Sam Williams

With a mournful voice that recalls the high and lonesome warble of his grandfather Hank Williams, country singer Sam Williams expands on his family legacy while blazing his own trail. Born around the turn of the millennium, Williams’ fate seemed laid out for him as the son of Hank Williams, Jr. and the grandson of the Hillbilly Shakespeare. In a sense, it was: Sam’s natural delivery and lyrical nuance show he knows his way around a country song. But his music is also influenced by the hip-hop, pop, and R&B that he was drawn to growing up. His 2019 singles, “Gemini” and the rousing “Weatherman,” are slices of heavy Americana; however, his debut record—2021’s Glasshouse Children—testifies to his stylistic elasticity. The shadowy “Wild Girl” finds him laying out his lyrics with staccato, rap-influenced rhythm; “Kids” channels adolescent angst over an ‘80s pop arrangement; and the lush twang of “10-4” builds sonic textures that do justice to Williams’ tale of young love.