Music Reviews & Press ...

IndiePulse Magazine Recognizes Sunflowers

March 15, 2023

Sunflowers won the Gold Award in the Freedom Category in the Mid-Atlantic Song Contest. 

IndiePulse Article

July 2022 - InsideNova Features Will Diehl

Springtime In My Heart Single Release Featured

"The song is a product of songwriters Andrew Rollins and Anders Wihk as well as Diehl. The trio hail from all over the globe, and graphic designer Niclas Haglund of Sweden helped to create the cover."  Click on the button below for the full article. 

Read the article
“Solitude, reflection…honesty was how American acoustic folk-singer and songwriter Will Diehl made his mark in this album… Known as a prolific writer, Diehl has also penned over a thousand songs that deal with love, relationships, environmental and social issues… influenced by styles and ideas prevalent in latter-day New York City…” – ”

— The Star (Malaysia)

Will Diehl – “Days of Summer” – Fiery tones and otherworldly shades are perfectly placed

Days of Summer Album Review

"What is remarkable about Will Diehl is not simply that he’s one of the finest, thoughtful underground singer-songwriters around, but the fact that over the course of his career, he has staying true to his essential folk-rock and Americana core while, incredibly, continuing to break new ground. Now on his latest album, “Days of Summer”, we get to hear the most celestial and melodious vocals he’s ever committed to record. The songs themselves blend elements of pop, folk and even jazz and psychedelic rock, to produce an otherworldly, yet intimate set.

As always the lyrics, focused and penetrating, deft, emblematic and carefully crafted, show Diehl to be a real observer in the truest sense. A writer whose eye for telling detail and innate sense of language, has once again produced verses that, stripped of the music, could easily find a life of their own on the printed page. But that’s only part of the story…

Will Diehl’s voice is made for story and verse, and these last few months of awkward and uncertain living conditions due to Covid-19, have certainly fueled Will’s fervent storytelling aptitude. “Sitting and staring out the window, like everything you miss exists outside. Stopping in your tracks, you still hear footsteps. Memories and myths and truths collide,” is how he opens the album with the song, “Spin”. The eloquent keys and guitars are joined by the affecting cello of Cremaine Booker to produce a moving piece.

This is followed by the lead single, and title track, “Days of Summer”, which features Lydia Salnikova of backing vocals and B. Oss on drums, in an oscillating organic arrangement. “Inside dreaming of the days of summer. May those days return to your life soon,” sings Diehl. His airy voice floating on an astral plane.

On the contrary, “Wash Your Hands”, rides on steady rhythm and a gritty down to earth vocal. “Wash your hands, or we’re all gonna die. Wash your hands, don’t stick them in your eye,” sings Will, completing the survival instructions on the spacey “Soft Yellow Light”:  “Step this way, there’s a line on the floor. Keep your space, stand in line. Only one at a time.”

This is an exceptional album by Will Diehl, and very different than anything that he has done before. “Clouds” is soulfully embellished by the saxophones and flutes of Ofer Peled, while Lydia Salnikova’s backing vocals again supply superb support for Will’s heartfelt lead melody. This slow-burner, is one of the best tracks of the bunch.

“There are no masks within this room, nothing to see. Don’t tread on me. We’ll drink another Kool Aid to destiny. Yeah hey you’re only human,” leads in the poignant “Only Human” which features Annie Leeth on violin. Every line casts an indelible image, as the haunting vocals and the sweeping orchestration completes the atmospheric arrangement.

The album closes with another standout track – the intense “Say Their Name” – with Will Diehl again handling guitars, keyboards and lead vocals, which he does across the entire album.

“It’s time to go, but we can’t leave. There’s so much noise that I can’t hear you now. There’s so much sorrow, we can’t grieve…” The guitars are abrasive and fierce, while Will’s voice soars with emotion and energy. Fiery tones and otherworldly shades are perfectly placed to create this masterpiece.

