Wolf wins Critics' Choice Prize – Entertainment – NZ Herald News". nzherald.co.nz. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
11. New Zealand Music Award for Critics' Choice Prize
12. "New Music Friday: The Top 9 Albums Out On April 9".
13. Murray, Robin (30 November 2020). "Sheep, Dog & Wolf's Two Minds Is A Search For Recovery". Clash. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
14. Puschmann, Karl (10 March 2022). "The Finalists for the Taite Music Prize 2022 Have Been Announced". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
15. "Egospect | Sheep, Dog & Wolf". download.sheepdogandwolf.com. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
16. "Sheep, Dog & Wolf - Ablutophobia EP (bandcamp)".