A Conversation With Will Linley
A Conversation With Will Linley
After releasing just seven songs, Will Linley is becoming an artist whose self-confessed “happy sad pop music” captures the whirlwind emotions of Gen Z life, leading to over 40 million streams to date. Now signed to Island Records, the South African singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist ignites further momentum ahead of his forthcoming full-length debut by sharing the new single ‘Tough (The Girl Song)’. Listen HERE.
A beat-heavy alt-pop song with some strikingly nostalgic ‘80s-tinged synths, “Tough (The Girl Song)” sees Will Linley lamenting the end of a long-distance relationship with the declaration, “It kinda sucks that my whole heart wasn’t enough.” Yet despite the heartbroken subject matter, Will has never sounded so energised as he not only showcases a brighter, bigger soundscape than his breakthrough ‘miss me (when you’re gone)’ but the song’s stunning bridge (“Used to call you baby, but now you’re just the one that got away”) is a leap beyond anything he has released before.
Will says, “‘Tough’ is such a carefree and playful song to me that I really think embodies the sonic space I’ve been wanting to explore a lot more. It was such a fun song to write and I really think that shines through in the actual recording.”
NSGs Billy Vitch caught up with Will recently to talk about his life and music career so far.
Billy: Good morning Will and how are you, what have you been doing today, and how’s that going?
Will: Hey hey! I’m good, thank you! Right now I’m in a green room in Birmingham waiting to go on stage for the tour I’m doing opening for an epic band named Tors.
Billy: I read that you grew up in Cape Town, South Africa. What was it like growing up there?
Will: It was honestly the best, the people, the food, the nature. Everyone is just so outgoing. There is such a sense of community in South Africa and I really think that has stuck with me wherever I go. I truly loved being a kid in Cape Town.
Billy: How did your journey in music begin?
Will: I always played music as a kid, I grew up with my mom playing guitar and my dad singing Bob Dylan or John Denver in the car on the way to school. Music was just always a part of my childhood in such a relaxed and fun way. It was never forced on me and I think that impacted the way I first entered the realm of music-making. I was wide-eyed and intrigued with it all and just wanted to have fun!
Billy: How would you describe your sound?
Will: Pop with a capital P!
Billy: Your new single “Tough (The Girl Song)“, has a really 80s vibe I think! There’s a lyric in the song that goes “Girls just wanna have fun”, and it reminds me of a famous 80s song by Cyndi Lauper, was this intentional?
Will: Yes it was! We wanted to write the response to that absolute banger! “Girls just wanna have fun” is one of my favourite songs. It’s happy, fun, and nostalgic, and I wanted to encapsulate that into “Tough“
Billy: What made you want to be a musician as opposed to any other career?
Will: I just loved music more than anything else! I tried going to uni to study business, but I just hated that, I only wanted to do music.
Billy: How do you write your songs, do you have a specific process?
Will: Not really, it always varies. But I like to come into each session with some sort of lyrical concept or melody idea. That always helps get things off the ground.
Billy: If you could sit down with three people from history, past or present, who would they be and why?
Will: Nelson Mandela (everything he did for bringing about change in South Africa, and the leader that he was. I could never make this list without him being number one. It would just be the biggest honour to get to sit down with him), Ed Sheeran (he’s my biggest hero. I think if I met him I would be so awkward, but I have to put him on the list, and actor Chris Pratt (I just feel like he’d be a good hang haha).
Billy: You have a hell of a summer coming up, with a date performing at P!NK’s Summer Carnival at BST Hyde Park! That’s special man! What has been your most OMG moment in your career so far? Like have you had any moments where you have had to pinch yourself to make sure you’re not dreaming? lol.
Will: Definitely opening for One Republic was a wild one. I couldn’t wrap my head around it. I was honestly just pinching myself the whole time.
Billy: Did you ever think that you’d get to where you are in your career and what has been the hardest aspect of your journey to date?
Will: Not a chance did I think I’d be here! I think the hardest part has been the time away from home and my family. It’s all part of the journey, but that’s been the biggest thing to get used to! I’m such a homebody, so I miss my family a big amount!
Billy: We’re a UK-based publication, based in Liverpool. Have you ever visited Liverpool and do you have any plans of performing hear in the near future?
Will: I have never!! But I dreeeeam of coming to Liverpool to play a show, I think that would be so cool.
Billy: How is the rest of 2023 looking for you?
Will: I’ve got some shows in South Africa that we are almost going to announce, and then potentially 1 or 2 US shows! And then lots of music!
Billy: Thank you so much for your time. Is there anything else you’d like to add?
Will: I’ll be in Liverpool soon, I promise!!
To follow Will Linley on social media click on the links below
