Sam Williams has been making some of the most interesting music to come out of Nashville over the past four years. His debut album ‘Glasshouse Children’ saw him showcasing both his vocal ability and his prowess as a songwriter, delivering an album that defied genre and focused on delivering deeply personal songs. Following the release of a Deluxe Edition in 2022, fans had to wait almost two years for his next project, ‘Act I: Scarlet Lonesome’, the first in a planned three act series of releases. That collection of songs continued to explore Williams’ unique brand of Country music and now just over a year on, he’s unleashing ‘Act II: COUNTRYSTAR’.
During our interview around the release of ‘Act I: Scarlet Lonesome’, Williams warned that ‘Act II: COUNTRYSTAR’ would sound quite different from the music we’d heard from him before. A self-confessed fan of hip-hop (his love for Nicki Minaj is well-documented), Williams told us to expect more influence from that genre. The first taste we got was during his headline show in London last September, and the early signs were positive. He performed ‘COUNTRYSTAR’, ‘No Problem’ and ‘Fugitive’, and while yes sonically they are a departure, they still sounded within the realm of what I’d expect from an artist as talented as Williams.
‘Act II: COUNTRYSTAR’ has been met with the usual reaction – Williams fans are enjoying his authenticity, while a minority of his critics are trying to tear him down, often referencing his iconic grandfather and the music he made. I don’t know who needs to hear it, but Sam Williams isn’t Hank Williams nor is he his father, Hank Williams Jr. He’s Sam Williams, and whether you like his music or not, to try and dismiss his talent is unfair. The new collection opens with the title track and that hip-hop influence is evident. Williams speak-sings (not raps) over a harder beat but if you listen to the lyrics, this is still undeniably Sam Williams. His voice suits this kind of music, and he boasts the kind of versatility that many artists can only dream of.
Interestingly ‘COUNTRYSTAR’ isn’t really indicative of what to expect from ‘Act II: COUNTRYSTAR’. It serves to grab your attention, which it certainly does, but Williams understands how to balance these new sounds with the music his fans love. Take ‘No Problem’ for example, if you strip away the production, this is a classic Sam Williams song. The song is a tender love song, with Williams’ emotive voice drawing out the emotion of falling in love and being content. ‘I Killed a Man in Tennessee’ is the most lyrically clever song on this release. Delivering the verses in a similar speak-sing way as on ‘COUNTRYSTAR’, the song weaves a seemingly dark tale until you release that the man Williams has killed, is himself. It’s a nod to reinvention and the constant change we all go through as we learn and grow.
‘Fugitive’ lands on the poppier side of the collection, and it’s a radio-friendly moment with a damn catchy chorus. Williams’ voice is perfect on this track, exploring the upper range of his vocal ability and allowing that gritty edge to come through. On ‘Daydream’, Williams strips things back to begin with before gradually building the instrumentation. Lyrically this song reminds me of ‘Act I: Scarlet Lonesome’ and creates a nice bridge between the two collections. Penultimate track ‘Lose You Too’, which was released earlier this year, is a shimmering pop/rock moment about finding the light during a dark time, and clinging onto it for dear life.
The final of the 7 tracks is the one that is likely to cause plenty of debate. ‘HONKYTONKIN’ samples Hank Williams with Sam delivering a beat-laden track that allows him to put his own spin on it. It’s a celebration of Williams’ heritage and a showcase of his growing confidence to follow his instincts, shutting out the noise from his detractors.
‘Act II: COUNTRYSTAR’ inevitably will provoke plenty of conversations. If Williams was anyone but who he is, he’d be embraced alongside the current crop of chart-topping Country stars such as Morgan Wallen. Musically this collection isn’t far off what’s working at Country radio right now and it’s time that people started to listen to Williams for who he is, not the family he was born into. With ‘Act III’ still to come, I can’t wait to see what Williams has in store.
Track list: 1. COUNTRYSTAR 2. No Problem 3. I Killed a Man in Tennessee 4. Fugitive 5. Daydream 6. Lose You Too 7. HONKYTONKIN Record label: Mercury Nashville Release date: 11th July 2025 Buy ‘Act II: COUNTRYSTAR’ now
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