Will Wood (musician)

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For other people with similar names, see Willie Wood (disambiguation) and William Wood (disambiguation).
Will Wood
Will Wood playing the keyboard
Will Wood performing live in 2018 (Roxy and Duke's Roadhouse, Dunellen, NJ)
Background information
Genres
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter, filmmaker, artist, comedian
Instrument(s)
Years active2011–2023[1] (on indefinite hiatus)
LabelsSay-10
Members
  • Will Wood
  • Mike Bottiglieri
  • Matt Berger
  • Vater Boris
  • Mario Conte
  • Rob Schaefer[2]
Past membersDan Chetnik[3]
  • James Horvath[3]
  • Thomas Finch[3]
  • David Higdon[4]
  • Matt Olson[4]
  • Jonathon Maisto[4]
Websitewww.willwood.net

Will Wood is an American musician and singer-songwriter.[5][6] Wood has released five studio albums; Everything is a Lot in 2015, SELF-iSH in 2016, The Normal Album in 2020,[7] Camp Here & There: Campfire Songs Edition in 2021, and "In case I make It," in 2022, as well as two live albums. He formerly made music with his backing band the Tapeworms.

Style

Wood's piano-led style often changes from one song to the next, drawing influence from folk, pop, jazz, rock and roll, latin music, and klezmer. He is also known for his unconventional use of tenor and baritone ukulele. When recording in studio or performing live with his band, "The Tapeworms", he has mostly been accompanied by Mike Bottiglieri on guitar, Matt Berger on alto saxophone, Mario Conte on drums, Vater Boris on bass, and Rob Schaefer on trumpet.[2][8] The band is known for high energy live performances.[9] Wood primarily performs solo, his shows featuring a combination of music, monologue, and stand-up comedy.[10]

Personal life

Wood has been described as "reclusive",[11] and is known to avoid social media. Little is known about his personal life, and sources about Wood contain conflicting accounts of even basic information about his personal and professional life.[12] He is also known for early in his career having fictionalized his life, and appearing in character in some press appearances or onstage, and engaging in experimental live performance art, with his acts featuring simulated mental breakdowns, conflict with audience plants, appearances from fictional characters, and intentionally botched performances.[13]

Wood has consistently been open about his past struggles with drug addiction and mental illness, having entered recovery early in his career and later being diagnosed with bipolar disorder.[14][15] Wood donates portions of his income to various mental health charities, including the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation, saying, "I’ve gotten a lot better. I want to try and do something to help others get there."[16]

Public image

Will Wood has been known to exhibit an exaggerated, theatrical public character, particularly in his earlier work. His image in pop culture has been heavily influenced by his dramatic performances earlier on. However, the artist has spoken out against holding fixed images of his work, expressing that his work and persona will continue to change.[17]

In 2020, following the release of The Normal Album, Will Wood gained a significant fanbase. This album contains Will's most popular song, I/Me/Myself, also a source of controversy. The contents of the song explored Will's relationship with gender expression and gender identity.[18]

Releases

Wood began releasing music under the eponymous band "Will Wood and the Tapeworms" with two studio albums: Everything is a Lot in 2015, SELF-iSH in 2016, along with the live album The Real Will Wood in 2018, which later served as the soundtrack to the mockumentary concert film of the same name.

In 2019, a crowdfunding campaign began for The Normal Album, which had invitations to record gang vocals for the album as well. It raised $27,631 and was released in 2020 under his name.[19]

In 2021, Will Wood worked on the soundtrack for the fictional horror/comedy podcast “Camp Here And There”. A "Campfire Songs" edition of the soundtrack, with lyrical versions of three of the initially instrumental tracks, was released in 2022.

His newest studio album, titled "In Case I Make It," was crowdfunded on Indiegogo in October 2021. Wood has described the collection of songs as being his most personal yet, saying: “I've always tried to consistently re-invent myself as an artist, I think. But this time is different, because for lack of a less dramatic phrase… I've reinvented myself as a person. I couldn’t be more different than I was even a year or two ago."[20]

Six singles from "In case I make It," were released prior to the album's full release.[21][22] In September 2021, prior to the crowdfunding of the album, Wood released a single entitled "Sex, Drugs, Rock 'n' Roll" (also featured on the album).[20] On June 10, Wood released the single You Liked This (Okay, Computer!), a spoken word black comedy track about social media platforms.[23] It stars voice actress Bev Standing, whose voice was allegedly used by the video-sharing social media platform TikTok for their text-to-speech feature without her consent.[24] On July 27, the full album was released to positive reviews.[25][26]

On August 19, 2022, Wood released a single entitled "Ferryman" with singer-songwriter Shayfer James.[27] This single also appeared on Shayfer James' album "Shipwreck" released on March 10, 2023.[28]

On September 1, 2022, Wood was featured on the single "Wealth & Hellness" by Human Zoo.[29] This single was later included on an album by the same name, Wealth & Hellness, released on October 5, 2022.[30]

On January 13, 2023, Wood released the album IN CASE I DIE, a live compilation of songs recorded at US tour dates in 2022. According to a guest blog post on V13, after the release, he would begin an "indefinite break or possibly retire from [his] music career."[1]

Discography

Solo albums under the name "Will Wood"

