Carolina Girls Listen to Wednesday
Listen to: Elderberry Wine
Welcome to my first blog post! I figured no better way to start than with Wednesday, one of my favorite bands despite only discovering them in Fall of 2025. I sent a friend my spotify playlist which he responded with “let me add some songs” and that is how I fell in love with this band. Based in North Carolina, which already softened my heart, their ability to blend genres and write relatable lyrics made me fall in love. I first listened to their song “Elderberry Wine” in the middle of Fall, the weather was cold and grey, I no longer lived in North Carolina. I was immediately reminded of summers spent along the Blue Ridge with my friends. I yearned for a warm summer morning, hungover, ready to head to a diner to eat far too many hashbrowns with our coffee.
It took me right out of my current space and allowed me to enjoy a snippet from my past. This song came from their most recent album Bleeds, which came out September 19, 2025. This album blends rock, southern rock, and folk to make a unique and unforgettable album.
Wednesday is a North Carolina based rock band that has been making music since 2017 with Karly Hartzman leading on vocals and writing, joined by guitarist and background vocalist Jake Lenderman, an artist also known as MJ Lenderman who creates music independently of the band (we will talk about his solo music soon enough!) Ethan Baechtold on bass, Xandy Chelmis on lap steel and pedal steel contributing to their unique southern rock sound that magically blends with the heavier guitar sound, and Alan Miller on drums tying the whole group together. These musicians work and blend together creating Wednesday’s unique sound connecting heavy guitar riffs with their North Carolina inspired lyrics. Creating an incredible group that dips into various genres
Listen to: The Way Love Goes
Karly Hartzman’s writing makes me feel heard in ways I have longed for from other artists. Without a doubt, one of my favorite lyrics comes from “The Way Love Goes” a raw and honest love, but breakup song. “I oversold myself on the night we met, I’m not as entertaining as you might’ve thought I was then”... it digs right into the insecurities we feel after a breakup, especially with a partner we still love and admire, but grew apart from.
Listen to: Wound Up Here (By Holdin On)
So much of their music makes me feel angsty and heard. Every song tells a story, but in a way that you can relate it to your life experiences. I remember screaming the lyrics “I wound up here by holdin’ on” after the end of a very long relationship. While the song doesn’t really deal with the ending of a relationship, those lyrics being screamed by Karly just pulled my anger and hurt straight out of me. It was impossible to hide from my emotions in that moment and that is what truly good music does. Wednesday was able to take the lyrics and instrumentals not intended for a specific situation, and put so much emotion behind it to grab hold of your own feelings. A lot of their lyrics are inspired by their messy adolescence growing up in North Carolina. Karly’s ability to tie in personal stories and experiences to make relatable lyrics contributes deeper to this band’s authenticity.
I can go on about this amazing band, but the best way to get to know them is to listen to their music. Their most recent album Bleeds is a great place to start; from the heavier guitar and vocals on songs like Bitter Everyday, Wasps, and Wound up here (by holding on) to the more indie-folk sounding Elderberry Wine, Townies, and The Way Love Goes, there is a song you will connect to. However, if you are interested in seeing the evolution of this band, I highly recommend starting at their earliest album (that is available on major streaming platforms) I Was Trying to Describe You to Someone and listening through in order to get to Bleeds. You can hear how much this band has grown and found their sound. They are a band I cannot stop recommending to everyone and I promise you will find a song that sticks with you.
Here is my Wednesday playlist filled with some of my favorite songs by them: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4OXlKl0DCspC1QqCCdYdHK?si=BO4ggexlSb2_jVx2NmzuHQ&pi=yCeZixl7TxyCq
