Willi Carlisle

Willi Carlisle
Carlisle performing in 2023
Background information
Born (1989-05-29) May 29, 1989 (age 35)
OriginKansas, United States
Genres
Instruments
Years active2016–present
Labels
Websitewillicarlisle.com

Willi Carlisle (born May 29, 1989) is an American folk singer-songwriter from Kansas, United States and based out of Arkansas, United States.[1][2] His music pulls from traditional American folk music,[2] punk music,[3] and country music. Many of his songs contain themes of drug abuse, queer life, and rural American life.[4]

Early life

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Carlisle grew up in a musical family, with his father being a polka musician,[2] which led to him being introduced to American folk, bluegrass, and country.[5] While growing up, he participated in school musicals and was a member of his school's choir.[6] Carlisle attended the University of Arkansas and got an MFA in poetry with the hopes of this teaching him how to write better folk music.[1][7] While in the academic setting, he realized a disconnect that existed between contemporary poetry and regular people. This drove him to write music connecting to this group.[4]

Discography

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Albums

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List of albums
Title Release date Label
To Tell You the Truth May 11, 2018 Self-released
Peculiar, Missouri July 12, 2022 Free Dirt[8]
Critterland January 25, 2024 Signature Sounds[9]

Singles and EPs

[edit]
List of singles and EPs
Title Release date Label Appears on
Too Nice to Mean Much October 10, 2016 Self-released
Boy Howdy, Hot Dog! (GemsOnVHS Field Recording) March 11, 2022 GemsOnVHS
Tulsa's Last Magician March 29, 2022 Free Dirt Records Peculiar, Missouri
Life on the Fence May 16, 2022
Vanlife June 14, 2022
All of the Redheaded Stranger March 6, 2023 Self-released
The Grand Design (GemsOnVHS Field Recording) April 29, 2023 GemsOnVHS
Angels (Western AF Version) June 19, 2023 Western AF
Willi Carlisle Western AF Field Recordings (Western AF Version) August 31, 2023
Critterland October 16, 2023 Signature Sounds Recordings Critterland
When the Pills Wear Off November 13, 2023
Higher Lonesome January 11, 2024
Dry County Dust January 22, 2024

References

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  1. ^ a b McGregor, Nick (March 8, 2023). "Willi Carlisle Is a Shapeshifting Bard for Our Times". INDY Week. Retrieved February 15, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c "Willi Carlisle: The Best of What's Next". Paste Magazine. Retrieved February 15, 2024.
  3. ^ Weeks, Olivia (October 21, 2022). "Q&A: Willi Carlisle Is Taking a Folk Singer's Job, to Comfort and Disturb, Very Seriously". The Daily Yonder. Retrieved February 15, 2024.
  4. ^ a b Grear, Daniel (January 26, 2024). "'Higher Lonesome': A Q&A with Willi Carlisle". Arkansas Times. Retrieved February 15, 2024.
  5. ^ "Willi Carlisle's Peculiar, Missouri Is Traditional Folk Music For 21st Century Problems | GRAMMY.com". grammy.com. Retrieved February 15, 2024.
  6. ^ Liebig, Lorie (March 14, 2023). "Willi Carlisle Dives Into the Uncomfortable on 'Peculiar, Missouri'". Nashville Scene. Retrieved February 15, 2024.
  7. ^ correspondent, Christopher Marcisz, Eagle (September 22, 2022). "Willi Carlisle knew he'd become a folk singer, so he chose to earn his MFA at a university with a lot of banjo players he could learn from". The Berkshire Eagle. Retrieved February 15, 2024. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  8. ^ "Willi Carlisle". Free Dirt Records & Service Co. Retrieved February 15, 2024.
  9. ^ "Signature Sounds Recordings". January 27, 2024. Archived from the original on January 27, 2024. Retrieved February 15, 2024.