Will Stratton

Last updated

Will Stratton
Willstrattonguitar.png
Will Stratton playing in Antwerp, Belgium, 2012
Background information
Born (1987-04-10) April 10, 1987 (age 37)
Yolo County, California, United States
Genres Indie folk, folk rock
Occupation(s)Musician, songwriter, composer
Instrument(s) Voice, guitar, banjo, piano, harpsichord, Mellotron, bass
Years active2007–present
Labels Bella Union, Talitres, Tompkins Square Records
Website Willstratton.com

Will Stratton (born April 10, 1987) is an American singer-songwriter and composer. He released his first album during the summer after graduating from high school and has gone on to release a total of seven albums.

Contents

Early life

Stratton was born in Northern California, but raised primarily in New Jersey. He began taking piano lessons at the age of four. [1] He spent one year at University of Puget Sound studying philosophy, before finishing college at Bennington College, where he switched his studies to music composition. [2] [3] While at Bennington, Stratton took classes from composer Allen Shawn, which led him to compose his first pieces for other ensembles than a standard string quartet. Stratton has incorporated projects from his course work at Bennington into his albums, including a set of ten piano preludes composed for a second course taught by Shawn. [3] He lives in New York state. [4]

Musical career

His first album, What the Night Said , was recorded in 2005, the summer after he graduated from high school, and was subsequently released in 2007. [2] It featured a guest appearance by Sufjan Stevens on oboe, [5] and received wide critical praise. [6] [7] [8]

His second album, No Wonder , featured the vocal work of Essie Jain, among others, and was released on November 3, 2009. The album was co-produced and mixed by Kieran Kelly at The Buddy Project Studio in Astoria, Queens NY. While the album never saw national distribution, No Wonder's title track was the NPR Song of the Day on March 26, 2010. [9]

He has also released two free download-only compilations of demos and instrumental works, as well as Vile Bodies, a free downloadable EP.

In March 2010, Stratton appeared on WNYC radio show Spinning on Air for an hour-long interview and performance with host David Garland. In a first for the show, Stratton and WNYC gave away the songs from the episode as a free EP. [2]

In 2010 and 2012, his third and fourth albums were released, titled New Vanguard Blues and Post-Empire, respectively. He toured Europe for two months with fellow songwriter Paleo, aka David Strackany, in 2012. [10] Post-Empire was named No. 31 on AOL Spinner's top 50 albums of 2012. [11]

In 2012, Stratton was diagnosed with Stage 3 testicular cancer and underwent successful chemotherapy treatment and surgery. [12]

In 2017, Bella Union announced that Stratton's sixth album, Rosewood Almanac was to be released on the label on May 12. [13]

In 2021, Bella Union announced that Stratton's seventh album, The Changing Wilderness would be released on the label on May 7. [14] The album was named one of The Guardian's best of 2021. [15] On July 30, Stratton was a guest on Elton John's Apple Music Radio 1 show, Elton John's Rocket Hour. [16]

Influences

Stratton is a "self professed disciple of Nick Drake." [1] He has also been described as functioning "under the wing of Sufjan Stevens." [8] Some have gone as far as to say that the resemblance to Drake is "unmistakable" at points, while his similarity to Stevens is "so apparent." [6] John Fahey and Leo Kottke are often mentioned as influences on his guitar style. [10]

Discography

Demos

Studio albums

EPs

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Laura Veirs</span> American singer-songwriter

Laura Pauline Veirs is an American singer-songwriter based in Portland, Oregon. She is known for her folk/alternative country records and live performances as well as her collaboration with Neko Case and k.d. lang on the case/lang/veirs project. Veirs has written a children's book and hosts a podcast about parenting and performing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sufjan Stevens</span> American musician (born 1975)

Sufjan Stevens is an American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. He has released ten solo studio albums and multiple collaborative albums with other artists. Stevens has received Grammy and Academy Award nominations.

