Root artist inspired by his child, life on the road
Some people might think of a tour as being simply a series of dates strung together, but for William Prince, it’s a “researchand-recon” mission.
The Winnipeg-based singersongwriter is unabashed about drawing from all aspects of his life, including the long road treks he’s made since releasing his first album, Earthly Days, in 2015. Now that he’s settled into the life of a jobbing musician, spending months on the road playing theatres and clubs, he’s intent on gathering intel for the next album on the fly.
“Last February, I was on the road by myself,” Prince says from the interior of B.C., where he and current tour mate Justin Lacroix are taking a welcome break before heading into Alberta.
“No talking all day and then you get to the show, say hi, play the gig and then pack up. Back into the cone of silence. I think about it now and I realize that, even then, I was able to write a couple of songs in the midst of it all.”
Everything is still new for Prince, who went from the occasional gig a few years back to playing major Canadian festivals.
He’s performed with Buffy Sainte-Marie, loaned his gorgeously rich baritone to a version of Bruce Cockburn’s Stolen Lands while helping to induct him into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, and hung out with Kris Kristofferson.
The deeply soulful Earthly Days picked up award nominations a-plenty, as well as wins for Western Canadian Music Award for Aboriginal Artist of the Year in 2016, and a Juno Award for Contemporary Roots Album of the Year in 2017.
Truth is, Prince is still reeling from the sudden rocket thrust in his career trajectory.
“People have asked me how it feels to win a Juno, and truthfully, I’m only feeling it now,” he said with a chuckle.
We spoke with Prince, a member of the Peguis First Nation from Manitoba, about his surging career, being a parent and attempting to balance the two.
Q You’re getting close to the end of your tour.
A Yeah, we’re rounding third in a sense. Soon I’ll get to see my son Wyatt and my nieces. I owe them a Christmas break after being away for so long.
Q It wasn’t so long ago that the idea of being on the road so long would have seemed far-fetched, right?
A I think about that every day. I talk about it in the show, saying that just two years ago, this wasn’t an everyday thing. Back then, I was trying to find some kind of direction, a path to take. I had depression issues, financial and family problems, and playing even one show seemed like the furthest thing from my mind. Now I’m in front of audiences with my music, and they’re so into the music. People hear me on the CBC, and I’m so thankful for that.
Q It must be tough for you to balance family and work, especially with a 16-month-old child back at home.
A I miss Wyatt all the time, but I’m thankful he has a great mom and a wonderful family. We also live in a time where we can send videos and pictures every day, so I try to FaceTime him when I can, but he’s usually in bed when I’m driving. I was watching him this morning and he’s like a little parrot, talking up a storm and walking around.
Q You’ve started working on the follow up to Earthly Days. Has becoming a parent changed anything in your songwriting?
A Well, this next record is all about him, in a sense. There’s a verse or two in each song where I feel like I’m talking about him. It’s like a diary, and when he grows up, he’ll listen to it and see what I was up to now. It’s a confessional about what I was going through with his mom, and how I tried to balance all of these things in my life.
Q Are you succeeding in that balance?
A There’s always something new coming every day, and I’m trying to figure out how to get used to it. This is the new normal for me. Back when I was struggling, I prayed for a show to alleviate my everyday working life, which I felt was taking me away from my passion for music. Now it’s the other way around. When I’m not playing, I take a break and get to be with my family at home. But I really love the succession of things. I dreamed of having a tour poster and touring with a friend, and that’s what’s happened on this tour with Justin Lacroix. He’s a good friend, and he’s been killing it every night.
Q Your success has come relatively quickly. Do you ever wonder about how fickle and fleeting it can be?
A I’ve had those conversations. I was talking to (producer) Scott (Nolan) about it, and he said: “You just gotta do what you do. Write authentic, honest songs about what you’ve seen.” It’s no more complicated than that. People ask me about inspiration; man, I just take notes wherever I go. Miles and miles, time spent away and time spent with. Contrast and perspective. We’re all dealing with loneliness, we’ve all been away from someone we love. I’m learning while I’m out here, and I’m writing it all down.