"White Noise" is a song by American musician Will Wood. It was released through the Say-10 label on July 8, 2022, as the sixth and final single for his fourth studio album "In case I make it," (2022), where it appears as the last song. The track features a ballad composition centered around ukulele, strings and a choir. Lyrically, it explores modern aesthetics, using bland imagery to convey emptiness. The song's music video includes visuals of Wood pantomiming and various people celebrating nothing.
| "White Noise" | ||||
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| Single by Will Wood | ||||
| from the album "In case I make it," | ||||
| Released | July 8, 2022 | |||
| Studio |
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| Length | 4:37 | |||
| Label | Say-10 | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Will Wood | |||
| Producer(s) |
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| Will Wood singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "White Noise" on YouTube | ||||
Background
editDuring writing, Will Wood reminisced about a college experience revolving around feeling empty during an acid trip,[1] taking place in his plain-textured dormitory room near Atlantic City, New Jersey.[2] He then began creating "White Noise" on ukulele, preferring it to the dramaticism of piano and grandiloquence of acoustic guitar.[1] Wood later communicated with a Bulgarian choir via Zoom to create the song's backing vocals.[a] On June 20, 2022, the track was teased as a single and music video for release on July 8,[3] saying about the song that "the beauty of the world is in the silence beneath it".[4] It appeared as the final track of "In case I make it," (2022),[5] following the orchestral themes of the penultimate track "Willard!"[6]
Composition
edit"White Noise" is a ballad,[7] beginning with solo tenor ukulele composed in 4
4 time signature.[1][8] Once Wood enters, he softly sings portamento. The song builds in intensity throughout and climaxes during the second verse and chorus,[1] introducing string instruments and a choir with the grandiosity of arena rock.[8] During production, Wood had the concept of utilizing a key change during this section but scrapped it for its possibility of being over the top.[5] After this, the composition suddenly drops and slows, ending the song with a softened tone backed by ukulele.[9]
Lyrics
editThe primary lyrical content of "White Noise" was described by Joe Hoeffner of Two Story Melody to be "Wood lamenting the deadening blandness of modern aesthetics before gleefully defying them".[2] It additionally includes references to components of music, such as Dorian mode and audio file formats.[8] Imagery of fluorescent lamps are used to mimic Wood's feeling of a "hollow, cold, vibe", while "eggshell" is used as a double entendre; both the off-white paint color seen in dormitory rooms and a reference to the phrase of walking on eggshells. A sense of meaninglessness is continued throughout the first verse, with some lyrics inspired by the intentional lack of affection derived from elevator music. In the second verse of "White Noise", Wood satirically promotes the qualities of white noise, calling it "post-avant-garde",[10] and later using a Bulgarian choir to erroneously claim its ability to cure cancer.[5]
Music video
editThe music video for "White Noise" was released on July 8, 2022, with co-direction by Will Wood and Jacob Feldman. The video begins with white noise, followed by Wood walking into the middle of an open space with a ukulele.[11] He then lip syncs without his mouth, pantomiming to follow along with the song. Footage of Wood playing instruments with their musical components removed accompanies this, later introducing various Indiegogo contributors as partygoers who gift each other empty containers and celebrate nothing.[2] Halfway through, Wood appears with a shaved head, beginning to sing while a mute un-shaved version of himself plays backing instruments. This precedes more footage of celebrating nothing, including a person receiving an oversized cheque worth $0 USD.[11] The idea of Wood lip syncing without speaking was a previous idea planned for a performance video, which was recycled for "White Noise" as he and Feldman struggled to find other ideas.[2]
Personnel
editMusicians
edit- Will Wood – lead vocals, piano, ukulele, production, strings arranger
- Mike Bottiglieri – guitar
- Mario Conte – drums
- Zornitsa Getova – piano
- Yoed Nir – strings
- Vater Boris – double bass
- Kevin Antreassian – mixing, mastering
- Simon Ficken – recording engineer
- Jonathon Maisto – recording engineer
Choir
edit- Arrangement
- Will Wood – composer, arranger
- Four For Music Ltd. – arranger, recording, contracting
- Angelia Vihrova – sound engineer
- Vladislav Boyadjiev – sound engineer
- Plamen Penchev – sound engineer
- George Strezov – recording producer, team
- Georgi Elenkov PhD – conductor, team
- Boris Radilov – team
- Ognyan Georgiev – team
- Miroslava Ananieva – team
- Tsvetan Topalov – team
- Velislava Georgieva – team
- Delyan Kolev – team
- Deyan Velikov – team
- Vocalists
- Gayla Simeonova
- Emiliya Kirtcheva
- Denitsa Georgieva
- Nikolina Pankova
- Maya Stoyanova
- Srebrina Mineva
- Atanaska Popova
- Flora Tarpomanova
- Eva Perchemlieva-takanova
- Nadya Pavlova
- Vesela Todorova
- Bilyana Mihaylova
- Rositsa Kazakova
- Dimana Todorova
- Maria Venkova
- Yana Vasileva
- Evgeniy Dimitrov
- Atanas Yonkov
- Orlin Kamenov
- Mihail Mihaylov
- Dimitar Zashev
- Kalin Dushkov
- Tsvetomir Hristov
- Nikolay Milev
- Emil Dakov
- Peter Petrov
- Dimitier Stoyanov
- George Beykov
- Nikola Petrov
- Dimiter Koprinkov
Notes
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d e Torrison, Suzanne (July 7, 2022). "Will Wood Commands Our Attention With His New Single "White Noise"". Behind the Curtains Media. Archived from the original on July 27, 2024. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
- ^ a b c d Hoeffner, Joe (July 14, 2022). "Will Wood on "White Noise," Decisions on Singles, and Empty Celebrations". Two Story Melody. Archived from the original on August 27, 2024. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
- ^ a b Finch, Gabe (June 20, 2022). "Will Wood release a new music video for the single 'White Noise'". Illustrate Magazine. Archived from the original on September 18, 2024. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
- ^ Nelson, Joshua (July 22, 2022). "Interview: Will Wood On His Newest Album, "In Case I Make It,"". Bleeding Cool. Archived from the original on September 20, 2024. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
- ^ a b c d Mendes, Nicole (July 21, 2022). "A Chat with Will Wood (20.07.22)". The Other Side Reviews. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
- ^ Smith, Graeme (July 29, 2022). "Album Review: Will Wood – "In case I make it,"". York Calling. Archived from the original on December 18, 2022. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
- ^ a b Rogers, Kieran (July 8, 2022). "Will Wood – White Noise". Clout. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
- ^ a b c d Mathias, Rubin (July 12, 2022). "Will Wood – White Noise | Symphonic Cacophony". Sinusoidal Music. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
- ^ Hsu, Caitlin (August 10, 2022). "Album Review: Will Wood's "in case I make it," will make you cry, dance, and maybe finally go to therapy". SwitchBitch Noise. Archived from the original on May 14, 2023. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
- ^ Wood, Will (July 8, 2022). "Will Wood – White Noise Lyrics". Genius. Archived from the original on September 18, 2024. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
- ^ a b Nelson, Joshua (July 19, 2022). "Will Wood's "White Noise" Resonates Harmonious – A Review". Bleeding Cool. Archived from the original on September 25, 2024. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
- ^ "In case I make it," (Media notes). Will Wood. Say-10. 2022.
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