Songs of the Iron Men	Posted: Apr 15, 2009
Well, it's been about five months since the release of my fifth album, Thirty Minutes with Christian Williams, which means it's time for a new album release! This time, I've done things a little different. Those of you who know me personally know that I work as the associate editor of an antique farm equipment magazine called Gas Engine Magazine, and that I also manage web content for SteamTraction.com, a website dedicated to the preservation of steam engine farming equipment and history. Regarding the latter, part of my job for Steam Traction is looking through our 60-year-old archives and bringing old content to light. Recently, while looking through 1950s era issues of the steam engine enthusiast magazine, Iron Men Album, I came across several poems written by actual steam farmers, threshermen and their wives. So, I chose 12 of my favorites and set them to original music. From there, I presented the finished album to my bosses, and they liked it enough to make the album and sell it as a product through the store on SteamTraction.com. I'm really excited about this album, mostly because it's all about a little-known (or at least forgotten) chapter of American history. In the technology age, it's easy to lose sight of how we used to things five years ago, much less 100 years ago. Many folks agree that when steam farming disappeared, so did the romantic view of farming. And while farming is definitely quicker and more efficient than it's ever been, the close relationships that farmers once had with each other and the land have been replaced by mega-capacity combines operated by one person in an air-conditioned cab. These poems help us remember that at one time, things were different. Hopefully, I've piqued your interest in checking out the album. As I said, it will soon be available at SteamTraction.com and through various digital download channels. Don't worry - I'll keep you posted. Take care, CW
The Long Winter, Vol. 2	Posted: Feb 10, 2009
Based on the positive reception of my free digital album The Long Winter: B-Sides and Alternate Takes, I've decided to dig even deeper into my library of self-recordings and put together The Long Winter, Vol. 2: Under the Influence - Covers. As the name suggests, this is a 16-song collection of some of the first songs I learned how to play, and I've arranged them in the order they were recorded. Like the first Long Winter album, these recordings aren't the greatest but they're not that bad, either. You can listen to the album in its entirety on my Music page, and then click the "Buy" button to download it for FREE from 2shared.com. And if you haven't downloaded it yet, The Long Winter, Vol. 1 is still available for FREE through my Music page as well.
What change means to me	Posted: Nov 6, 2008
For the last several years, I've spent an enormous amount of creative energy writing songs about the dark side of life. Whether I've meant to or not, almost all of my songs are rooted in personal experience and serve as a reflection of how I view the way the world works. I grew up believing the world is a dark place and that the only light you can trust to guide you is your faith. When I lost my faith, the world got a lot darker and so did the way I chose to express that. People who have been kind enough to share how my music has impacted them often speak of it more positively than I give it credit for. I've been told that there are moments of hope and optimism in my music but I admit having a hard time finding them. In short, I've been a cynic, and far too often, have been proud of that fact. The last year has shown me, though, that things aren't as bad as I think they are. I've got a job that's very satisfying, a new home to take care of, a new appreciation for nature and most importantly, a girlfriend/soon-to-be-wife whom I love and can't imagine living without. I've learned that my life is what I make of it. If I want to be successful and happy, I will be. And I am. Realizing that helped the dark world around me get a lot brighter. Slowly but surely I found myself replacing the light of my lost faith. So, when it came time to write my fifth album, Thirty Minutes with Christian Williams, I wanted to point out as explicitly as possible what I find wrong with religion, narrow-minded thinking, greed and our world as a whole. I didn't offer any solutions other than to say that I've found my shelter - my beacon of hope – in Kristi. And I wrapped up the album in late September believing the best thing I could do to cope with a dark world was escape it and just be satisfied that my little corner of the universe was bright. I realize now that I can do so much more than that. Last Tuesday night, for the first time in my life, this country elected a leader that I truly believe in. From the first time I listened to Barack Obama speak at a rally in Milwaukee back in 2004, I knew that this man represented something different. He recognized we had problems but he didn't promise to fix them himself; he acknowledged that the only way to solve them was for everyone to work together and play a role. I walked away from that rally hopeful, yet still cynical because I didn't believe this country would ever give someone like that an honest chance to make a difference. Tuesday night proved me wrong, and two days later, I've finally figured out what that means to me. It means I have a responsibility to work toward changing what I've spent so much time and energy complaining about. It means replacing my cynicism with the belief that the harder we work, the better things will be. I don't know specifically how I'll do this but the point is I'm now open to the possibilities. I believe now that this world is what we make of it, and that notion leaves little room for darkness in my mind. My fifth album comes out on Dec. 16, and there's a part of me that wishes I'd waited until after the election to release so that I could include some songs reflecting my newfound hope. Then again, I've always defended my music as in-the-moment reflections of what I'm thinking and feeling at that moment in time. Two days ago, I was still trying to find my way through the forest. Now I feel like I've found the path.
Rodentia: The Best of Dark Roots Music	Posted: Sep 22, 2008
I just saw the tracklisting for the upcoming Rodentia: The Best of Dark Roots Music compilation from Devil's Ruin Records and it's impressive. It's pretty much a "who's who" of the best in dark folk music: Reverand Glasseye, O'Death, Strawfoot, The Scarring Party, Sons of Perdition, Those Poor Bastards, Slackeye Slim ... the list goes on and on. 34 tracks in all, including one from yours truly, "All of Her Kin." And it's only $10!
Signed to Devil's Ruin Records	Posted: Aug 8, 2008
I'm very happy to announce that I've signed with Devil's Ruin Records, a new independent label out of Indiana that specializes in Gothic Americana music. I'm excited to be apart of their growing roster of international acts, and highly recommend you check them all out at here.
Q and A with Sepiachord.com	Posted: Nov 15, 2007
The fine folks at Sepiachord.com recently asked me some tough questions and I tried to give them some insightful answers. Here's a sample: Sepiachord: If troubled souls like Richard Brautigan can make such optimistic art, does that mean artists who create dark, troubling work are more at peace in their soul? Do you feel at peace? CW: I do feel at peace and only because I know that I'm making the most of what I have to work with. It's hard for me to pinpoint why my work comes out the way it does, other than to say it just feels right. Visit Sepiachord.com to read the entire interview.