While each song stands on its own, it’s in listening to the album, “Days of Summer”, in its entirety that you will discover the true beauty and real craftsmanship of Will Diehl. A brilliant work. Will’s voice is in fine shape and the instrumentation is beautiful. This is a captivating album, with an extremely relatable narrative and sounds authentically refreshing in this age of easily disposable music." - Rick Jamm

Listen Now
“Every now and then a particular artist strikes just the right chord in my soul. Well, I’ve just added Will Diehl to my list. I had not heard of this guy until recently. So after listening to his album a couple of times, I can tell you that each of these songs on “LOVE AND MOTION 1.0” strikes deep. There are some that strike deeper, maybe because they have some meaning to me or maybe it’s just because you can just feel what Diehl is singing. The album title has a “1.0” added because these are ‘supposedly’ first drafts, that have a ‘live’ sound mix. Diehl says that he was planning a more refined remix of the songs further on down the line.  I said ‘supposedly’, because I like them just the way they are, and think any remixing may compromise their candid authenticity. But that’s just my own personal, selfish opinion.  Will Diehl While he has uses his every-man soulful voice to provide an extra layer of honesty to his introspective alt-folk and country flavors, here Will Diehl also leans more directly to those jazz, rock and pop aspects of his approach. On his latest album, Diehl is in his sweet spot, one that will prompt the more interesting “Who does he sound like?” discussions.The truth is, he doesn’t sound quite like any other one artist, other than Will Diehl – although if you wrapped a couple of other singer-songwriters together you might come close. If under torture I was forced to choose just one voice that embodies a bit of Will Diehl’s persona, I’d have to go with Chris Rea – for timbre, tone and nonchalant offhandedness in his deliveries.Throughout “LOVE AND MOTION 1.0”, Diehl doubles down on his distinctive style, delivering a full sound without abandoning the elegant simplicity that sets him apart from everyone else. The best musicians know when not to play, and none of the added touches of violin, mandolin and saxophone violate that rule.The opener, “Beginning of Time”, is resplendent with violin inflections, and some brass lines reminiscent of something from the late, great Memphis Horns. Diehl’s acoustic playing sets him apart from the greats, even as he follows the silky trail they blazed.That comes through beautifully on a striking ballad called “Lost My Heart To You”, which he builds around a surprisingly elegant bass and saxophone riff, and on the tender and melodic “Safely Back”.  All of these songs showcase Will Diehl’s ability to explore complex arranging territory without abandoning the essential simplicity of acoustic goodness. They elevate an album that broadens the range of a singer-songwriter who will never be mistaken for anyone else. And how could he?How many artists do you know can go from the feel-good honkytonk of “Love Will Come Again” to the impassioned electric blues of “Motion (version 2)”, one track down, on the same album! Well to be honest, I can think of Eric Clapton, maybe Ry Cooder, and the late great J.J. Cale. But hey, that’s just a handful…of legends!Will Diehl stays true to his core warm acoustic alt-folk sound throughout the album, but keeps it interesting by including the influence of a variety of genres and styles. There is something to delight the ears of all roots music lovers. Overall Diehl’s soulful voice and emotive melodies make for a great easy listening session. “LOVE AND MOTION 1.0” will warmly embrace your spirit.”

— Jamsphere

“"...Diehl also happens to be an accomplished musician who is coming out with some new, all-original music, adding to a catalog of dozens if not hundreds of original songs...."... More on the original news web site...”

— Centre Daily Times

““Will Diehl has a nice sound… It is obvious from the start… that this guy knows his instrument well. The quality of his music is great, and would keep me listening even if it were just instrumental. Top that off with some good vocals… honest… in a way that inflects true soul within them, and that makes ‘True Love’ a keeper… This is the kind of song to listen to when you need a break from the world.”” - Gods of Music
“Will's recording of Love and Motion 2.0 at Frigo Recording Studios.”

— Mix Magazine

“Love and Motion 1.0 is an eleven track album within the Singer-Songwriter folk genre from Will Diehl. It remains pretty clear through the entirety of this record that Will Diehl pays homage to the artists that have come before him, respecting such artists like Bob Dylan & Nick Drake. While this is a record that is all his own and by no means a tribute album; the inspiration from such artists are present, with the sound being mature and traditional. The lyrical themes are riding on a simplistic avenue but is sure to take you through adventurous realms within his creative mind.Through the music, you can feel that his gift has always been, perhaps even at that young age and like most creative minds, his genius lies at the forefront with his struggles. This is perhaps Diehl's most genuine release and is showcasing a bolder side of that creative mind. Not just as a musician, but perhaps as a poet as well." - Beyond The Record”

— Beyond The Record