Singer/songwriter/musician Will Conner was born in north Florida and from the age of one grew up in Northern New South Wales, Australia. Will’s mother, Marion, taught him his first guitar chords. His father, Bill Conner, and stepfather, Jim Stephens, were also big musical influences. Will’s first band, Tillmans Ridge, was named after his local landfill site in St.Augustine, Florida and formed when he was on the road, travelling on the cheap, selling hats produced by his dad, Bill. Tillman's Ridge first reached Australian audiences through Jack McCoys surf films, Sons of Fun and Sabotaj.
Will’s first big musical break occurred in 2006 when is first solo album landed in the hands of A&R at major Japanese record label, Pony Canyon Inc They liked it so much Will was signed to their label Surf Rock Int who released his debut album Southern Hemisphere in early 2006.
A worldwide agreement (excluding Japan) was reached with Australian-based Mushroom Music Publishing later that same year and Southern Hemisphere was released independently in 2007 through MGM Distribution.
Will’s laidback, folk story telling style was embraced by the Japanese audience and he has now toured the country three times. His first single Home was licensed for a major car release TV campaign across Korea.
In addition to his own shows between Australia, Japan and the U.S., over the last three years Will has played both the East and West Coast Blues & Roots festivals 2007 and 2008, has shared the stage with the likes of U.S. act JJ Grey and Mofro, Jack Johnson (HAW), Donovan Frankenreiter (U.S.A) and support to Tristan Prettyman (U.S.A) on her tour of Japan.
Will’s second album is Ticket out of Here (2008) lead by the poetically quirky song Heads, along with supporting music video. The album also features Lucky, the song Jack Johnson chose to perform with Will at each show on Jack's Sleep Through the Static tour they did together through Australia in 2008.
Ticket our of Here was released in June 2008 via digital distribution by Universal Music Australia.
Sailing, Love and Food, Will’s third album will be released early April (view here: willconner.com).
Of the album, named following a life-changing experience sailing for one month with migrating whales, Will says: “It’s funny how life can smack you down one minute and then send you on the ride of your life the next. That’s exactly what happened for me. It was by no means easy and it wasn’t with out lessons and hurdles along the way. What I did eventually learn after 36 days in meditative, silent motion was the true meaning of “letting everything go”. Seeing all those creatures out there – whales, dolphins, sharks … you feel like you’re literally plugged into the Universe!
To this day, Will divides his time between recording and performing his music and running his hat company in Florida. He calls Byron Bay and St Augustine, Florida ‘home’.
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