It's been 3 and a half years since we discovered the French duo Willo. Hailing from the mountains that separate France and Spain, the Pyrenees, Cécile and Olivier enchant the world with their elaborate folk melodies and warm vocal harmonies. Listening to a Willo song is always pretty much the same experience: close your eyes, and feel like you're wrapped in cotton. A wave of sweetness and warmth immediately washes over you.

And you can feel this warm energy in their latest single "Closer," released on November 29th. The duo has accustomed us to strong emotions and shivers by painting a picture right before our eyes, just with their lyrics. This time, it's a journey into the sometimes ambiguous feelings we can experience after a breakup.

We try to move on hard... Because we know that the slightest scent, the smallest song, in short, the slightest memory that can remind us of the lost person can make us crack and go back to them, even if we know it won't work anymore.

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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.

Willo's take on "CLOSER"

This song has been around for almost ten years now. The lyrics changed pretty much every two years. A first, never-released version of "Closer" hides itself on a hard drive somewhere in Willo's studio. The song was nothing more than another break-up song in its first draft. Then the writing started to focus more on that moment when things started to get better after a while. Everything seems to be moving forward, strong and whole again, but a little spark is enough to throw you back in. There is an obvious comparison between love and addiction throughout the song. A good example of how songs grow with you.

A bit more about Willo

Willo is a singing-songwriting duo based in the French Pyrenees, delivering a fresh and soulful kind of folk music. Formed in 2016 and composed of Cécile (vocals, guitar) and Olivier (composition, guitar, vocals), they prioritise an acoustic sound, interweaving shimmering vocal harmonies with expressive yet delicate guitar tones. Rich of their worldly travels, the duo explores influences from overseas to imbue modern soul with more traditional elements.

After releasing an early EP entitled “SEVEN” in 2018, with a largely acoustic set-up, they were naturally inclined to incorporate their music into a wider setting with additional musicians. This lead them to record their brand new album “Eternal Jetlag” in 2021 with a backing band, which provided a natural backdrop to their signature acoustic sound which still remained at the fore.

Having received support from Rolling Stone Magazine, AlexRainbird, Indie Folk Central, Radio France, and Spotify (NMF Christian, Calming Christian, and other editorial playlists) among others. Olivier and Cécile now pursue their rise with a new single from an upcoming 4 songs EP.

Reach out to Willo

More songs from Willo on Spotify

Lyrics

I made my day

Thinking more than black and white

Forgiving myself

For holding on to you a little bit longer

Took me a while to burn almost every pictures

To clear the fields ahead and ask for a tomorrow

Tomorrow is not that far now

Waiting for a new sun

But you’re right behind my door standing in the shadow

Oh I never thought that I would try to...

Try to give it up

Oh to give it up to the cold

I'm giving up on you

I try I sober up from you

It's time to figure it out what’s next

Living in the past won't help

It's not you and I, you and I anymore

Don't come closer

I'd be damned tempted by starting this all over

I wouldn't be able to see you

I wouldn't be able to see you as a stranger

I had it coming

Wasting hours waiting for you

It's hard to walk straight in the dark with poison in your chest

I think that I’m sober now

I don't fake no smile

But you’re right behind my door standing in the shadow

Oh I never thought that I would try to...

Try to give it up

Oh give it up to the cold

I'm giving up on you

Sober up, sober up from you

It's time to figure it out what’s next

Living in the past won't help

It's not you and I, you and I anymore

Don't come closer

I'd be damned tempted by starting this all over

I wouldn't be able to see you

I wouldn't be able to see you

I wouldn't be able to see you as a stranger