Today we’d like to introduce you to Willie Bess
Hi Willie, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
There’s not much to it. I moved to Orlando after I dropped out of college. I was studying English and wanted to pursue something in poetry but got wrapped more into music and started playing in bands then going on tour, putting out records, tapes, etc. It’s all the most fun! And everyone i’ve met and have become friends with is completely priceless to me and means the most.
I don’t know nor think much about the future will hold but I want to push more of my poetry I think, but the music will always remain a constant love and source for a lot of my creativity.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It’s been far from smooth really, but that’s inevitable. And that’s also what makes it more interesting. Sometimes it’s hard being in bands, 3 or 4 or 5 or more people in one small room trying to make something everyone can agree is good is hell! But depending on how you handle it, could be a valuable learning experience. Personally for me it helps when working on getting my ideas across in a healthy, encouraging way, which is something a lot of people never address. Mostly everyone just wants to talk about how awesome and cool they are or how much it sucks, but how could it really?
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
As I mentioned above, most of my time these days goes into music and playing in bands, mainly playing guitar, but I also try to put as much time as I can into writing and trying to incorporate that more into writing lyrics as well.
I think what I’m most proud of is just doing “it”. Looking back I always daydreamed of playing my own music or being this poet who somehow made poetry “cool” again like all of my favorite writers from the 50s and 60s. And although it hasn’t happened exactly how it did in dreams it’s still pretty awesome to see people show off when they’ve bought a record or some poorly made little zine I made. It’s like a form of validation.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
Ah man there’s so many people really I wouldn’t be able to name them all. Thanks the most to Matty, Derek and all of the Begnaud family. Those guys rock forever and it all started with them and wanting to be in my dumb little band that’s not so dumb anymore (I think?). And also their parents for letting us make the most unholy noise in their garage and their sister Kate because she comes to all the shows, shoots the music videos she’s great. And all my friends! They’re the best and motivate and inspire me everyday with the amazing things they do and just them being alive. They’ll know who they all are and I love them so. And thank you to everyone who’s ever taken the time to listen, come to a show, buy a shirt, a record, a tape, wear a pin, has agreed to play a show with us, let us crash on your floor on tour, you keep my world spinning.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://b1ahb1ah.substack.com/?r=3bo4ab&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=profile
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_will.e?igsh=MXBxMjlyNDRxZDE4
Image Credits
Andrea Soldner (personal photo)
Sal Rispoli (photo 1)
Ben McCrory (photos 2, 3, 7)
Luis Velasco (photo 4)
Maisie Haney (photo 5)
Jared Silvia (photo 6)
