Claude VonStroke Releases First New EP in 18 Months, ‘I Was the Wolf’

Claude VonStroke is back. After shifting towards Barclay Crenshaw, his alternative beat project under his own name, the Dirtybird founder is making house music again. 

Crenshaw's first release after the long break is a two-track EP called I Was the Wolf. The title track captures his traditional weird sonic flavor with an especially stripped-back minimal feel. Then the second cut, “Move with the Pack,” employs jazzy keyboard runs aloft serene electronic layers and a downtempo beat.

The EP came out exclusively on Beatport back on April 11, and it’s coming out on Spotify and other mainstream DSPs this Friday, April 25. Those who want the earliest access to Crenshaw’s new music can sign up for his private community, Claude’s Club. Crenshaw shared more details of this staggered release plan via his newsletter:

“As part of the Life of Leisure indy mentality, all of my new music is available direct to fans many many weeks before the general public hears it via streaming,” Crenshaw wrote. “If you are a casual listener and your main jam is Spotify or Apple dont freak out! All my music will still be there, just 8 weeks later, like a movie going from the theatre to cable.”

The aforementioned “Life of Leisure indy mentality” translates to his upcoming tour as well. The run is fittingly titled, the Life of Leisure tour.

“I will not be trying to compete with any bro-house big room stuff. I’m going to try and create my own lane just like back in 2005, fueled by you guys, the legendary people of the dance-floor who have earned the right to hear something fresh again,” Crenshaw wrote on Instagram. “It’s called the Life of Leisure tour because that’s the life i’m trying to live right now. Not 'Leisure' relaxing on a beach in Mallorca, but 'Leisure' in terms of headspace - creating a safe haven for everyone in the club to enjoy themselves and forget their problems for a couple of hours (including myself!).”

I Was the Wolf by Claude VonStroke is available now. Purchase it exclusively on Beatport.