William Elliott Whitmore, Sug Daniels

×

Expand

Chris Casella

A close-up of William Elliott Whitmore.

William Elliott Whitmore

$20.

media release: William Elliott Whitmore is taking things into his own hands with Silently, The Mind Breaks, his first album to be released through his newly formed Whitmore Records. It will be released on January 26. He had the following to say of his new venture: "I'm proud to be sharing this with the world through our literal mom and pop shop. I'm excited for people to hear what I've been working on the last few years." 

Pre-order the album here.  

When asked what to expect from Silently, The Mind Breaks, Whitmore said, "Imagine a large expansive landscape. In the distance, you see what looks like a house. You walk for a long time, and as you get closer, it seems more and more like the house is abandoned. The front door is locked, so you go around the back and enter. Sunlight pours into the otherwise dark space, illuminating a staircase. You walk up, taking notice of a stillness in the air. There are several rooms, you enter the last one in the hallway. In the room there is a closet. You open the closet and see an old chest of drawers. In the bottom drawer is an envelope. You open the envelope and inside there is a note. It says 'You are loved.' You are very tired, but you can't help but smile slightly. I hope this album is that for you."  

Last month, Whitmore shared the video for album track "Adaptation and Survival."

Born and raised on a small farm in Lee County, Iowa, a love of the land has always been an important part of William Elliott Whitmore's life. An appreciation for nature and its cycles being taught from an early age. That awareness of birth and death is a constant theme in the songwriting, through a lens of hopefulness and acceptance. These things unify us as people, a theme that is often explored in the music.  

With a banjo, guitar and kick drum, Whitmore seeks to convey these ideas. For over 20 years, he has traveled the world, performing everywhere from Rome, Italy to Rome, Georgia. He’s played basements, backyards, festival stages, and Carnegie Hall, and has no plans to stop anytime soon.  

"Life is hard, nasty, and unforgiving at times," Whitmore says. "But it's beautiful, too, and music can be a reminder of what we all have in common, a desire to keep putting one foot in front of the other."