Willie Watson Talks New Album, Musical Memories And More

Willie Watson, the singer-songwriter, poet, actor and multi-instrumentalist has released his self-titled debut solo album and is touring the UK in January/February 2025. He kindly chatted to us about the record, his musical memories and more:
You began your UK tour at The Americana Awards (AMA) in London. What was that experience like?
It was wonderful. I was able to see people that I knew in Nashville at the event, and we performed at a place called Nightingales which was lovely. It was great to see the UK embrace Americana as a genre in such a big way.
Whilst you are touring in the UK do you have any sightseeing plans?
No sightseeing planned no.
Your self-titled solo album is out now. How did you want to approach the making of the album?
I recorded the album in Los Angeles with producers Gabe Witcher (Punch Brothers) and Kenneth Pattengale (Milk Carton Kids). They had heard like three of the tracks as I would go around and play them in people’s living rooms and they said that they wanted to record some of the songs, but they were not sure how I was going to approach the songs.
They invited me to their recording studio and when we got there, they already had musicians there and it was just a very fun process.
In terms of writing the album, it was difficult yes, but I just wanted to have fun with it and not put any pressure on myself.
One of the tracks on the record is ‘Already Gone’. What was the story/inspiration behind that track?
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. He is grieving.
What is your earliest memory?
I would say listening to 8-tracks in my mom’s Buick. She had a blue Cat Stevens one that we would listen to, and ‘No Nukes’ which was recorded during the Reagan-era and they hoped that it would be as big as Live Aid. It included Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty lots of artists.
Do you have any favoured stage instruments?
I have my Larrivée guitar that I have always played and a Gibson five-string banjo.
How do you look after your voice?
I don’t really. I drank alcohol and smoked cigarettes when I was in my twenties and performing so I suppose that has made a difference. I just try and rest it when I need to now I don’t do anything else.
What makes Willie Watson happy and what makes you unhappy?
Well happiness is not guaranteed, and life is hard. I would say love makes me happy and rejection makes me unhappy.

Feature Image Photo Credit: Hayden Shiebler
Willie Watson’s new self-titled solo album is out now via Little Operation Records (Thirty Tigers).
Listen/Download/Purchase here: https://orcd.co/williewatson
In addition, Willie Watson is touring the UK and will visit the following venues:
JANUARY 2025
25th Nottingham Bodega
26th Leeds The Old Woollen
27th Liverpool Leaf
28th Glasgow Celtic Connections @ Cottiers Theatre
30th Manchester Night & Day
31st Bristol Thekla
February 2025
1st London 100 Club
Tickets for all Willie Watson shows are available from https://www.williewatson.com/tour