Roots Music Report

Liner Notes:

About the Album

Something from Nothing, in part, grew out of Williams’ quest to find a particular banjo and in part because the pandemic gave him time to start thinking about writing a new album. One day he watched a video of Gregory Alan Isakov and saw Steve Varney (Kid Reverie) playing an Open Back Banjo. “That banjo sounded so amazing on one condenser mic, and I wanted to find one like it,” says Williams. After a long search, he landed on Steve Varney’s website. Williams noticed that Varney offered lessons, so he decided to sign up for one or two. “I was so taken with his work and his instrument that I’d pay to talk to him,” Williams chuckles. The two hit it off immediately, and it wasn’t long before they started writing a song together. Very soon, Varney and Williams were meeting once a week over Zoom for writing sessions and recording efforts. “This was the most serendipitous musical moment in my life,” says Williams. Kid Reverie recalls, “Chris always came to our lessons with a solid idea. I routinely found myself saying something like, ‘This is great, now let’s make it a song.’” Williams confirms about their collaboration that “This stretched me in ways that songwriting had not done before, and it was quite eye-opening. I needed to listen more than I talked.” 
     The two eventually co-wrote the 12 songs on Something from Nothing, co-produced the album, and Varney mastered it. They played all the instruments on the album—though Michael McKee joins them on drums on five songs Ayda Varney plays cat toy sounds on one song. “This process was very cathartic. It took a trying time for both of us and allowed us to open ourselves to a writing partnership that neither of us expected. I am grateful for this amazing musical experience and hope everyone enjoys these songs as much as we loved creating them!” Kid Reverie affirms that he’s “rarely had such deep collaboration with another songwriter. For so long it felt like we were just doing lessons. I think it took both of us quite a while to realize we were co-writing songs and making an album.” 

Special Thanks

Vocals, Background Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Keys, Strings, Drums/Percussion: Chris Williams

Vocals (Lead Vocals on “Warning Bell”, Background Vocals, Banjo, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Keys, Strings, Drums/Percussion, Bass: Steve Varney

Drums on, “Warning Bell, Glimmer, Pretenders, Half A Mile & Gambit: Michael McKee

Cat Toy Sound Effects on “Glimmer”: Ayda Varney

All songs written by Chris Williams (BMI) and Steve Varney (ASCAP)

Produced by Chris Williams and Steve Varney

Recorded by Chris Williams (Grayson Studio, Wilmington, NC) and Steve Varney (Boulder, CO)

Mixed by Chris Williams and Steve Varney

Mastered by Steve Varney

Photography by Glenn Ross, Libby Gamble, Daniele Lewis, Nadija Saidi, Jeremy Bezanger, Jessica Fadel, Johannes Plenio, Roan Furuta, Nils Rasmusson

Album Design by Chris Williams and Grayson Williams

With a pandemic keeping us all at home, I started diving into the idea of a third album. After watching an amazing video from Gregory Alan Isakov (Time Will Tell), I saw the Open Back Banjo, being played by Steve Varney, that I had been looking for. This beautiful piece of art sent me on a journey trying do figure out the manufacturer and model. After a long unfruitful search of many banjo manufactures, I almost gave up. Finally, I found a builder in Hood River, Oregon, named Beansprout owned by Aaron Keim. Steve Varney happened to be listed as an artist playing a couple of his banjo models. After speaking with Aaron, who is indeed a master at his craft, we figured out what I was looking for. He directed me to ask Steve if I had any questions about those particular models. And, that landed me at Steve Varney’s (Kid Reverie) music page!

This serendipitous encounter culminated in an amazing musical journey, that lead both Steve and me to partner on a 12-song album, “Something From Nothing.” This was a long gratifying process that took a year and a half to complete. With weekly Zoom writing sessions, independent recording efforts and Steve mastering the album, we had arrived at our finished product!

This process was very cathartic. It took a trying time for both of us and allowed us to open ourselves to a writing partnership that neither of us expected. I have to say, prior to us meeting, I held Steve up on major musical pedestal with his myriad of musical accomplishments. Little did I know, he would push that pedestal to higher levels as we worked through this project. I am grateful for this amazing musical experience and hope everyone enjoys these songs as much as we loved creating them!