Fresh from last month’s single Plans, Ōtautahi songwriter/producer Goodwill (Will McGillivray) today releases his latest single Obamas, and officially announces his debut full-length album, KIND HANDS.
Stark in its honesty and told by Will’s low baritone, Obamas is his most arresting song yet. Leaning on nothing other than pure lyricism and melody, the power of restraint is at full potential as Will delivers the crushing chorus “I’m so happy I could die”. True to the Goodwill back catalog, the crescendo eventually sees the collision of elements both organic and other-worldly.
Will shares his thoughts on the song: “I’ve shown this song to friends and had some people find it really sad and others find it more on the hopeful side of town, I like that there’s some ambiguity to that line ‘I’m so happy I could die’ - I won’t say which way I feel, but I can say that when I first wrote and sung that chorus it was probably the most elation I’ve felt from writing a song.”
KIND HANDS, due October 4th via Winegum Records, is Goodwill’s debut full-length album, featuring all previous singles Obamas, Plans, Goner and title track Kind Hands. Vinylheads, keep your eyes peeled for an announcement soon!
Goodwill is the solo project of award-nominated producer and songwriter Will McGillivray. Leaning into a love of dissonant guitars, droning analog synths, grainy lo-fi and longing melody, Goodwill’s music is thoughtful and honest. He has worked with esteemed Aotearoa artists such as There’s a Tuesday and Mousey, meanwhile using Goodwill as the vehicle for his own creative output
Following the release of debut EP ‘Incontrol’ featuring singles ‘Get Angry’, ‘Getting Better’ and ‘Clinging Onto You’ Goodwill’s sound earned him an instant nomination for ‘Best New Artist’ at the Rolling Stone NZ Awards, multiple Top 3 chart placements on the Hot NZ Singles chart, countless top spots on over 17 significant international Spotify editorial playlists, over 700,000 streams, extensive radio play in New Zealand and Australia, and an article in the August AU + NZ Rolling Stone Issue.
Inspired by artists like Alex G and Bon Iver, Goodwill’s upcoming debut record (due October 2024) is an indie/alternative full-length LP with songs from the last 2 years of writing since the completion of Goodwill’s self-produced 2022 EP ‘Incontrol’. Touching on themes of gratitude, luck and commitment, Goodwill shakes off the angst and dissonance from ‘Incontrol’ to bring the light at the end of the tunnel to the forefront of the writing.