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WiL bringing new music to The Arts Station
Vancouver Island based contemporary roots rocker, WiL knows a thing or two about being on the road; after all he has been writing and recording original music professionally since the release of his debut album ‘Both Hands’ back in 2003. Nominated for three WCMA’s including Best Live Act, the album launched his career path as a touring singer/songwriter.
His first real break came in 2011 when his song ‘Roam’ was chosen to represent the award winning media campaign by Travel Alberta called ‘Remember to Breathe‘. The video with its stunning images was a regular staple during hockey games and events in Canada and worldwide helping his body of music (six studio albums, one live album and three EPs) reach a larger audience.
For the past 18 months WiL has been writing and recording tracks for his forthcoming and seventh LP ‘Gold Mine’, written, recorded and entirely self produced at his home studio over the course of 14 months. Each song came into fruition at different times while juggling stints writing commercial compositions, commercial fencing (the kind that keeps cows and horses from roaming around freely) and playing live shows with his steadfast band mates, Keith Gallant (drums) and Lena Birtwistle (keys and vocals).
The workload may sound daunting but it is the balance of those three that help WiL focus on his ultimate goal and that is to play music live, on stage to people who care enough to listen, until he’s dead and buried. If you’re a fan reading this, don’t worry! He’s alive and quite well. In fact, his weekly sessions in the dojo help him stay fit so that he retains his reputation for putting on a live show that has been coined legendary by fans and critics alike and has given him the honour of sharing floorboards with musical heavyweights such as Burton Cummings, Matthew Good, Feist, Ray LaMontagne and most recently, the legendary Mavis Staples.
WiL hits the roads of Western Canada January 27 – March 9 to road test songs from his forthcoming LP Gold Mine with a stop at Fernie’s The Art Station on Feb. 7.
Photo courtesy of Jodie Gallant Photography
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