Eccentric avant-pop artist Will Wood released a lyric video for his track "Marsha, Thankk You for the Dialectics, but I Need You to Leave". Off his new third studio release The Normal Album, the song takes a deep dive into discussing mental health and how it's addressed in today's society.
Comparing "the good old days" where mental health was hardly acknowledged and often seen as shameful, to today where people can often feel defined by their illness, the song questions if there’s a more progressive solution we’ve yet to explore. Challenging the manner in how the sensitive topic is discussed, Will Wood embraces his own struggles with mental health, liberating it into an open conversation. Premiered on Cultartes, they commented "avant-pop musician Will Wood is an artist of the highest caliber… a truly unique and original sound,” citing The Normal Album as "a pop-rock guide on how to deal with mental illness".
"I felt like my unique experiences with the subject matter gave me a perspective worth sharing, and because it meant so much to me that I express these thoughts more clearly, I thought the best way to accomplish this task was to double up on the voices saying it to you – mine singing it along with the one in your head reading it," shared Mr. Wood. The video makes the lyrically dense and intense song more approachable, further opening the door for an unfiltered discussion. Created by Angelica Pasquali, it combines nostalgic reel, with clips of medical and psychiatric treatments used over the years, to build a mirror to reflect upon.
Will Wood refers to Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, invented by psychologist Marsha Linehan in the 80's as a direction inspiration. The therapy aids those with Borderline Personality Disorder to manage their pathological black-and-white thinking and mood swings, by practicing to keep seemingly opposing ideas in mind simultaneously. "I bring that up and reference it in the title because I think the major directions people come from in the mental health discourse are both deeply flawed but mostly well-intended, and that the level of vitriol with which people identify with their often-extreme perspectives on the subject prevent the conversation from making serious progress," shared Mr. Wood. "So the song is meant to sort of express that frustration with the way we talk about it, the difficult time I had trying to figure out what I felt the philosophical or spiritual implications of my experiences with psychiatry were, and figure out where I stood ideologically. So in the song I express some rather genuine thoughts and then undercut them with a satirical tone or presentation of their origins to give that sense of internal (on a personal and social scale) confusion and say 'this is all wrong and this conversation is futile.' In a dream world, I would hope that people who are feeling that confusion or uncertainty and can’t stand it or are not entirely aware of it, are able to identify with the song and feel some comfort or personal inspiration. Maybe even give a push to make whatever changes they need to make in their approach to the subject in order to better heal and/or support others who need to."
Genre-defying, unabashedly theatrical, and cleverly eccentric, Will Wood connects to all who have struggled with mental health, while being open about his own experiences. Joined by his band "The Tapeworms", he serves a constantly shifting dynamic performance, keeping fans and critics alike on their toes. His new release, The Normal Album deals with themes of morality, psychiatry, identity, and what it means to be normal. Deviating from his past work, Will Wood embraces an avant-pop blend of theatrical singer-songwriter and show-tune styles, while still maintaining a distinctly unique sound. A diversely dynamic mix of genres, including borrowing elements of niche genres (doo-wop, disco, new wave, and early jazz) are blended with driving piano-led pop hooks and an undertow whirlwind of intensely serious and semi-paradoxical lyrics that demand a closer listen. Combined, The Normal Album delivers a bold statement on conformity and normality - while fully coloring outside the lines of anyone's expectations. The album was produced by Jonathan Maisto (Dillinger Escape Plan, Foxy Shazam) with a guest appearance from multi-platinum producer Matt Squire (Panic! At The Disco, Ariana Grande, One Direction).
Released through Say-10 Records, The Normal Album is available in CD, vinyl and all digital formats, including Spotify, Apple Music, TIDAL, and Amazon. Fans can support Will Wood through Patreon for special and exclusive content.
Will Wood has been said to have appeared out of nowhere, stumbling out of a hallucinogenic haze in 2015. He immediately began attracting attention and controversy with his eccentric and difficult-to-pin-down public persona and provocative performance art. Joined by his band “The Tapeworms,” Wood confused and excited audiences and press alike with his constantly shifting, genre-defying musical style and over-the-top performances that challenged the status quo of the local scene.
Over the past few years, Wood and his band “The Tapeworms” (Matt Berger, Vater Boris, Mike Bottiglieri, Mario Conte) have developed an uncomfortably large (and on occasion, borderline dangerous) cult following and received rave reviews from media outlets and fans alike from all over the world.
Shortly after recovery at the beginning of his career, Wood was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder and began treatment. He has since begun to take a new direction with his work, dedicated to giving back to the world in the form of charity funded by merch, tickets, and music sales, and using his music to try and inspire others with their own struggles. He now leads a reclusive life in rural New Jersey, having turned his back on social media, with the exception of his Patreon account, where he publishes most of his work as one of the top 1% of creators.
