“Confessional, masterly… Willie Watson reflects on joy, pain, self-destruction, childhood trauma and, ultimately, personal salvation” – 9/10, UNCUT, Americana Album of the Month
“The real charm lies in Watson’s voice… where quiet dignity meets persuasive beauty” 4/5 - MOJO
Willie Watson, the singer-songwriter, poet, actor and multi-instrumentalist has released a new single titled ‘Already Gone’. The song features Benmont Tench of The Heartbreakers on keys and a music video directed by Joseph Wasilewski. The single appears on Watson’s first-ever solo album of original material - over 20 years into his career, which is released this Friday.
The collection of songs is honest and potent, an unadorned reflection of Watson’s life, his mistakes, his traumas, and his gratitude to still be here, to still be alive, and to still be loved. It's the type of record that can’t come early in one’s career and was won after a life of hard battles and difficult lessons. The former founding member of Old Crow Medicine Show has been a part of numerous musical projects, soundtracks, and films.
Willie Watson is out on Friday, September 13th via Little Operation Records (Thirty Tigers). PREORDER THE ALBUM HERE
Willie Watson on ‘Already Gone’: “The song seems to be a centerpoint of this whole record. It’s a guy just trying to look at himself in the mirror and it’s hard. I’ve tried not to look too close but if I can stop tearing myself apart inside for two seconds, get a little closer and just look… sometimes I hear a gentler voice. As for the video… you caught me at the right moment. Those big camera lenses are just mirrors if you get close up.”
Willie Watson has spent most of his musical career as a favorite of musicians in the know. As an inspiring and eccentric character, a remarkable player, and a human who looks at the world differently, Watson attracted a who’s who of collaborators throughout his career including Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, John Prine, John C. Reilly, Sara and Sean Watkins and so many more. Watson has always battled his own self-diminishment and only now has decided to allow a body of work of his own to be released into the world.
“After 30 years of playing music professionally - this is my debut album. This record is me beating the devil, or the story of what finally did it anyway. I didn’t make any specific pact or anything but I know we’ve been tangled up most of my life. Now that he’s gone I can love myself again,” says Watson of the record.
Watson recorded the album in Los Angeles with producers Gabe Witcher (Punch Brothers) and Kenneth Pattengale (Milk Carton Kids) and with a crack band of players including Paul Kowert on bass (Punch Brothers), Dylan Day on guitar (Jenny Lewis, Nick Hakim), Tench on keys (The Heartbreakers), Jason Boesel on drums (Bright Eyes, Jenny Lewis), and new massive talent Sami Braman on fiddle. The track follows the album’s first single ‘Real Love’ and its stunning companion music video, and the second single ‘Slim and The Devil’.
