Willi Carlisle
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Willi Carlisle | |
|---|---|
 Carlisle performing in March 2023 at 7th Street Entry in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota | |
| Background information | |
| Born | May 29, 1989 |
| Origin | Kansas, United States |
| Genres | |
| Instruments | |
| Years active | 2016–present |
| Labels | |
| Website | willicarlisle |
Willi Carlisle (born May 29, 1989) is an American folk singer-songwriter from Kansas and based in Arkansas.[1][2] His music pulls from traditional American folk music,[2] punk music,[3] and country music. Many of his songs contain themes of drug abuse, queer life, and rural American life.[4]
Carlisle grew up in a musical family, with his father being a polka musician.[2] Thus he was introduced to American folk, bluegrass, and country music.[5] He participated in school musicals and was a member of his school's choir.[6] Carlisle attended the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas earning a MFA degree in poetry with the hope of learning to write better folk music.[1][7] While in college he realized a disconnect existed between contemporary poetry and regular people spurring him to write music connecting people.[4]