Wednesday

Wednesday Artistfacts

  • 2017-
    Karly HartzmanVocals, guitar2017-
    Alan MillerDrums2017-
    Daniel GorhamBass2017-2019
    Margo SchultzBass2020-2022
    Xandy ChelmisLap steel2020-
    MJ Lenderman Guitar2020-
    Ethan BaechtoldBass2023-
  • Wednesday emerged from the gritty, genre-bending music scene of Asheville, North Carolina. It started as lead singer Karly Hartzman's solo project, then evolved into a full band as she met other musicians in Asheville's DIY scene. Their early releases were recorded in homes and local studios, fusing shoegaze distortion with Southern storytelling.
  • Hartzman selected the name because she liked the idea of an ordinary day. "I like how unassuming and low pressure Wednesday is," she told Offshelf, "as opposed to, I don't know, Friday?"
  • The title of their breakout album, Rat Saw God (2023), comes from a season 2 episode of the cult TV series Veronica Mars. Hartzman said the title stuck with her because it sounded "biblical and grimy," which matched the tone she wanted for the album. Both Paste and Stereogram ranked Rat Saw God as their Best Album of 2023.
  • Many of Hartzman's lyrics are semi-autobiographical, drawing from her life in North Carolina, with lyrics referencing local details and personal relationships.
  • MJ Lenderman is not only Wednesday's lead guitarist but also a solo artist whose 2022 album Boat Songs earned critical acclaim. His distinct, off-kilter guitar work heavily influences Wednesday's sound.
  • Hartzman and Lenderman were a couple for six years before breaking up during their Tokyo tour in March 2024. While they continue to collaborate artistically, Lenderman no longer tours with Wednesday, but he still plays on their recordings.
  • Wednesday performed their Americana-tinged single "Elderberry Wine" on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on May 21, 2025. It was their first national television appearance.

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