Q&A: Exploring Hans Williams' Journey from "Skin" to ‘More Than One Way Home’
AS INDEPENDENT FOLK-POP SINGER-SONGWRITER HANS WILLIAMS GEARS UP FOR THE RELEASE OF HIS NEW SINGLE "SKIN" and his debut EP More Than One Way Home, anticipation and excitement fill the air. "Skin," a poignant reflection on self-doubt and hypercriticism, serves as a gentle reminder to embrace life's beauty amidst mental turbulence. With a musical journey that resonates deeply with themes of relationships, mental health, and personal growth, Hans Williams is set to captivate audiences across a 24-date headline tour.
Born in Vermont and now residing in New Orleans, Hans Williams' musical landscape draws from a rich tapestry of influences. From soulful classics by Steely Dan and James Brown to contemporary folk artists like Bon Iver and Ben Howard, his eclectic taste infuses his music with raw emotion and authenticity. Rooted in his experiences growing up in isolated Vermont, Hans' introspective songwriting reflects a journey of self-discovery and resilience.
As Hans Williams prepares to share his music with the world, he finds solace in the freedom of creation and the catharsis it brings. With a deeply personal approach to songwriting, he delves into themes of vulnerability and the pursuit of belonging. With the release of More Than One Way Home, Hans Williams invites listeners on a transformative musical odyssey, navigating the complexities of life with honesty, grace, and unwavering passion.
LUNA: Hi, so nice to meet you! How has your month been?
HANS WILLIAMS: Thanks for having me! It’s been pretty solid. I finally finished up my first project which has come with some relief but has also been a bit of a bummer because the process of creating it is over. I also announced my first tour which came with a lot of excitement and general anxiety because we’ve never done this many dates back to back. But myself and all the folks I get to work with have been working towards this tour for a while now, so it was rewarding to finally announce.
LUNA: When did music first become a part of your life?
HANS WILLIAMS: My first memory of music having an impact on me was listening to the records my dad would play to me in his old truck. He put me onto a lot of Steely Dan, Parliament Funkadelic, James Brown, Tower of Power – a lot of beautiful, soulful music. The furthest back I can remember was maybe 2007 or so, so I was six or seven.
LUNA: How does the environment you’re in affect the music you create?
HANS WILLIAMS: I tend to think I always need to be a little uncomfortable to write something that I’m truly in touch with. Whether that has more to do with my environment or unresolved feelings - I can’t really tell you. I just know when I’m in a slightly unfamiliar environment I’m more familiar with my own instinct.
LUNA: What is your favorite part of being a musician?
HANS WILLIAMS: Having the freedom to create when you want to. I think that often gets lost when you start to do something that you love for a living, but there’s nothing more freeing than creating out of necessity or utility as weird as that sounds. Whether that comes from pure joy, or relief, it’s all some form of catharsis and I think to be in touch with that is such a beautiful part of life we all get to experience as artists.
LUNA: Who and what are your biggest inspirations?
HANS WILLIAMS: As far as artists I drew a lot of inspiration from all the music my parents put me onto. My mom put me onto Tracy Chapman and Norah Jones while my dad put me onto some classic soul singers like Curtis Mayfield and Marvin Gaye. I got into more folk in my teens listening to Bon Iver, Ben Howard, and then Noah Kahan when he first started releasing his first songs on SoundCloud. That was cool to watch because Noah was the only singer-songwriter I knew at the time growing up in the same area, so it validated the feelings I had around making music and gave me something tangible to look up to from a creative perspective.
Beyond music I take a lot of inspiration from being alone and in a state of reflection. I grew up in a fairly isolated area in Vermont and until you get your driver’s licence, your social and home life are pretty separated. I had a lot of time to spend alone with a guitar and get unnecessarily reflective for a thirteen year old.
LUNA: I love the message of your new single “Skin”. Can you tell me about the track’s themes?
HANS WILLIAMS: Thank you - sure thing. “Skin” is a reminder to myself to not take my self-criticism so seriously. It’s really easy to over complicate your life by constantly questioning your decisions. I’ve struggled with that my whole life, particularly in the last few years. It’s helped me understand how trivial my self-perception is and how important it is to give yourself some unconditional love.
LUNA: Congratulations on your first EP coming out in March! What can you tell me about it?
HANS WILLIAMS: Appreciate it! I am so stoked to share this collection of songs. It’s called More Than One Way Home and for me it’s a reminder to lean into the unfamiliar aspects of life that make me uncomfortable. I moved back down to New Orleans this fall after going to school there for four years and am starting to find a home for myself.
HANS WILLIAMS: When I first moved to New Orleans in 2019 I was a first responder to a suicide in the dorm room next to me a couple days into school. That affected the way I felt around campus and the city and it took me a while to realize how much I loved living here. So when I decided to move back after the run of shows we did this summer it was a way of starting fresh with the city. I had no real intention other than just to make music and find some pocket of the community I could call home. Like I mentioned before I think there's something really important about being uncomfortable at first in order to find a send of belonging. With this project and this city I’ve slowly earned that sense of comfort.
LUNA: How has your newest EP compared to past music you’ve released?
HANS WILLIAMS: I think the main difference between everything else I’ve made is I wrote all in a pretty short period of time to try and capture what I was feeling moving back down to New Orleans this fall. In the past I’ve only released singles, mostly because I’ve never had the time to put together a project while in school but also haven’t felt like I’ve had much to say until now. It feels cohesive in a way that I haven’t felt about my music before.
LUNA: So exciting that you’re performing at the Hinterland festival this summer! Have you performed at anything like this before?
HANS WILLIAMS: Same here I am honestly just so stoked to watch all of the sets as a fan. I’ve been listening to Hozier for the last ten years since he started releasing music and have yet to see him so that should be a good time. I played Peach Fest with the band this past summer which was fun, but I’ve never been part of a lineup that includes so many of my idols before.
LUNA: What are you most looking forward to for your upcoming tour?
HANS WILLIAMS: I think meeting everyone that comes out to these shows is gonna be pretty surreal. I’ve been releasing music for about six years now and have yet to play outside of New Orleans and Northeast, so it’ll be a trip to meet folks that have been supporting that whole time and some that are just finding my music.
