Ahead of a tour of Japan which kicks off tomorrow, Gold Coast singer-songwriter Alexander William has dropped his new single “Roses”, the first from his forthcoming debut album, and quite simply it is really beautiful stuff.
There is a precociousness to Alexander William, and “Roses” in particular, there is a maturity and worldliness at work that far belies the twenty-two year old singer-songwriter’s youth. The classic songwriting tropes of love and loss are all there, but are delivered in such style they don’t feel tired or one dimensional. It is romantic, without being overly sentimental. Seemingly, the process of writing the song proved to be cathartic for William, with him describing the song as:
“…a song for all the lovers out there who aren’t well versed in the modern requirements for love. It is a farewell to a part of my life that I struggled to let go of, as well as an explanation to my past for my shortcomings.”
“Roses” starts slowly, with some gentle acoustic guitar coupled with William’s sublime vocals, before building to a powerful and sweeping chorus. Atmospheric and emotive, there is a real sense of warmth to the track too. Musically, it draws from the rich tradition of folk music, with nods to the likes of Nick Drake, as well as more contemporary figures like Ben Howard and Damien Rice. “Roses” is a charming and arresting track, that is heightened by William’s beguiling voice. It’s a voice that surely we’ll be hearing more from in the future.
“Roses” is available now. You can find Alexander William on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. If you happen to be in Japan over the next couple of weeks, you can also catch William live, his tour dates are below.
Alexander William Japan Tour Dates
6th Oct: FSN Bar, Kyoto
12th Oct: Arcadio Cafe, Osaka
14th Oct: Ongaku no Jikan, Tokyo
15th Oct: Rockin’ Cafe GabiGabi, Tokyo
18th Oct: Mona Records, Tokyo
19th Oct: Artist Acoustic Live Lounge, Tokyo