  • The Normal Album (2020)
  • Camp Here & There Soundtrack: Campfire Songs Edition (2022)
  • "In case I make it," (2022)

With the Tapeworms under the name of "Will Wood and The Tapeworms"

  • Everything is a Lot (2015)
  • SELF-iSH (2016)

Live albums

  • The Real Will Wood (2020)
  • In Case I Die (2023)

Singles

  • Alma Mater (2020)
  • Love, Me Normally (2020)
  • Laplace's Angel (Hurt People? Hurt People!) (2020)
  • ...well, better than the alternative (2020)
  • Mr. Fregoli and the Diathesis-Stress Supermodel, Or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Con (An Untitled Track) (2020)
  • Sex, Drugs, Rock 'n' Roll (2021)
  • Your Body, My Temple (2022)
  • Tomcat Disposables (2022)
  • Cicada Days (2022)
  • You Liked This (Okay, Computer!) (2022)
  • Euthanasia (2022)
  • White Noise (2022)
  • Ferryman (feat. Shayfer James) (2022)
  • Cicada Days (Live at Knitting Factory, Spokane, WA) (2022)

References

  1. ^ a b Gonda, Christopher (January 8, 2023). "Will Wood Details His (Final?) Album 'In Case I Die' and Indefinite Hiatus from Music". V 13. Retrieved January 13, 2023.
  2. ^ a b From ""In case i make it,"" liner notes.
  3. ^ a b c From "Everything is a Lot" liner notes.
  4. ^ a b c From "SELF-iSH" liner notes.
  5. ^ "Avant-pop artist Will Wood stimulates discussion on how pop culture regards mental health". PalabasTayo. August 19, 2020. Retrieved May 7, 2021.
  6. ^ "Will Wood Talks Process, Funding, and New Tune "Love, Me Normally"". American Songwriter. May 28, 2020. Retrieved May 6, 2021.
  7. ^ "A Perfectly "Normal" Interview With Musician Will Wood". bleedingcool.com. July 4, 2020. Retrieved April 3, 2021.
  8. ^ "Under the Radar: Will Wood and the Tapeworms". The Smoke Signal. January 30, 2021. Retrieved April 3, 2021.
  9. ^ Reilly, Erin. "Morris County musician performing at Rock Circus". Daily Record. Retrieved April 3, 2021.
  10. ^ Hsu, Caitlin (December 2, 2021). "Review: Will Wood's live show was as delightfully unhinged as expected". Washington Square News. Retrieved April 23, 2022.
  11. ^ "Bringin' it Backwards: Interview with Will Wood". American Songwriter. July 8, 2020. Retrieved May 6, 2021.
  12. ^ Makin, Bob. "Makin Waves with Will Wood & the Tapeworms". MyCentralJersey.com. Retrieved December 6, 2021.
  13. ^ "Interview: Who is The Real Will Wood?". thepopbreak.com. September 5, 2017. Retrieved May 7, 2021.
  14. ^ Backwards, Bringin' It (July 8, 2020). "Bringin' it Backwards: Interview with Will Wood". American Songwriter. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
  15. ^ Armus, Isabella; Hsu, Caitlin (April 29, 2022). "Will Wood wants to be authentic, whatever it takes". Washington Square News. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
  16. ^ "A Real Interview with The Real Will Wood on The Real". New Jersey Racket. January 16, 2018. Retrieved May 7, 2021.
  17. ^ "Will Wood Releases the Long-awaited Full-length Album 'In Case I Make It'". July 29, 2022. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
  18. ^ "I/Me/Myself". July 10, 2020.
  19. ^ "Will Wood Launches Massive Indiegogo Campaign for 'The Normal Album". PalabasTayo. August 19, 2021. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
  20. ^ a b Louis (September 22, 2021). "WILL WOOD HATES "SEX, DRUGS, ROCK N ROLL" – exclusive interview!". The After Hours Review. Retrieved November 26, 2021.
  21. ^ "PreludePress: Will Wood – Cicada Days". www.preludepress.com. May 26, 2022. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  22. ^ "PREMIERE: Will Wood and the feral folk chamber poised "Tomcat Disposables" (Official Video) – AMERICAN PANCAKE". www.americanpancake.com. Retrieved April 30, 2022.
  23. ^ "Will Wood – You Liked This (Okay, Computer!) Lyrics | Genius Lyrics". Retrieved June 23, 2022.
  24. ^ Kastrenakes, Jacob (September 29, 2021). "TikTok settles lawsuit with actress over its original text-to-speech voice". The Verge. Retrieved June 23, 2022.
  25. ^ Smith, Graeme (July 29, 2022). "Album Review: Will Wood – "In case I make it,"". York Calling. Retrieved December 18, 2022.
  26. ^ "Will Wood In Case I Make It Review". July 29, 2022. Retrieved December 18, 2022.
  27. ^ "Shayfer James & Will Wood: Ferryman". shayferjames.com. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
  28. ^ "Shayfer James' album "Shipwreck"". spotify.com. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
  29. ^ "Human Zoo's single, Wealth & Hellness, featuring Will Wood". spotify.com. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
  30. ^ "Human Zoo's album, Wealth & Hellness, featuring Will Wood on the song "Wealth & Hellness". spotify.com. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
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