When you descend from a musical dynasty you have two choices – carry on the family tradition or rip up the rule book in order to forge your own path. For Sam Williams, the grandson of the legendary Hank Williams and the song of Hank Williams Jr, he chose to do the latter. His debut album ‘Glasshouse Children’, released in 2021, confirmed that was the right choice as Williams pushed the boundaries of Country music while exploring his authentic self as an artist. With a voice that belies his young years and conveys more life experience and pain than many of us are ever able to, Williams has been at the forefront of the ‘new Nashville’ movement.
RELATED: Sam Williams pulls back the curtain on ‘Act I: Scarlet Lonesome'
Three years on from ‘Glasshouse Children’ and Williams is releasing new 7-track collection ‘Act I: Scarlet Lonesome’. The first of three new collections, ‘Act I: Scarlet Lonesome’ is a deeply personal exploration of love, loneliness and finding yourself. The set opens with the title track, ‘Scarlet Lonesome’, and it showcases an expansion of the sound that Williams debuted on his first record. Opening low-key, the song builds as the soundscape opens up and delivers something much more epic than you might expect. It’s dreamy, it’s affecting and its all-encompassing.
The highlight on the record comes with the second track ‘I Was Home’, which opens with a panicked voicemail before transforming into an acoustic-led confessional about feeling displaced. It’s the most vulnerable and open I’ve heard Williams on record (even more so than ‘The World: Alone’, as he sings about being alone and struggling to pinpoint a place that he can call home. He questions his identity and his purpose, and honestly it’s heartbreaking.
Elsewhere on the record the short interlude ‘Heard Mary Jane Praying For Me’ features audio of Williams’ grandfather Hank talking over dreamy orchestration, while ‘Runaway’ sees Williams tackling his internal conflict about pursuing a career in the spotlight and the baggage that comes with his famous last name. The song also reiterates the theme of trying to find home, which is evident on ‘I Was Home’. Current single ‘American Actress’ sits neatly around the mid-point and leans into a more traditional Country sound as Williams confronts his approach to love and his tendency to lose himself when he falls for someone.
The album’s final two tracks hit a home run. ‘Siren Song’ is a restrained acoustic number with Williams issuing a warning to a potential lover about what they’re getting into with him. The music is stirring and Williams’ vocal cautious but deliberate. Closing track “’Til I Can Make It On My Own’, which was the project’s lead single, is a cover of the Tammy Wynette song and features Carter Faith. It’s a brave person that covers Tammy but Williams and Faith make it look easy. Their call-and-response approach to the song works well, with their vocals complementing one another. It’s a perfect end, to a perfect record.
‘Act I: Scarlet Lonesome’ is a body of work that you can lose yourself in. Whether it’s the lush instrumentation or Williams’ soulful voice, there’s so much to admire and enjoy. This collection of songs is best enjoyed with the volume turned up and your eyes closed. It’ll transport you to places that not all music can manage and it reinforces what I’ve always known – Williams is a special artist that is destined to do great things. With the second and third acts due within the next year, don’t be surprised when the world catches onto Williams and he finally gets the recognition he deserves.
Track listing: 1. Scarlet Lonesome 2. I Was Home 3. Heard Mary Jane Praying For Me 4. Runaway 5. American Actress 6. Siren Song 7. ‘Til I Can Make It On My Own (with Carter Faith) Record label: UMG Nashville Release date: 28th June 2024 Buy ‘Act I: Scarlet Lonesome’ now
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