A Chat with Will Foukle (23.09.25)
Emerging singer-songwriter Will Foulke’s new album, Charleston Blues, is a love letter to the blues and the legends who helped define it. Whether you’re a long-time blues lover or discovering the genre through modern eyes, Charleston Blues invites you to slow down, turn it up, and feel every note. We chat with Will Foulke about the new release below.
OSR: Can you describe the moment or idea that sparked Charleston Blues?
WILL FOULKE: I was inspired to make Charleston Blues because it felt intuitively right. Playing blues music has a therapeutic effect, and I wanted my fans to experience that.
OSR: Which blues and rock artists had the most impact on this album, and why?
WILL FOULKE: George Harrison, Jeff Lynne, and Robert Johnson had the biggest impact on this album. I’m a massive fan of George Harrison’s slide guitar playing as well as his arrangements. Jeff Lynne inspired my production and melodies on Charleston Blues majorly. Robert Johnson’s music gave me the vocabulary to express myself through the blues.
OSR: How did you approach blending different genres while maintaining a cohesive sound?
WILL FOULKE: I am impacted by many different types of music. I like to take different genres and combine them seamlessly to incorporate my love of rock, blues, pop, and jazz into one project.
OSR: You played every instrument and handled all vocals yourself. What was the most challenging part of that process?
WILL FOULKE: The most challenging part of the album was giving each song a distinct feeling and having them all tell a story in a cohesive way.
OSR: Charleston Blues is both personal and reverential. How did you balance storytelling with homage to your influences?
WILL FOULKE: I created Charleston Blues to reflect how I was feeling at the time and the pain and nostalgia I’ve known. I’m sure my musical inspirations have felt similar to me at some point in their lives. I wanted to touch on emotions and feelings that were relatable to everyone.
OSR: Which track was the hardest to write or record, and why?
WILL FOULKE: The intro track was the hardest to make. A lot of intention went behind crafting this song because it had to embody the album and also pay homage to the musicians who came before me. It essentially sets the stage for the journey the album takes the listener on.
OSR: How did working with Elliott Elsey and Vlado Meller shape the final sound of the album?
WILL FOULKE: Elliott Elsey is a long-time collaborator on my music, and it was a pleasure to have him mix Charleston Blues. Our shared taste ensured the album would be made with great attention to detail. Vlado Meller is an amazing mastering engineer. He brought the mixes to life with his expertise, and I am very grateful to have worked with him.
OSR: Can you talk about any unexpected inspirations that influenced specific songs?
WILL FOULKE: The fourth track on the album, ‘One Notch’, was created one night in the studio when all of my friends were present. Their presence inspired me to write about my friends and include them in the song. It added the energy that ‘One Notch’ required.
OSR: Were there any songs that evolved drastically from initial concept to final recording?
WILL FOULKE: ‘Out To You’ evolved a lot over the course of recording and mixing. Elliot and I added a massive tom drum near the end of the recording process to accentuate the song’s rhythm section. We also added an intro and outro to the song that were not going to be there originally.
OSR: Looking back, what part of this album are you most proud of creatively?
WILL FOULKE: I am most proud of this album’s storytelling. Charleston Blues is a sincere look into my experiences with pain, heartbreak, friendship, and moving on. I think listeners will identify most with the messaging of the album.
Many thanks to Will Foulke for speaking with us. Find out more about Will Foulke on his Instagram, YouTube, and Spotify.
