This song seduced me from the very first listen, when William sent it to me on November 11th. That day is a holiday in my country, so normally we don't work. The song arrived in my database around 8 pm, and as usual, I received a small alert on my phone to notify me. Without being able to listen to the song with all my studio equipment, and especially with a proper headset, I just read the lyrics and William's introduction. And it was like a click in my head. I knew I was going to have to introduce this song to you and that I was going to approve it, even though I hadn't listened to it yet! Yes, it's an incredible story, because I didn't listen to the song until the next day. But no more incredible than William's story, after all. Indeed, he confided in us that he had moved from Tennessee to New York in 2021 to become a filmmaker. Unfortunately, he was very seriously affected by Covid and this nasty virus reached his lungs and vocal cords. The only way to recover, according to doctors: sing at least half an hour a day to recover his vocal cords. Quite a challenge for someone who didn't sing. [...]

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More information and the full article can be found in our magazine on Patreon.

The song has been added to "Niko's Music Mixtape", our monthly virtual CD on Spotify.

William Austin's take on "Oaks"

Oaks is the last song on my first EP, Landlocked. Three years ago, I moved to New York City from Tennessee to become a filmmaker. My first week here I got Covid which turned into Pneumonia. I got really sick and eventually lost my ability to talk. After weeks, my body finally made a turn and I began recovering. To help regain strength in my chest and vocal cords, my doctor recommended I work my way up to singing for half an hour daily. Singing turned into songwriting and I spent more and more time singing and writing music in secret until I wrote a few songs that felt so true to me that I had to put them out to the world. My favorite of those songs is what became my first EP, Landlocked. This project is a collection of what was on my mind when I first gained the outlet of songwriting. A lot of looking back on who I was before New York, before I got sick, before music. I always knew Oaks was the perfect final song for the EP because it is close to that chapter. The song walks through the journey of leaving my home and coming to New York. I am so grateful for this song and excited to be able to let it be my final feeling about letting go of that part of my life.

A bit more about William Austin

William Austin, is a Brooklyn-based folk/pop artist, from Chattanooga, Tennessee. In 2021, William moved from Nashville to NYC and contracted Covid-19 week one. COVID-19 developed into Pneumonia, and William got really sick, fluid filling his lungs until he was no longer able to speak. After weeks, his body took a turn and William finally began to recover. To help rebuild his lungs and vocal cords, his doctor recommended he works towards singing for half an hour a day. William followed the orders strictly and sang in his room every day for months. Singing turned into songwriting, and songwriting turned into an obsession. Drawing inspiration from the modern Brooklyn indie, William combines modern influences with the southern folk sound of his childhood. William strives to build a community around his music, encouraging listeners to find their own stories in music.

Reach out to William Austin

More songs from William Austin on Spotify

Lyrics

I can’t backout the driveway, the road is far too

Zigzagged cause my dad wanted the oaks right

Where they were, that was his father’s yard

Said I’ll be back in a blink, she said don’t walk 

Away without a wave, cause you never know just

Quite how long a moment is until it’s gone

And when all your hopes have come to light

And all your goals are far behind

Stand where you are and you’ll be just fine

So go and watch the new grow old

Find the you you told yourself you’d be 

And when you’re done come back to me

Back to the oaks 

So I packed my bags for Brooklyn, an empty journal and new jeans

Thirteen hours of McDonald’s and a Fleetwood Mac CD

Then there I was right where I wanted to be

Spent my money on a closet, I spent my time in Central Park 

Got my bosses cups of coffee, met a girl who broke my heart

Then there I was, wondering where it all went wrong

So go and watch the new grow old

Find the you you told yourself you’d be 

And when you’re done come back to me

Back to the oaks 

So I grabbed my worn out journal, jeans ripping at the seams 

And I hopped on the next red eye, I spent my paycheck on the seat

Then there I was, back where I used to be

She said did you go, did you watch the new grow old

Did you find the you you told yourself you’d be 

And now that you’re done, and back to me

Back to the oaks

I’ve waited, oh I’ve waited so long

For you baby, for you to come back home

And I hate it, oh I hate when you’re gone

My baby, oh my baby is gone