KATIE BROWN - 17 NOV 2023

Right from the unassuming kick in the intro, outstanding new single “Texasman”, released on the 27th October by Aotearoa act Sig Wilder & Friends, gets under your skin like a melancholic lullaby. The immaculately produced alt-country/Aotearoa Americana track is the latest single by the Te-Whanganui-a-Tara/Wellington based act, which consists of local music mavericks Mads Taylor (Tahini Bikini, MADS), Kei Heke (Tahini Bikini, Awkward Talks), and Sofia Machray, alongside Missouri-born, Aotearoa-based songwriter Sig Wilder. “Texasman” follows on from previous singles “Stop Myself” and “Light Tower”, released in March and June this year respectively, all three of which tease an upcoming album the act are steadily chipping away at. Today we’re delighted to premiere the sumptuous Taylor Nixon-directed music video for the single, and you can watch this below the feature.

Rich and warm, “Texasman” is powered by a percussive and gentle acoustic riff and Wilder’s sophisticated vocal delivery, as he opens the track with his signature sleepy drawl, singing, “Desert house, big city dreams down the highway … .” The line conjures up images of the contrast of barrenness and life; of something good that’s now faded, or just out of reach — an evening sunset after a long, hot day.

Like being caught in the loop of a favourite, time-worn memory, an associated sense of nostalgia and wistfulness wrap the mellow track in a honeyed kind of warmth that simultaneously comforts while filling the listener with a sense of yearning. The narrative-style lyrics are poetic and obscure — there’s a space for the listener to find their own meaning within them, as well as feeling drawn into someone else’s story. As Wilder says, the Texas man of the song is “none other than Willie Nelson himself,” an artist who’s both an inspirational and aspirational figurehead for Wilder, perhaps representing a mirage-like dream that is as tantalising in its distance as in its promise.

Emotive and powerful, “Texasman” is a song by an act that clearly have their finger on the pulse of life. Sig Wilder & Friends clearly know both what it is to have loved and lost, but also how to leave space for the hope that such losses make space for. And if the sublime single is anything go to by, we can expect to be quietly floored by the upcoming album.

Read our interview with Sig Wilder of Sig Wilder & Friends beneath the video.

Find Sig Wilder & Friends on Instagram | Facebook | Bandcamp | Spotify | Website

KATIE: FIRSTLY, CONGRATULATIONS ON “TEXASMAN” - IT’S A FANTASTIC SINGLE AND I’VE HAD IT ON REPEAT SINCE IT CAME ACROSS MY RADAR. HOW’S IT FEELING TO HAVE NEW WORK OUT IN THE WORLD?

Sig Wilder: Thank you very much. It’s a lovely feeling to release a song. “Texasman” has been with me for 3 years and it was time to let it go to the world.

THE TRACK CONCERNS A TIME YOU SPENT IN AUSTIN WITH AN INDIE POP BAND - WHAT WERE THE HIGHS AND THE LOWS OF THAT EXPERIENCE? AND HOW DOES WILLIE NELSON, ANOTHER ASPECT OF THE SONG’S INSPIRATION, FIT IN?

We were in our early 20s (I was 19) and had just moved across the country to pursue a childhood dream – it was a massive high. The low was that none of us ever expected it to end. While we were living in Austin I became aware of Willie Nelson as more than just the “On the Road Again” country singer – he was omnipresent, kind and cool, and I couldn’t help but fall in love.

A THEME OF THE SONG IS THE PASSAGE OF TIME, ESSENTIALLY - SOMETHING THAT CAN BE EQUALLY EXCITING AND FRIGHTENING, LET’S BE HONEST! HOW ARE YOU FEELING ABOUT THAT THESE DAYS?

My father told me that he admires how I don’t concern myself with time. I’m not entirely sure what he means or how I gave him that impression but I hope to keep living that way. Although sometimes it seems impossible. I get overwhelmed and feel like I’m running out of time or like there is not enough time in a day. “Texasman” is my way of looking back and accepting that the moment moves on and I’m still here.

HOW DID THE COLLABORATION BETWEEN YOURSELF, MADS TAYLOR, KEI HEKE AND SOFIA MACHRAY COME ABOUT, AND WHAT’S IT LIKE WORKING TOGETHER AS A GROUP?

I met Mads through my partner while we were both living in Melbourne. Then by chance we both moved to Wellington and she introduced me to Kei & Sofia. Working with Mads, Kei, and Sofia has been one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life. They have helped this music in more ways than they know. I am very lucky to have them.

I UNDERSTAND A FULL ALBUM IS IN THE WORKS - IS THIS SOMETHING YOU’VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR AWHILE TOGETHER?

I’ve been working on a full album since 2018. In 2020 a friend gave me the title for the album – Cowboy Practice. In 2021 I began the recording process and in 2023 I released the first song from the album – “Stop Myself”. It’s been a long time in the making and I honestly can’t say when it will be finished, but I’m getting some pressure from the band and my partner to get it done. Hopefully before 2027 ;)

(cont’d below)

WHAT DRIVES YOU TO WRITE IN GENERAL? WHERE DO YOU FIND YOUR INSPIRATION?

Often it’s other songwriters. Like when I heard “Solitary Daughter” by Bedouine or “Ghost On” by Angel Olsen or “Springtime in Croatia” by Patricia Wolf. Those were inspiring moments. I suppose another big factor that drives me to write is the need to sing. I love singing a melody and I feel a certain responsibility to fill the melody with meaningful words.

WHERE WERE YOU BORN, AND WHERE DID YOU GROW UP? WHAT’S A STANDOUT MUSICAL MEMORY FOR YOU FROM YOUR CHILDHOOD?

I was born and raised in a small town west of St. Louis, Missouri. When I was between the age of 9 and 11 my older brother was in a rock band with our cousins and his friend from school. They would rehearse in the living room and I would sit on the stairs and watch for hours. They never finished a song – as a kid I took it as a challenge to try it out myself. My brother has always been supportive of me playing music and introduced me to many influential bands via his CD collection.

WHAT ARTISTS WERE YOU LISTENING TO GROWING UP, AND HOW DID YOU FIRST GET INTO MUSIC MAKING AND SONGWRITING?

I grew up listening to my parents’ CD collection — Elton John, Billy Joel, Queen, John Miles, REO Speedwagon — and then my brother gave me Parachutes by Coldplay which changed everything for me. My first experience songwriting was with my first band when I was 12. The guitarist had a few chords he liked and our drummer’s dad had some lyrics we could use. I think the song was called “Get Me Outta Here.”

HOW DID MOVING TO AOTEAROA INFLUENCE YOUR SOUND?

When I moved to Aotearoa I was fresh from a bad break up with a band (the one I had in Austin) as well as a relationship break up. I put music away for a full year and enjoyed Aotearoa. Then I moved to Australia where I fumbled around for 4 years trying to discover what it is that I wanted to write or sing about. When I moved back to Aotearoa it immediately felt like home. Although as time passes I find myself longing for some part of my childhood home. I suppose that longing is why my sound has veered into the country Americana realm.

WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS WITH YOUR MUSIC GOING FORWARD? WHAT’S YOUR BIGGEST HOPE WITH IT?

I’d like to continue to write songs and sing them for as long as I can. Going forward I intend to get involved with the Wellington music community and local scene. Go to gigs, buy albums. My biggest hope is that I don’t get caught up in trying to be “successful” – to just enjoy spending time with the band and people at shows.

Find Sig Wilder & Friends on Instagram | Facebook | Bandcamp | Spotify | Website