William Fitzsimmons Shares Soulful Rendition of Taylor Swift’s “the 1” + Headlining US/Canada Fall Tour Dates!

Today, Illinois-based producer and renowned troubadour William Fitzsimmons unveils another look into his forthcoming album, Covers, Vol. 1, with a warm rendition of Taylor Swift’s “the 1.” He cleverly leans into the breezy energy of the original while infusing his subtle sense of soul.

“I loved Taylor’s last two albums: ‘folklore’ and ‘evermore,'” explains William. “I respect the hell out of her, but I give a ton of credit to Aaron Dessner from The National. It’s a cool wedding of the energy and vitality she brings and the interesting arrangements he comes up with. I love what they did.“

Listen to “The 1” on all digital retailers HERE: https://williamfitzsimmons.ffm.to/the1

You can piece together the life of William Fitzsimmons with the songs he chose to record for his forthcoming album, Covers, Vol. 1. For the Illinois-based singer, songwriter, and producer, some tunes recollect joyful moments at home as a kid, and others recall his high school days. A handful of tracks address heartbreak head-on without apology, while a few reflect his inclination to embrace youthful wonder and creativity. No matter what, his voice carries these words straight from the heart.

“I just wanted to do songs that meant a lot to me for varying reasons,” he says. “I share some of the songs with other people. Some of the songs remind me of my childhood. Some of the songs are low-key messages to individuals from my past—and they’re not necessarily positive. Some of the songs are just pure joy. Ultimately, they are all songs I love and respect from artists I think are incredible.”

Music means a lot to everyone, but it means everything to William…

“Once the Global Pandemic hit, I found myself at home with time and a basement studio. I needed something to work on, so I just started doing covers,” he shares. “I didn’t even make a list; it was just a way to keep from going crazy. It was self-therapy so that I wouldn’t lose my mind. However, it ended up one of my favorite periods of being a musician.“

He initially teased out Vol. 1 with his take on Joy Division’s “Love Will Tear Us Apart.” He strips down this classic to delicate acoustic guitars, the hum of airy keys, and gentle vocals, tapping into its stark emotional core. Elsewhere, he pays homage to “life-changing” artists such as Sufjan Stevens (“Futile Devices“) and R.E.M. (“Sweetness Follows“) and shows reverence to Gen-Z songsmiths a la Chelsea Cutler (“Please“) and Phoebe Bridgers (“Smoke Signals“). Meanwhile, his take on Elton John’s “Your Song” forever holds a special place in his heart as it effectively turns the page on the next chapter of his life.

“On Valentine’s Day a couple of years ago, I recorded it for my now-wife,” he reveals. “She’s not a big flowers person, so I cut the cover and sent it to her instead. It became our song. She even walked down the aisle to it.“

For the first time in a long time, William Fitzsimmons will embark on a headlining tour through the US & Canada this coming September and October with special guest Stuart Smith. The tour kicks off at City Winery on September 8th in Chicago, IL. Tickets for all shows are on sale now. Find out more information and details at https://williamfitzsimmons.com/tour/.   

William Fitzsimmons Fall 2022 US/Canada Tour Dates:

Thurs, September 8.                 Chicago, IL @ City Winery

Fri, September 9                       Milwaukee, WI @ The Black Room

Sat, September 10                    Minneapolis, MN @ Icehouse

Sun, September 11                   Davenport, IA @ The Racoon Motel

Tue, September 13                   Denver, CO @ The Soiled Dove

Wed, September 14                  Fort Collins, CO @ The Aggie Theater

Thurs, September 15                Salt Lake City, UT @ The State Room

Sun, September 17                   Seattle,  WA @ Ballard Homestead

Mon, September 18                   Vancouver, BC @ Biltmore Cabaret

Tues, September 19                  Portland, OR @ The Old Church

Wed, September 21                  Berkeley, CA @ Freight & Salvage

Thurs, September 22                Felton, CA @ Felton Music Hall

Fri, September 23                     Venice, CA @ The Venice West

Sat, September 24                    Pioneertown, CA @ Pappy & Harriet’s

Sun, September 25                   San Diego, CA @ Casbah

Wed, September 28                  Austin, TX @ Parish

Thurs, September 29                Fort Worth, TX @ Tulips FTW

Fri, September 30                     Houston, TX @ White Oak Music Hall

Sat, October 1                           New Orleans, LA @ Gasa Gasa

Mon, October 3                         Decatur, GA @ Eddie’s Attic

Wed, October 5                         Vienna, VA @ Jammin Java

Thurs, October 6                       Philadelphia, PA @ World Café Live

Fri, October 7                            New York, NY @ Rockwood Stage 2

Sat, October 8                          Northampton, MA @ The Parlor Room

Sun, October 9                          Boston, MA @ City Winery

Tues, October 11                      Toronto, ON @ The Drake Hotel

Wed, October 12                       Ann Arbor, MI @ The Ark

Thurs, October 13                     Columbus, OH @ Woodlands Tavern

Fri, October 14                          Indianapolis, IN @ HI-FI

Sat, October 15                         St. Louis, MO @ Off-Broadway