Dil Williams is ready to sit between the stars!

Our head of Media and Singer/Songwriter Kaysha Louvain sits down with the man with many names, Dil Williams, as he speaks about his debut E.P ‘Interstella’

Kaysha: Hi Dil, Lovely to meet you. Before we start could you tell everyone a little about yourself? 

Dil: Hi Kaysh, Well I was born in a mining town in the Welsh valley and as a young lad I moved to Porthcawl after a family disruption. Ive spent most of my life in Porthcawl but maintain links in my home town of Tonyrefail. Following an unsettled period where I was unable to settle into a job as a teenager, I finally secured, and had a long career in mental health being a CPN.


Kaysha: Wow, so that’s a bit of a jump. What was it like going from the health sector to the music Industry? 

Dil: A huge relief, I was a very stressed man. I worked in a supervisory capacity as a mental health professional. It was a very stressful situation. I have just dipped my toe into the music industry and I’m sure there are people with stressful jobs as I had, but, I’m loving it so far. I love building a song from scratch from writing the music and lyrics in my little humble abode, to hearing it come to life in the studio with Paul Edwards the producer.

Kaysha: So, going onto music, what got you into music and what did you grow up listening to ? 

Dil:  I can’t remember a time when music wasn’t an important part of my life. My Father was a chorister and my mother loved amateur operatics. There was always singing in my house. Mario Lanza was a favourite with my patents and I can remember the different emotions the music would evoke in me. The whimsical arias from operatics and the wonderful Llef ( O IESU MAWR) which still makes me cry and have goosies.

My early listenings were certainly governed by my parents. My older sister Helen and myself soon got in to Kinks, Beatles, Stones, Dave Clark Five. We would mime to the songs with our cardboard guitars, make believe is so magic.
I can also remember being a James Bond fan as a 10 year old and loving the 007 theme and Goldfinger.
Onto my teenage years I really did gain an eclectic taste from Soul and Motown, to Genesis, Pink Floyd as well as local musicians Love sculpture (Dave Edmunds) and Amen Corner.
I have always admired Mike Oldfield and Tubular Bells, not everyones taste but such a ground breaking piece of music. More recently I have really likes some of Radiohead’s music and the words and music of Elbow.

My son Thom got me into such things as The Pixies and Tom Morello. My daughter Caryn would take part in school shows and I loved the music to those also.

Kaysha: Congratulations on a fantastic E.P, what do you want people to take away from Interstella and what have you taken away from this experience?

Dil: Simple really, id just like people to like my music. Someone approached me the other day and complemented me and it made my month! The great review by Rev Rabb was fabulous. I would like to leave something for my children to remember me by, something that says something about me. As far as what i’ve learnt and gained, is that I love writing songs, I need more self confidence, I need to get up on the stage and perform. Not easy for a shy introverted bloke like me. I also need to get money to make the next one!

Kaysha: Ah, I know that feeling! So, If you had to pick a favourite off the E.P what would it be? And why? 

Dil: Ah Kaysh, thats difficult. Id like to think that all the tracks have a message. I think ‘Lines’ is special to me. Its about some heartbreaking events in my life. But its also about inequality and the mis appropriation of power and the way force and violence is inflicted on the disenfranchised people of the world. Its there every day on our TV sets and ‘on and on it goes’ unfortunately.

Kaysha: After recently releasing my debut album I don’t want to rush you, because enjoy this moment, but what have you got planned for the near future?

Dil: Im currently working on album number two and loving every moment of it. I’d love my son and daughter Thom and Caryn to be involved in some way as they both sing nicely and Thom plays guitar. Its really nice collaborating with others to help build these musical pieces.

Kaysha: Any final words on the E.P?
Dil: I would just like people to listen and like my music. 

You can check the album out here

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