Willie DE
Photo by Tom Daly

What an amazing way to continue the celebration of the New Year with more great Indie music. Today, our publication brings you the wonderful tunes of Willie DE. This amazing Singer/Songwriter sings with such a level of passion and intensity that one can see why his music (and his band) is such a treat to listen to. In this interview with our publication, we meet Willie DE, the 18-year old musician from Batesville Virginia, who expounds on his love for music. Here is what developed from our online meeting. Enjoy!

Isaac: It’s an amazing time to be a DIY artist/performer/band/musician. What do you enjoy the most about being an indie performer?

Willie DE: I like the challenge of keeping a whole lot of balls in the air at the same time: practicing daily on my own, practicing at least once a week with all the different groups I perform with, writing new material, recording new material, and then of course there's all the promotional stuff, keeping our name out there, and getting gigs, gigs, gigs.

Isaac: If you had an opportunity to sign with a major label, would you sign now knowing you may have to give up some of what you have build up over the years about you in the process?

Willie DE: Don't know. Guess it depends on what they were offering and how much I'd have to give up. Nah, I wouldn't sign. Course it's gotta be easier to reject hypothetical offers than real ones.

Isaac: I remembered Simon Cowell from American Idol talking about the “it” Factor that makes a musician/band stand out. What do you think is your “it” factor that makes you stand out from others in the music business?

Willie DE: Our songs have depth. Plus we've got a girl drummer — you heard of perfect pitch? She's got perfect timing, and yeah she's cute.

Isaac: Why should music fans listen to your music? Describe what they are going to get when they listen to your music?



Willie DE: We know our instruments and my lyrics make sense—I actually work on the lyrics. It's not cookie cutter stuff. A young band with great sax lines, I dunno, I guess we make you want to move, but we set your spirit mind in motion too.

Isaac: Briefly describe your humble beginnings that led you to where you are at musically now.

Willie DE: The girl drummer had seen me busking on the streets of Charlottesville. In band class the first week she asked me if I'd play with her in the middle school talent show. We started practicing. We're still together, kind of a White Stripes thing to start with (though at the time I'd never heard of the White Stripes) and we've added others to the mix. Other groups ask me to join them and I often do and I play lots of acoustic solo gigs too.

Isaac: You have some strong iconic influences. Of these influences, which artist/band do you relate to the most and why?

Willie DE:

Too many to list. Here are a few:
Broken Bells
Jimi Hendrix
Jeff Beck
Eric Johnson
Dave Matthews


Isaac: Do you feel that Indie music gets the respect it deserves? Why or why not?

Willie DE: Yeah, sure as long as it doesn't try to be what it's aiming to avoid. Don't understand why some indie bands try to be overly pop.

Isaac: If you could change one thing about the music business, what would it be and why?

Willie DE: I'd bring CDs back. I love CDs. I love the art, the feel of the object. I love owning them and I love making them.

Isaac: What type of feedbacks have you been receiving about your music from fans and music critics?

Willie DE: It's all positive. Check out our reviews.

Isaac: If you knew that you would never gain fame and fortune with what you are doing now, would you continue to make music? Explain.

Willie DE: Of course. I do it because I love it.

Isaac: How do you handle negative feedback or negative energy about your music?

Willie DE: Haven't seen much of it, but if it comes up, I'll shrug it off.

Isaac: What role do your family and friends play in the equation of your pursuant of a music career?

Willie DE: My family's huge. We talk. Talking through my ideas helps me keep to a path.

Official Website:
http://www.williede.com/