MESSAGE US AT info@heywillpower.com -Hey Willpower was conceived one night in july on 3rd street in san francisco when linton and i were at a tussle show and i was still smoking. we were talking about our love for r&b pop/hip hop and how linton had lived in the same building in harlem as Sean Paul the summer before and our favorite songs on kmel. i gave linton a ride home and the Busta/Mariah song "i know what you want" came on and we just listened in awe. as if linton was reading my mind, linton said we should get together and make a song using all the elements of pop that we've ever loved. a couple of days later we started working on a song in linton's basement. i came up with some vocal melodies and keyboard/guitar parts and left linton overnight with them. the result was the backing track for "uh-uh-uh". after exhaustively stalking linton and trying to convince em to drop everything and work on this project, linton told me they had to go on tour with their band the Aislers Set.
i was left despondent in sf with a new computer and this music in my head. i met tomo through a friend and we hardly even asked each other on a music date before we were on a regular practice schedule furiously writing and recording music. tomo loves blippy bleepy yet melodic landscapey music the most. i had to coerce him a bit into some ass-shaking, but he eventually caved in. whether it's a hot beat or bass part or a strangely beautiful keyboard melody, he always brings something unique and inspiring to the music. we'll be hanging out and he'll be tapping out a beat with the keys in his pocket and we'll record that.
i grew up listening to Michael and Janet and L'Trimm and pop that my sisters would turn me on to. as soon as I heard Sonic Youth and the Velvet Underground my world turned inside out and I started voraciously ingesting anything other than what was played on the radio. i became immersed in the indie music world with my band Imperial Teen, all the while reveling in the latest greatest pop/hip hop songs and records.
Hey Willpower feels like something new and exciting and postmodern without being smug or ironic. although it's different from Imperial Teen, it makes perfect sense to me to be making the music we're making because it comes from what i love about music. when we're performing live and people are doin' their dances and making noise, we know it's right. i'm good with the chin scratchers and musicologists and philosophers too, but sometimes you have to let the emotions take over. let's dance now and we can talk about it later if you want.
xoxoxo
will
mr schwartz -- i really enjoyed your performance last night in leipzig. and thank you for the 'heart-marked-cd' -- come back soon and dance dance dance.
In reference to the Hemlock show on May 15th: Dammit! I have a show! At the same time!
You know, the other day I rode my bike past the old Hush Lounge on 14th St...It's called Thieves (people are into that name lately)...I said to myself: "Hey, I saw Hey Willpower here back when it was just Will and Tomo and they only had a few songs...and Will sang Dreamin' and they were called Willpower then."
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I think I saw you tonight at bi-rite creamery. I did a double take, and then I didn't want to be that guy that is all "hey your famous right?" Plus you were with folks and that would have been rude.
will! with the PDA out in the US, it only makes sense that you'd be way sluttier this tour. no? last night was great! thank you so much! i can't wait to get you back here. check out the photos here: http://www.truthserum.org/images/2008.03.03_men_hey_willpower
other awesome shows in boston are here: http://www.truthserum.org
i love hey annie-- what a stylistic mix; really layered and fun and cute such a sassy little chewchew. and way to go spin for nailing "unselfish sweetness." you are the bees, for cryin'.