<i>Illinois</i> (Sufjan Stevens album) 2005 album by Sufjan Stevens

Illinois is a 2005 concept album by American singer-songwriter Sufjan Stevens. His fifth studio album, it features songs referencing places, events, and persons related to the U.S. state of Illinois. Illinois is Stevens' second based on a U.S. state—part of a planned series of fifty that began with the 2003 album Michigan and that Stevens has since acknowledged was a joke. It was adapted into a musical, Illinoise, in 2023 and, after playing smaller venues, opened at the St. James Theatre on Broadway in April 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The National (band)</span> American indie rock band

The National is an American rock band from Cincinnati, Ohio, formed in Brooklyn, New York City, in 1999. The band consists of Matt Berninger (vocals), twin brothers Aaron Dessner and Bryce Dessner, as well as brothers Scott Devendorf (bass) and Bryan Devendorf (drums). During live performances, the band is joined by longtime touring members, Ben Lanz and Kyle Resnick. Carin Besser, the wife of Berninger, is not a band member but has written lyrics for the band alongside her husband since its 2007 album Boxer.

<i>The Avalanche</i> (Sufjan Stevens album) Album by Sufjan Stevens

The Avalanche is a 2006 compilation album by indie rock singer/songwriter Sufjan Stevens, consisting of outtakes and other recordings from the sessions for his album Illinois, released the previous year. The title song "The Avalanche" was also a bonus track on the Illinois vinyl and iTunes release.

<i>Songs for Christmas</i> (Sufjan Stevens album) 2006 box set by Sufjan Stevens

Songs for Christmas is a box set of five separate EPs of Christmas-related songs and carols recorded by independent musician Sufjan Stevens between 2001 and 2006. The EPs had been given as gifts to friends and family of Stevens over the past six years, except for 2004 when he was too busy recording the Illinois album. Though the first three EPs had already been available on Sufjan Stevens-related fansites for several years, Songs for Christmas is the first official release of these EPs. Most of the tracks are versions of traditional Christmas songs, with a number of original compositions such as "Sister Winter" and "Star of Wonder". Sufjan Stevens has developed a reputation for being a devoted Christian and many of the songs he chose for inclusion on Songs for Christmas are religious in nature, including his original compositions.

David Cohn, better known by his stage name Serengeti, is an American rapper from Chicago, Illinois.

<i>What the Night Said</i> 2007 studio album by Will Stratton

What the Night Said is the debut album from Will Stratton. It was recorded the summer after his senior year of high school in a small recording studio in Astoria, Queens, New York, but not released until two years later.

<i>The Age of Adz</i> 2010 studio album by Sufjan Stevens

The Age of Adz is the sixth studio album by American singer/songwriter Sufjan Stevens, released on October 12, 2010 by Asthmatic Kitty. It was Stevens' first song-based full-length album in five years, since the release of Illinois in 2005.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sufjan Stevens discography</span>

American singer-songwriter Sufjan Stevens has released thirteen studio albums, three compilation albums, three soundtracks, two mixtapes, thirteen extended plays (EP), twenty singles, eight promotional singles, and eight music videos. Through his record label Asthmatic Kitty Records, Stevens released his first two albums A Sun Came and Enjoy Your Rabbit in 2000 and 2001, respectively. For his next two releases – Michigan (2003) and Seven Swans (2004) – the singer partnered with Sounds Familyre Records for the distribution of both releases. Seven Swans was supported by Stevens' debut single "The Dress Looks Nice on You". The same album was reissued in 2009 and included the new single "I Went Dancing with My Sister". His fifth album, Illinois, was his first release to enter record charts, where it reached the lower positions in several countries and was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America for shipments of 500,000 copies. The Avalanche, a compilation album consisting of outtakes from Illinois, was released in 2006 and also reached various charts internationally.

David Garland is a singer-songwriter, composer, instrument designer, illustrator, graphic designer, journalist, and former New York city radio personality.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Timo Andres</span> American composer (born 1985)

Timo Andres is an American composer and pianist. He grew up in rural Connecticut and lives in Brooklyn, New York.

