Praised for eclecticism, Will Roesner, is a prolific singer-songwriter and producer who creates music that is familiarly unfamiliar. Since 2018, he has produced a series of solo albums, and occasionally worked with other artists in production and songwriting.

     Growing up in rural Maryland, Roesner was influenced by the scenery around him, and the music to which his parents listened. The Beatles, Pink Floyd, and Neil Young are some notable and obvious early influences. Hearing Pink Floyd’s “Wish You Were Here” peaked his interest in the immersive nature of albums, and enticed him to create his own. It wasn’t until his early twenties, however that he fell in love with the craft and process of songwriting, and recording.

     Since this discovery, Roesner has written and recorded albums obsessively; many of which will never see the light of day. His sound and influence seem to be impulsive; from the folk and ambient sensibilities of his debut “Wind”, to the industrious synth colored pop of his sophomore effort, “Spirit, Hello”. Even within Roesner’s records, one does not know what one is going to get, and this is certainly intentional. Roesner says; “I want my music to be like me, indecisive and impulsive.”

     “Spirit, Hello” was released on September 2nd, 2022 and met with praise from critics and fans. The album was recorded over the course of multiple months in the fall of '22 with many songs being written during an evacuation from Hurricane Ida. The album was self-recorded, and self-produced in Roesner's home. The explorative, noise-pop sensibilities of "Spirit, Hello" were a departure from his previous work "Wind" and it's soft ambience, and slow-burn songwriting style. "Spirit, Hello" was in many ways an exploration of pop music and a delving into the experimental; with it's long ambient corridors, and near horror-soundtrack-sounding instrumental moments. With a few new tricks up his sleeve, Roesner ventured into his next record "Farms and Stuff" which was yet another departure from the expected. 
     The album released on May 19th, 2023 starkly contrasted any of his previous works. Roesner abandoned the synthesizer, and any electronic instrument for the matter, to replace it with the earthy, and pastoral sound of the fiddle, and other traditional instruments of folk music. The album was self-recorded and produced yet again, with Roesner's style of fiddle playing creating a haunting atmosphere across the 40 minute runtime. The instrumentation often takes on the sounds of living things, with screaches and whelps. The album exists in it's own world, and is easily Roesner's most cohesive work to date. The record also features some of Roesner's most personal and poignant lyrics, with an arc that rewards the listener each time they return.

     Roesner's next project is slated for release sometime in 2024, and will supposedly be yet another departure from what we've heard from the artist. 

      -Vernor Wilson The Daily Egg