WiL
He first hit the scene in 2003 with his debut release ‘Both Hands’. Nominated for three WCMA’s including Best Live Act, the album launched his career path as a touring singer/songwriter.
WiL is a Canadian born contemporary roots artist living on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. His music style is unique, blending elements of traditional country, roots-rock, soul and blues like many ‘’ artists yet he defies the expansive genre, ever so slightly, by adding elements of straight up pop music resulting in a distinctive and refreshing sound. He first hit the scene in 2003 with his debut release ‘Both Hands’. 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 fact that WiL grew up in Calgary, the heart of southern Alberta, coupled with his appreciation and love for film collided beautifully when presented with the campaign’s visually stunning images, a process that he uses diligently in his songwriting process.
WiL is the first to maintain he is not the “best acoustic guitar player ever” nor even a really ‘great’ singer but he will concede that he possesses a very particular style; one that comes with a measure of inherent talent and an immeasurable quantity of practice and experience; both on and off the road. As such he has had the honour of sharing the stage with the likes of Burton Cummings, Jann Arden, Feist, Ray LaMontagne and most recently, the legendary Mavis Staples.
WiL delivers his eclectic brand of contemporary roots inspired rock with band mates Keith Gallant (drums) and Lena Birtwistle (keys/vocals).