Photo Credit: Todd V Wolfson
Nostalgia can be a powerful thing, but can also be the one thing that holds us back from completely moving forward and while it helped build the latest from William Harries Graham, he’s aware of the highs and lows of it all. We talked about that as well as 2024’s ‘Annie’s House,’ due out everywhere on October 25th. All of that and then some in the back-and-forth exchange.
Kendra: Your debut came out almost a decade ago. A lot can happen to a person in that amount of time, especially artists who are always looking to evolve creatively. Looking back at who you were then, how would you say you’ve grown as a recording artist in regards to how you approach studio time, working with producers, etc?
William Harries Graham: It’s crazy to think that my debut was almost a decade ago; it somehow feels both like yesterday and a lifetime ago. Strangely enough, I find myself recording in a somewhat similar manner when I’m actually in the studio. I love to work fast – my first record was recorded over three days, and this one was recorded over five days. I can’t stand spending so much time on something that it loses that raw, natural feeling of people in a room. The biggest change for me, though, is how I think about music – not as a pursuit of anything other than making art with friends. When you first start out, you develop so many expectations, but I’ve come to realize that the connection to other people is the most important part, whether that’s the band, the producer, or the audience. I’m just so lucky to work with the people I do.
Kendra: The new album, ‘Annie’s House,’ was built on a foundation of love, nostalgia, and personal growth. Being a very nostalgic person, I love to hear that but I also run into a lot of debates with people that nostalgia can hold one back from growing. Where do you stand on that? Can we have adoration for the past while moving forward with our lives?
William Harries Graham: Hahaha, I love this question. I’m a hopeless romantic and a super nostalgic person. I really do think it can hold you back from growing, though. The important thing is not to cling too tightly to everything. I think it’s crucial to reflect on the past and carry that with you. How can you grow without learning? Unfortunately, I think we learn the most from making mistakes and frankly fucking up, hahaha. The nostalgia on ‘Annie’s House’ reflects that—nostalgia often leaves out the bad parts and holds up the good. I’m not saying to focus on the bad, but we shouldn’t forget about it either.
Kendra: We talked about the foundation, but what about the aesthetic of ‘Annie’s House,’ literally…what do you think the decor of this home would be based on the sounds found on the record?
William Harries Graham: Some people know that I’m also a visual artist and architectural designer. So I’m a very visual person. When I’m writing music, I see it as scenes, so that definitely influences the aesthetic of the album. As I started grouping the songs together, a whole aesthetic started forming. I tried to represent it with the cover art: I view the house as a collaged structure, bigger on the inside than on the outside. It visually looks like an old house from the ’20s with a bunch of mid-century modern additions—something a bit intangible.
Kendra: The lead single from ‘Annie’s House’ is kind of close to my heart as I just moved to Columbus, “Ohio State.” You noted that you had this song in your head for a while but it was a random farmer in Vermont’s conversation in a coffee shop that helped push you towards the finish line. Is this the first instance a stranger’s story has inspired your pen?
William Harries Graham: I’d say it might be one of the first instances where a story inspired me so directly. Stories I hear always inspire me and give me ideas, but I tend to stray away from direct depictions of stories and prefer a level of ambiguity. There were a few times on Annie’s House where I incorporated direct stories or moments from my life into the music, but only when it didn’t feel forced or cliché. Personally, I don’t like it when a singer performs and tells the audience the whole story behind the song—it ruins it for me because we all attach our own meaning to the songs.
Kendra: Do you think that you’d ever do a whole album based on overheard conversations? That might be interesting.
William Harries Graham: I definitely would! It would have to feel natural, though. I could see a series of songs forming over time, especially from stories that I relate to or see elements of my own life in. I’ve spent so much of my career writing music about my own life, so it would be interesting to explore other people’s experiences and maybe something wildly different from what I’ve done in the past.
Kendra: With music being in your genes, it’s easy to assume your dad had a big influence on you, but is there one thing – musically – that you two cannot agree on? Perhaps an artist, an album, a do or don’t when it comes to playing live?
William Harries Graham: I feel like I spent a lot of my early career avoiding playing or writing in a way that was similar to my dad, but at this point, I see more and more how similar we are, hahaha. When I was young, I wouldn’t let him teach me to play guitar because I wanted to sound different. But I still see bits of his playing on my own, unsurprisingly. Our biggest difference is probably that I’m a huge gearhead—I’ve accumulated some really special instruments over time, while he’s played the same electric, acoustic, and amp for decades. For me, each guitar has its own voice, and I like to let them influence me and give me new songs. I’m constantly changing my setup and trying new things.
Kendra: Time for a side note – With us entering the fall months, I’d love for you to share a song that puts you in an Autumn state of mind…
William Harries Graham: I’d jokingly say a song on my EP Plainfield Tapes called “Autumn,” though the song is actually named after a person, not the season. I’d say the song that feels like autumn to me right now is “When I’m Called” by Jake Xerxes Fussell. He’s a phenomenal storyteller who collects old folk songs and gives them new life with such a distinctive tone. That whole album has been on repeat for me as fall approaches, but there’s something about that song.
Kendra: Lastly, with ‘Annie’s House’ out on October 25th – what can fans be on the lookout for as we inch closer to 2025?
William Harries Graham: We have a lot of exciting things happening around the release of ‘Annie’s House’ —some awesome music videos, an LP release show at the Continental Club on October 26th, some tour discussions in the works, and possibly even a live concert video. Beyond the release, I’ve been working on a lot of new material now that the dust has settled. The whole team is excited for what’s next—‘Annie’s House’ is just the start of a new chapter in my music!
