Passing Thing by Devon Williams

Over the course of four albums and countless singles, Copenhagen-based songwriter Devon Williams has always had his tools of expert harmonic lines and insightful turns of phrase close at hand. His latest release "Passing Thing/Futility," however, rests at a level of delicacy beyond all past filigree, with his compositional pendulum swinging towards minimalism, tackling feelings of powerlessness and insignificance to everyday circumstances - love, parenthood, family secrets, death, cancer, washing dishes.

The space that exists between piano, bass and drums on "Passing Thing" is an empty crevice, while Williams glues them together with a soft, resigned vocal line. Melodies slide along like a dream in its final wisps, as Williams sings, "I have no guilt for moving on/ Or the time spent here in this song." It's a meditation on change and loss, and how the transient nature of life encourages one to place great value on routine things. On the baroque-folk of "Futility" as well, less is more; narratively focusing on the quotidian, "You know what it isn't, but tell me what it is.” Williams arranges multiple vocals as meandering thought patterns, while classical guitar lines are finger-picked over synthesizer pads. For Williams, it's the moments of dissolution and sadness where true ingenuity flourishes.

Singer Songwriter

Instagram: @devonwilliamssongs