Since leaving Old Crow Medicine Show, founding member Willie Watson, has been forging together an album that really reflects himself as an artist. After two solo albums, the self titled third album finally feels like the solo expression he’s been seeking. To Willie Watson, it’s epic poetry, the journey from stereotypical excess to being sober, from the traumas of childhood to the hard learned habits that lead to destruction and/or an awakening. These stories have blended into the storytelling he’s learned from Old Crow and collaborating with David Rawlings and Gillian Welch, now find themselves on a nine song album named after the man whose journey they are about. With an unmistakable voice that lingers long after you’ve heard it, and melodic earworms in songs like “Real Love”, here’s our interview with Willie Watson, an Artist You Should Know.

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Where did you grow up and where do you call home now?

I’m from central NYS. Schuyler and Tompkins County in the finger lakes region. I live in Los Angles now.

How have the life experiences of where you lived affected your songwriting or the songs you choose to record?

I was surrounded by spiritually transcendent natural beauty. If you go out in it a lot when you’re young… explore the forest and listen to trees, jump in the swimming holes and sit under the waterfalls, you start feeling a part of of it all and then love it and then learn how to care for it. It’s a gentle way to be and I was very fortunate to have it. Even more fortunate to be receptive to it. Those trees and trails and waterfalls on my head stay with me forever. They’re in everything I play and sing and I think that’s what people hear.

What artists/songwriters have impacted or influenced your work the most?

Early on it was Nirvana, Pixies, Ramones, etc. then moved to on Neil Young and some 60’s music. Then all the old classic country. Old music started to interest me. Country and the Ithaca scene led me to Appalachian fiddle music and the rest of the old Folk music. And then there’s Bob Dylan. Those are all the big ones and I would imagine a lot of people can hear it. My tastes have always shifted. I don’t like most music I listened to as a teenager, in my twenties, and throughout my thirties. I don’t even think I like much of anything these days or days past since I made this record of my own that I really love.

I thought our love was true
I sang those “Worried Man Blues”
I was chained to the heart of a ghost
That I never knew

From “Real Love” by Willie Watson

When you perform, what do you hope is your audience’s biggest takeaway?

That I’m not a performer. I’m not standing there to please you with my entertainment skills. I’m not an entertainer. I’m an artist who going to do a thing in front of you but hopefully with you and you can get fully involved in this music art and have an experience you’ve never had. For me singing is a direct line to God and if everyone in the room can get on board then we can all hang out with God.

Tell me a little bit about your latest project?

It’s my third solo album but we’re treating it like a debut. I’ve never released a record with only my name on it full of songs I’ve written. I’ve done that with Old Crow but my previous solo records were full of old folk songs I didn’t write. I’ve had on a costume for the past fifteen years… hiding behind Leadbelly. This will be the first time people will hear Willie Watson sing songs about the actual Willie Watson. Basically… no one has ever seen or heard me until now.

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST. GET ON THE LIST. ENTER YOUR EMAIL BELOW.

What was different or unique about your approach to this last project as compared to previous ones?

Ha… could just repeat my answer to the last question. I let go of my fears and expressed myself without limits. I don’t want to be a part of any genre or style. Those things restricted me my entire career.

Was there ever a time you felt like you wanted to quit making music?

Yes. The primary feeling throughout my solo career has been that it’s continually dwindling. I’m going back to venues and every time there’s fewer people than the last. It was time to stop hiding. Otherwise I was gonna burn out… I still might.

What is your funniest or favorite “on the road” story when touring?

Listen to Willie Watson’s answer on the AmericanaMusic.com podcast. Get the link by submitting your email below.

Who or what keeps you grounded the most?

My wife Mindy

What advice would you give artists just starting out?

Are you sure you’re good? Are you sure this is the best you have to offer the world? And I don’t mean just with music. I mean.. are you sure you’re supposed to be doing music? You might do better somewhere else. Just because you can sing a song, rhyme four words, and play chords on the guitar at the same time.. doesn’t mean you should be getting paid to do it.

Listen to Willie Watson and other Artists You Should Know.