Page 125 - July ONLINE VERSION

ing sessions that may or may not include it, black and white? If there wasn’t any music to bring people together, then what you are left with is a bunch of
ZGP: Well, however you are writing songs, other writers. ugliness. If I couldn’t rock out to Tom Petty, DMX, and Waylon Jennings, and all the other crazy stuff I listen to
you must be doing something right. Con- WB: “Run Out of Road” was a song I wrote initial- every day, I’d most likely lose my mind.
gratulations on becoming the 2019 Song- ly and took that completed work to Cody Criswell,
writer of the Year at the Tennessee Music where we both finished it up for production. Initially, ZGP: Thank you for talking with me.
Awards. in the songwriting structure, I do better on my own. WB: I love doing stuff like this. I mean, no one ever asks us things like this at shows. There isn’t someone coming
WB: Yeah, that was cool. I was nominated before, but Once the flow is starting to work, it is helpful to have up and asking, “So hey, how did you get started in music?” No, it’s more like, “Play some Freebird, man!” So, to
that year I won Songwriter of the Year and Song of other minds involved. Again, my nerves get involved, sit down with someone genuinely interested in how we started and how we feel about things, that’s a mint for us.
the Year with “Running Out of Road,” with co-writer and I fear my early ideas may not be well received. The only person I talk about this stuff with is my girlfriend, and I know she is tired of hearing me ramble on. It’s
and producer Cody Criswell. I was in the compa- So it is easier to flush those out and bring those extra cool because ZGP Magazine is local, and I’m a big believer in locals helping locals, building each other up.
ny of some great artists, and with the awards being naturally evolved lyrics to the think tank for more Around here, we try to support each other rather than compete because we know we can achieve so much more.
‘fan-voted,’ it makes the whole thing really special. It creative input. I mean, lyrics can come to me while
means people took the time out of their day to vote I’m in the field on a tractor, and with those bursts
and vote for me and my music. The Tennessee Music of inspiration, I’d prefer to iron them out on my
Awards is still in its infancy and, people should know own first. Of course, more than one creative mind is
that it is statewide. So to be honored with an award, always better, in my opinion. Cody Criswell came in Follow Will and his Music
you would need to be pretty well received by your on my first two singles, and he just has an awesome
fans. musical mind; you need someone like that. Cody was
the driving force behind “Run out of Road” and the
ZGP: Just for fun, Will, if you could go on other single, “Missin’ Me”, without him, man, I’m not
tour with any artist – living or dead – who sure they would be as good. You want someone who
would it be? will add substance to your song, especially country
WB: Living or dead? See, that made it tough. Ok, I’m music. There should be a depth to a country track
going to do both and narrow them down to three broader than “Hey girl,” beer, and a truck bed tune.
each. Living: Eric Church, Cody Jinks, and Koe
Wetzel. Dead: Merle Haggard and Waylon Jennings ZGP: Do you believe music, maybe more
definitely; I’m all about that outlaw swagger he had. so than any other medium, brings people
Keith Whitley because he had a timeless voice, and together?
no one yet sounds like him. WB: Definitely, I think so. I believe music has heal-

ing powers. It can bring people together. I mean, I
ZGP: In a 2015 interview, Tom Petty was love playing in West Tennessee, especially here at
asked about his ability to write songs and The Tap. When I look out over a packed house, and
musical ability. Petty said he felt he had a no one is worried about the world’s problems, it is
conduit to a musical energy that few could refreshing. When no one is looking around at the
tap. Do you feel like you have access to that color of another’s skin, or wondering about some-
musical energy? one’s sexual orientation, or considering someone’s
WB: Honestly, sometimes yes and sometimes no. left or right political angles, it’s nice. It is just a bunch Check out more Will Burton Tunes on YouTube
When the song or music flows freely, then sure, yeah, of diverse people having fun, jiving to music, and
I feel tapped into the musical energy. Still, the oppo- having a couple of drinks. Maybe that will get turned
site is true – when the music is more challenging to off when they walk out of these doors and into the
create, then maybe not as connected as I would like world. But there was a universal connection for one
to be. But, yeah, it is a gift and a blessing to be able to another and the music for a few hours. It is hard for
do what I do musically. While each of us has individ- me to name another type of venue with that type of
ual talents, not everyone can sit down, write songs, harmony other than a live music event.
or create melodies. So yeah, a conduit, I’d say so.
ZGP: How do music and lyrics come to- ZGP: What would the world look like if
gether for you? Some people sit alone in a there was no music?
bar or isolated space and write out words WB: I don’t know. I don’t even want to think about
on napkins. In contrast, others create writ- Good Thing Missin’ Me

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