Villiers has always wanted to tell stories.
The New York native used storytelling through music as a coping mechanism from a very early age. The 36-year-old singer-songwriter discovered country-inspired songwriting and the Nashville storytelling tradition in his 20s. It’s taken him this long to work up the confidence to release his own music.
“It was kind of my first love,” Villiers said of his musical storytelling. “For years, I was building bodies of material that I thought would express something of value in the world. I was so immersed in other things in life that it was hard to find a space to let it live on its own.”
In November, Villiers teamed with Sixpence None the Richer singer Leigh Nash for a duet on his ultra-personal song “Cry.” Then, on December 13, Villiers dropped a reimagined “Cry” with help from Fear of Tigers, a U.K.-based dreamwave artist who increased the tempo and gave the song a slick, ’80s synth-pop vibe.
Villiers opted to step out now because he has a story in which he believes others will find value. He wrote “Cry” about an exceptionally dysfunctional relationship he experienced a decade ago. He describes the song as a message in a bottle from his previous self.
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“I had gone through a lot of transformation,” Villiers said. “It was some really difficult stuff that required exorcising demons creatively. I arrived at a point where I looked at the body of material, which is now the hundreds of songs I had written and thought, ‘Okay, there’s something here that does feel like it has that urgency in the way other stories I’ve told have.”
Villiers Had To Exorcise Demons Creatively
Villiers is a long-time fan of Nash, and when she wanted to record “Cry” with him, he was bowled over. The pair also collaborated on the song’s music video. Because “Cry” sounds classic yet steeped in raw emotion, the singers settled on a deconstructed soundstage backdrop. Then they turned to frequent Kenny Chesney photographer Allister Ann to direct the clip. Villiers said they “had a blast” filming it in Nashville.
“Allister Ann lit the space in a warm, inviting way that I think creates a nice contrast with the lyrics about emotional disconnection,” Villiers said. “Leigh and I start by ourselves and come together as the song escalates, but it’s always an almost—even in the final chorus, we’re in this love seat face to face, but singing past each other.”
He believes the song has a place in the world because of Nash’s interpretation. The recording experience was so rewarding that it shifted how Villiers frames his creative outlook. Now, he wants to work with people he knows he’ll have fun with. However, “Cry” is much different than the songs he’s working on now. He describes his upcoming releases as having a “more bracing personal edge with slightly less approachable creative posture.”
Villiers Teamed With Kenny Chesney Collaborator for the Music Video
“It’s more idiosyncratic,” said the singer, who counts artists including Bobbie Gentry, Roy Orbison, Jimmy Webb, Lee Hazlewood, Carole King, Neil Diamond, Tori Amos, and Suzanne Vega among his biggest influences.
“It’s more downtown Manhattan, queer-indie-meets-1960- and ’70s- retro-classic-singer-songwriter stuff,” Villiers continued, explaining his new music. “It’s more aggressively in the mold of story songs.”
He doesn’t want people to think he’s making music that is alienating – just that the soundscape is more individual to him.
“I am a queer, deep in my bones, lover of a giant hook. I want it to go off like an explosion,” said Villiers, who explained he’s working with singer/producer Nick Waterhouse. “He’s brought a lot of that retro classic sensibility.”
Up next, Villiers said, is an arc of a concept album that will emerge soon.
Photo courtesy of Villiers
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