William Tell ready for history books
By Melanie Barnes, Entertainment Writer
May 14, 2007 | 7:45 p.m.
No, he is not the 14th century Swiss hero who shot an apple off of his son’s head with an arrow. However, William Tell is a singer/songwriter set to create his own page in history. Check out what he had to say to Speakeasy during his Ohio University visit for the Virgin College Mega Tour.
William Tell, a pop-rock Orange County, Calif., native, made his solo debut March 2007 with You Can Hold Me Down, his first release since leaving alt-rock band Something Corporate in 2004. Since then, Tell has toured with fellow singer/songwriter Teddy Geiger in 2006 and has been writing music that allows him to follow his solo dreams.
Tell has most recently been on the road with acts Talib Kweli and Sugarcult for the Virgin College Mega Tour, which has been hitting college campuses across the country.
Speakeasy:So, how is the Virgin College Mega Tour so far?
>William Tell:The tour? The tour is fun; it’s definitely fun to go around to different colleges and definitely different than a club tour where you’re playing in that certain scene, that certain thing. I think with the colleges, we have fans that like different types of music and people just come out because there is good music playing on their campus.
SE:Has there been one "best college campus" so far?
WT:No, don‘t have a favorite yet, but we’ll have to see when it’s all over, and then I‘ll make my judgment. I think it might be Ohio University; I’ve actually had a lot of fun today. I went around the downtown area earlier today and I actually ate in the dormitory area.
SE:Can you describe your sound for those who may not have heard your solo album?
WT:I’m just a singer/songwriter, but a lot of people think of the “coffeehouse guy” with the guitar, but I actually have a band. Not tonight because my band and my van and my trailer have been left behind broken down in Pennsylvania, so I am playing acoustic tonight with another guitar player. But it is very much an electric guitar and drums modern-rock. I’m more of an Elvis Costello or Tom Petty.
SE:So you are a solo artist now, but you used to play guitar for Something Corporate. What was that experience like for you?
WT:It was great being in Something Corporate, being in a band with a bunch of friends. There are parts that I miss but I’m happy to be out on my own. I feel I learned a lot and now I’m ready to be out and doing my own songs. When I joined, I had been writing my own songs, but had to give that up to go and play guitar with them. It was great, but you have to go after your dream, you have to go out and try it.
SE:No hard feelings though, right?
WT:No, no, not at all. We still talk all the time and they helped me put my record together as well.
SE:There has been a lot of controversy on our campus lately concerning the RIAA and music-gathering techniques. How do you feel about illegal downloading?
WT:Honestly, I have mixed feelings about it. You can get it right away and it’s nice to have it, but I have to be honest, every record I sell counts and helps. The only way that I get to make another record is if my records sell. The only way I get a chance to go on tour is that my label gives me money to go on tour when I sell records. But also, it’s music. I just want to move people, and I want it to be easy for them so people want to come see my shows.
SE:What is different about William Tell now as compared to William Tell five years ago?
WT:Well, I can grow a full beard now. And I can drink, that’s nice. I think that I’ve learned a lot being in Something Corporate, that was like college for me when I dropped out of school and joined a band. I’ve just grown a lot and changed as a person. I used to be a lot more innocent and naïve!
SE:Have you ever Googled yourself?
WT: Yeah, I have to make sure my label is doing its job! But it’s hard, everybody thinks that my name is fake but it’s my real name. It also just happens to be that of a Swiss folk hero, kind of like a Robin Hood character. So when people look up William Tell they find the one the William Tell that shot an apple off of his kid’s head with an arrow and they think it’s a stage name. They also find the William Tell Overture, the one they play at horse races, when searching for William Tell music. It’s hard not to find that because it’s obviously been around for centuries.
SE:Just kidding of course, but have you ever considered changing your name?
WT:Well, now it’s too late but that is weird. I’d make my self something like... William Jacobheimer? Or William Redstallion. I bet there’s not another William Redstallion.
SE: What are your influences?
WT: Wow, I have a billion inspirations. I’m obsessed with the Beatles and the Beach Boys, James Taylor and Tom Petty, Elvis Costello. I get inspiration from everything. Old movies to books and authors, friends and family.
SE: Do you have a lot of support from your family?
WT: Oh, yes. My parents are divorced. My dad is a minister. He really didn’t like the whole rock band thing at first but he came around to it.
SE: Do you have any pre-show rituals or superstitions?
WT: I do vocal warm-ups, but that’s about it. Just stupid AhhhAhhAhh, motorboat noises and VroomVroomVroom!
SE: Some bands want to get really big and have all the success and the fame, and some bands don’t want to get big at all because they feel that would be selling out. What level are you hoping to be?
WT: I’m trying to get to any level I can get to! I want to be able to make a living at what I love to do. If I’m lucky enough that a lot of people like it and I get really big, then that’s awesome, I can’t be upset about that. But if I play to 100 people a night I’m lucky as well.
SE: As a closing statement, what is the best part about being William Tell?
WT: This is probably going to sound really cliché and cheesy, but I have really good friends and family. And I get to do what I love for a living. I can’t complain.
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William Tell has been on the musical radar for years, but has recently pushed himself into the entertainment industry as a solo artist to watch. Check his singer-songwriter talent on his MySpace and his handy interactive Web site.