Q: Welcome back, William! It’s fantastic to have you with us again. Since our last conversation, a lot has happened in your musical journey. To kick things off, could you share some highlights or pivotal moments that have shaped your artistic path since our last interview?
A: It’s great to speak to you guys again. I recently received a songwriting award from the Nashville Songwriters Association and performed at the Fringe Festival in the UK. Both of these events were highlights this year.
Q: Can you describe the musical style of William John Titus Bishop in three words?
A: Eclectic, moving, exciting.
Q: How do you stay connected with your fans, and what role do they play in shaping your musical journey?
A: I like to stay in touch with my fans by meeting them at shows. I think it’s really important to be able to meet people face to face and share things directly. I also use social media, it’s a great way to communicate with people.
Q: You have just released your new album, ‘Vintergatan’. Is there a story behind it?
A: I was invited out to Sweden to work with some European musicians early last year. I was living on a street called Vintergatan and I decided that was what the album should be called. It means ‘universe’ in Swedish.
Q: What is your favorite track from the album and why?
A: There has been a great resurgence in the popularity of Bob Dylan’s music recently, which is great because I’ve been a fan of his for a long time. I decided to do a very stripped back arrangement of Like A Rolling Stone, just vocals and piano.
Q: Can you walk us through the creative process of producing the album, “Vintergatan”?
A: I wrote the songs in about a day and went out to this very remote studio in a small town called Lackeby. It was a converted farmhouse originally. I sat down at the piano and recorded everything in one or two takes. As it was an acoustic solo album, it was a very smooth recording process.
Q: What has been the most memorable concert or performance for you so far?
A: The performances I remember the most are in the more intimate venues. Recently I played at The Prince Albert pub in Brighton, UK and the crowd were wonderful. I got to play a song from Vintergatan during the performance, so it was great.
Q: Reflecting on your body of work, each song holding its unique significance, could you share a particular track that stands out to you personally? What makes that specific tune special, and why does it hold a place of pride in your musical journey?
A: All of the songs are written in a particular way. They are about encounters and events between people, usually a couple meeting and what happens after that. The first tracks that I performed live have a particular significance because they were some of the first times I felt a connection to an audience.
Q: Exploring the diverse creative processes within the music industry is always fascinating. Could you provide insight into William John Titus Bishop’s unique approach to crafting music? From the initial spark of an idea to the finished song, how do you navigate the creative journey and bring its musical concepts to life?
A: The creative process is unique to each artist but mine is quite simple really. I write lyrics about people I’ve met or seen who themselves have an interesting story. Mostly they are romantic but some are more political. Then I put some very basic chord patterns to the lyrics, so the outline of the song can be heard. The songs are then taken to the studio and along with other musicians the outline of the songs is filled in with more musical accompaniment. I very rarely write from personal experience.
Q: As we wrap up our conversation, looking ahead, what aspirations or dreams do you have for yourself, and what message would you like to share with your fans as they continue to accompany you on this musical journey?
A: I would love to tour America. I have done some recording in the Brooklyn area but it would be great to do a tour there. To anyone who does listen to my music I’d like to say 1000 thank yous. There is a lot more to come.