<i>Carrie & Lowell</i> 2015 Sufjan Stevens album

Carrie & Lowell is the seventh studio album by American musician Sufjan Stevens. It was released on March 31, 2015, by Asthmatic Kitty. It was produced by Stevens, and features guest contributions from Thomas Bartlett, Sean Carey, Casey Foubert, Ben Lester, Nedelle Torrisi, and Laura Veirs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stranger Cat</span>

Stranger Cat is the electronic music project of Cat Martino on the Indianapolis independent label, Joyful Noise Recordings. Martino has established herself by touring with many artists such as Sharon Van Etten, as well as long-time friend Sufjan Stevens. For Stranger Cat's debut record "In the Wilderness," the song "Sirens" was cited as "a bright, grand pop song born in the dark" by NPR's All Songs Considered.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeremy Turner (composer)</span> Musical artist

Jeremy Turner is an American composer and multi-instrumentalist living in California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mystery of Love</span> 2017 single by Sufjan Stevens

"Mystery of Love" is a song written and performed by American singer-songwriter Sufjan Stevens and produced by Thomas Bartlett. It was self-released digitally, under license to Madison Gate Records and Sony Classical, on 1 December 2017. Luca Guadagnino, director of the 2017 film Call Me by Your Name, approached the singer to contribute to the film as a narrator, but Stevens declined and agreed to record an original song instead. Stevens was granted full creative control during the songwriting process and received inspiration from the film's script and André Aciman's novel of the same name. An acoustic song, the lyrics describe romance and allude to the relationship between film characters Elio and Oliver. They also make several references to the state of Oregon, birds, and Christianity.

<i>Rosewood Almanac</i> 2017 studio album by Will Stratton

Rosewood Almanac is the sixth studio album by American singer-songwriter Will Stratton. It was released on May 12, 2017 through Bella Union.

Angelo De Augustine is an American musician residing in Thousand Oaks, California. He has collaborated with and opened for musician Sufjan Stevens.

<i>Aporia</i> (Sufjan Stevens and Lowell Brams album) 2020 studio album by Sufjan Stevens and Lowell Brams

Aporia is an album by American musician Sufjan Stevens and his stepfather, Lowell Brams. It was released through Asthmatic Kitty on March 24, 2020 with a live preview held on YouTube on March 23, 2020.

<i>The Ascension</i> (Sufjan Stevens album) 2020 studio album by Sufjan Stevens

The Ascension is the eighth studio album by American musician Sufjan Stevens. It was released through Asthmatic Kitty on September 25, 2020. The record was influenced by a range of artists, particularly Ariana Grande and her 2018 song "Thank U, Next".

References

  1. 1 2 Leahey, Andrew. "Will Stratton Biography". allmusic, MTV . Retrieved June 29, 2010.[ dead link ]
  2. 1 2 3 "Interview with David Garland". WNYC . Retrieved June 29, 2010.
  3. 1 2 "Recent graduate Will Lulofs '09 releases second album". Bennington College . Retrieved June 29, 2010.
  4. "Will Stratton". Joe's Pub . Retrieved June 29, 2010.
  5. "All Good Naysayers – A Sufjan Stevens Site » The end of". Allgoodnaysayers.net. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  6. 1 2 "Will Stratton: What the Night Said". PopMatters . Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  7. "What the Night Said". AllMusic . Retrieved June 29, 2010.
  8. 1 2 "Will Stratton: 'Katydid'". NPR. July 2, 2007. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  9. "Will Stratton: Strength In Ambiguity". NPR. March 2, 2010. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  10. 1 2 "Now Hear This!: Will Stratton". PopMatters . Retrieved March 31, 2013.
  11. "The 50 Best Albums of 2012". Spinner . Retrieved March 31, 2013.
  12. "Will Stratton Continues Cancer Battle Through Dangerous Surgery". Spinner . Retrieved March 31, 2013.
  13. "Will Stratton to release Rosewood Almanac on Bella Union". Bella Union . Retrieved February 24, 2017.
  14. "Will Stratton returns with 'The Changing Wilderness'". Bella Union . Retrieved September 1, 2021.
  15. "The best albums of 2021 so far". The Guardian . June 14, 2021. Retrieved September 1, 2021.
  16. "Elton John's Rocket Hour with Will Stratton". Apple Music . Retrieved September 1, 2021.