Photo Courtesy of Nicky William’s Facebook
Nicky William is a force to be reckoned with. Since his debut single “Wake Up” set him on a path towards stardom in 2014, the 19-year-old artist has continued to blend the all too familiar sound of folk with an upbeat glimmer of pop to deliver some truly memorable tracks.
Over the years William has spun tales of self-deprecation and longing while keeping his music down-to-earth and relatable. This, coupled with his deep, shaking vocals, has kept his sound rugged despite the pop undertones. The merging of these genres has given William the freedom to explore a new sonic landscape. He’s able to utilize both folk and pop to expand on the countless facets of the human experience.
William is fantastic at describing the odd eccentricities of life in a way that makes his listeners understand and empathize with his narrative. On his track “#1 Sad Guy”, William conveys feelings of twisted triumph, exhaustion, and even a bit of loneliness, but his very personal take on these emotions do not restrict his audience from feeling them with him. The song takes us on a journey of hollow victory through introspective lyrics and unique vocal work that leaves listeners both high-strung and chilled out. It’s truly a masterpiece of emotion that pays homage to the lore of folk while feeling like an entirely new beast, one that is both rough and lustrous.
William has the makings of a folk legend because he knows how to effectively utilize pop. He’s intelligent, he’s talented, and we can’t wait to hear how he’ll impress us next.
“We are like butterflies who flutter for a day and think it is forever.” — Sagan