Wil used to think that for something to be good, it had to be hard.
The easy songs, the ones about love and happiness, flowed out the songwriter’s pen. But he put those in a box and forgot about them, turning his attention to heartbreak and world turmoil.
Those songs were hard and took way more effort.
“I was intentionally looking for it too much, too,” Wil said.
His new album is a departure then, focusing on the heart – hence the name Heart of Mine – and being strong, falling in love and generally being a good person.
“I know a lot more than I did 10 years ago,” Wil said.
He grew up around music, his parents playing songs from the likes of Johnny Cash, Chet Atkins and Hank Williams.
He released his first album in 2004, called In Both Hands, and earned a tour spot with Colin James. He since released three more albums, including the latest.
But Heart of Mine is a departure for Wil – it’s an album made with his own self-interest in mind.
“I thought, I gotta make a record truly for me,” he said. “I needed to do it.”
He and producer Adam Sutherland, from the Victoria-based band Armchair Cynics, focused on the business of recording, forgoing the pranks and beers at four in the afternoon.
“We got it all done in 15 days,” Wil said. “We just grabbed stuff and went forward.”
Wil said part of it stems from being comfortable in his own skin and confident in his songwriting. He let go of expectations – put on by himself and others – and let the music happen.
“I just stopped trying so hard to make something work,” Wil said. “I just kept doing and not paying attention to what other people think.”
Wil performs at the Queen’s Sunday (Nov. 6) with C. R. Avery, a beat-box, hip-hop harmonica player who recorded 15 albums.
The two artists, who haven’t met, were put together by their agents, who thought the pair might benefit from the other’s talents.
“I can’t wait to be there and see what he does,” Wil said.
The show starts at 8:30 p.m. Tickets $10/advance from Headliners and the Queen’s; $12/door. Please call 250-754-6751.
For more information, please visit www.ibreakstrings.com.
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