“Music is an Organic design...I know that new music is right when it sounds like it has always been part of this World.... ”

— William Ellwood

New Release!

For Immediate Release:

INSTRUMENTAL COMPOSER/GUITARIST WILLIAM ELLWOOD RETURNS WITH NEW RELEASE! 

HAMILTON, ON (5 OCTOBER 2019) Hamilton guitarist William Ellwood today announced the release of his long-awaited album, Transit Of Mars. Fans and aficionados will recognize William’s signature style from his years as a Narada recording artist. He produced five critically acclaimed albums at Narada, culminating with the highly-rated Natural Selections. William toured extensively in North America, but is best remembered locally for his Toronto shows. 

A keen participant in all facets of music, this is his seventh studio album. William is best known as a recorder of his own compositions, but has in the past included compositions by Eric Satie, Simon and Garfunkel, and John\Michelle Phillips. 

Transit Of Mars is a departure in style for the artist; it is pared down in terms of compositional and recording styles. “I’ve tried to incorporate the sophistication of my past work with a newfound simplicity that lends itself to my writing and playing styles.” Initial responses to the new album are enthusiastic. 

Transit Of Mars contains 12 tracks that showcase William’s depth and breath of composition and playing. The style is new, and at once familiar and captivating. Fans will recognize longtime sideman Ron MacDonald’s complementary bass accompaniments on many of the songs. 

Asked if this album represents the culmination of his career, William responded, “Transit Of Mars marks a new beginning in my writing and recording. And while I am happy with my prior work, this is a new direction; the title is itself a metaphor of this. Everything I’ve done to date was in preparation for this and future releases.” 

AVAILABLE OCTOBER 2019 Digital download of Transit Of Mars on cdbaby and iTunes. 

AVAILABLE NOVEMBER 2019 CD recording of Transit Of Mars from williamellwoodmusic.com 

MEDIA CONTACT williamellwoodmusic@gmail.com

Press Photos

BIO

William Ellwood

Canadian composer and studio guitarist William Ellwood came into prominence recording a series of original albums on the Narada label. Extensive airplay coverage established a solid international following. Over this time he continually refined a recognizable method of fingerstyle guitar playing that incorporates a clear and memorable melody line. This echoes his influences, incorporating some of the formal structure of classical guitar, alongside the tonalities of early music, with the more informal delivery of traditional and popular music.

Since then, he continues to explore the possibilities of instrumental acoustic music. The newest release, Transit Of Mars is the first in a new series of planned studio recordings. The next release is planned for September 2020.

ARTIST Q & A

ARTIST Q & A

 

Q: Some time has passed since your last release; why the break?

 

A: Fair question. After my last release, I felt that a cycle of work had completed itself.

I made a conscious decision to wait until a clear direction came along...upon writing what became the title song for this project, that was the moment of realizing a new path. I believe that an artist should only release when the work is most aligned.

 

Q: Your style is said to be recognizable; can you define it?

 

A: To start with, there has to be a strong melody line, interlaced over a fingerstyle base, which simultaneously provides a rythmic and harmonic accompaniment. Beyond that, the more esoteric answer is that I believe every instrumentalist has a unique way of expressing on their instrument; there are countless variables that determine how the note is finally produced: pressure, vibrato, micro-timing, the list is endless.  Every performer expresses an intention, and each has a unique intention.

 

Q: Why are you an instrumentalist?

 

A: To me, music is its own voice. I have never wanted to tie music down to a personal storyline in the form of lyrics. Also, I'm generally poor at choosing words! When I was young, I had a speech impediment, a stammer. Yet, the moment I decided to pick up guitar and learn its instrumental secrets, that stammer immediately, and permanently dissappeared. Therefore, I suppose I'm as much a ventriloquist as a musician.

 

Q: How do you write?

 

A: In real time, on the instrument. I've truly never written a note without the instrument in my hand. Hard to self-analyze, but I'm really thinking in a voice leading mindset when I write; the melody forms itself in real time above chordal movement. I initially keep things organized in my head, but will eventually pen a leadsheet for the studio.

 

Q: What is the most difficult part of this work?

 

A: Naming the pieces! To me, they are intricate designs that belong to themselves. Therefore, it is difficult to lock them into a word association. It is definitely the last part of the process; for example, with the Transit Of Mars project, the song “Freedom In A Minor Key” literally held up production due to trouble naming it.

If I had my way, I would have for each of them such names as “Untilted C#minor thing that's hard to play,” etc. But that would be a radio nightmare.

 

Q: What does 'Transit Of Mars' mean?

 

A: Yes, it's an astrological reference, describing a planetary alignment that is said to bring creative energy and the will to bring it to action. It stands as a metaphor for this project!

Sample Track

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