Today we’d like to introduce you to Wolf Mahler.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I am an emerging singer-songwriter, originally from Nashville, Tennessee, but my journey to being a professional on music row has been more of a full circle than a straight line. Raised in a musical family—my parents, Michael and Angela Mahler, were part of the Sony-signed country group Wild Horses— I spent my early years homeschooled on a tour bus, watching performances from the wings of venues like Wildhorse Saloon all the way to Ceasaer’s Palace.
After loosing their record deal, my family relocated to Texas, as I discovered my talent in athletics. I became a standout track and field athlete specializing in the decathlon, winning four Junior Olympic titles in high school and earning an athletic scholarship to the University of Texas. There, I secured five All-American honors and qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials.
During this time, my high-school band “One Vs All” had won multiple battle of the band competitions, one of which offered a recording contract. However, I was the number one ranked Decathlete in the country and decided I could not turn down a scholarship to my dream school, The University of Texas at Austin.
Unfortunately, NIL rules were different then, and I was not allowed to release music, perform or make any money with my artist career as I would risk losing my scholarship.
After college I ran professionally for a couple of years, coached my wife Ashtin Zamzow Mahler and eventually became a World Championship coach where she placed 11th in 2022.
Despite my success as an athlete and coach, I still felt a pull toward music. Returning to Nashville in November of 2022, I immersed myself in the songwriting community, attending events hosted by the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI). I caught the attention of Sea Gayle Music’s Senior Creative Director, JD Groover, leading to a publishing deal in early 2024. I’ve been a published writer for a little over a year now and believe I am in the right place at the right time. My songs have gotten the attention of many artists, labels and publishers and I expect to have my first major label cuts in 2025. I am also finally starting my artist career as my first song release ever “TN in TX” comes out June 20th. I will be in Spain coaching my wife at an international track and field competition while the song comes out but I am so grateful to still be doing both professions I love.
My songwriting is deeply influenced by my life experiences, blending the storytelling tradition of country music with the discipline of my athletic background. With a unique blend of personal history and artistic talent, I feel that I am poised to make a significant impact on the country music scene.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I’ve never taken the easy route. I tend to accept the hardest challenge available to me at any given time. Watching my parents chase their dream in them music industry inspired me to go all in and bet on myself growing up. Track and field, especially the decathlon, is one of the most labor intensive sports. However I always believed I could be an Olympian and worked restlessly at that goal. Unfortunately, at the height of my career, my senior year in college when I was ranked second nationally, I was struck by a suburban while delivering food on a moped in Austin, TX. I was lucky to only suffer a concussion and a shattered collar bone, but since the accident I was never able to complete another Decathlon. I had tried to continue my career alongside my wife, but injuries kept me from accomplishing my goals. Doctor’s have told me that the impact to my head and neck area had likely caused problems neurologically where it would be difficult to compete at the highest level without risk of straining muscles in my lower legs. I fought through, even changed events to the 400m hurdles, and coached myself to a top 20 finish in the USATF National Championships in 2022, but realized I would likely never be able to compete at the standards I held myself to.
Afterwards I had a brief stent as a Real Estate agent in my hometown of Temple, Texas. But I felt I needed an avenue to test myself again. Music had always been waiting on me to chase it again and so my wife and I relocated to Nashville for me to pursue a dream that had been idling. Getting a publishing deal, and my next goal, a record deal, is another challenge that I feel like I was made for. So far I have taken my life experiences, put them into my career on music row, and have been blessed by the outcome. No matter what hurdles may come, I will continue to go all in and bet on myself.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I moved to town with the intention of being a songwriter. Growing up writing songs with my father, who had cuts such as “Wood and Wire” – George Jones, I’ve always had a deep respect for the craft. Since moving to Nashville, gaining experience with cowriters, and getting exposure to more of the greatest songwriters in the world, that craft is being steadily refined. I am proud of so many songs I have written and do believe my music will be heard on the radio and lie in the catalogs of some of the biggest artists in Nashville. I was signed to an artist development deal with Sea Gayle and they have supported my first release, TN in TX, coming out June 20th. I have many other songs lined to release thereafter and cannot wait to begin performing with a band again. You can also see me play around town at venues like the Bluebird Cafe, Listening Room and GrindHouse at Ole Smokey distillery where I showcase my songs at writers rounds.
Any big plans?
This will likely be my wife’s last year competing in track and field. It will be an emotional and difficult transition as we have both put so much into the sport. But after here career concludes, we look forward to starting a new dream, starting a family. I plan to keep momentum as a writer and artist and build something in this town that will support the family we have always dreamed of having.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @wolfmahler
- Facebook: @wolfmahler
- Twitter: @wolfmahler
- Youtube: @wolfandashtin
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1DXyGxhQYYrPdTzTvJo9rb?si=yzJCQ2shSq2FOQX1V53ylw
