William Fitzsimmons a unique artist with huge future a head of him, with the release of his incredible self penned new album The Sparrow and the Crow it's not hard to see a rising male vocal artist with huge potential in the music industry. William is currently on tour in Europe, he has just completed the UK leg of his tour. For those of who have been lucky enough to catch him live you will be familiar with his on stage presence to those of you who are yet to catch him live you can listen to his music at his official web site and buy his no1 folk album from itunes. www.williamfitzsimmons.com.

Your latest album ‘The Sparrow And The Crow’, what can we expect from it?

I greatly dislike the level of cliche this next statement will engender, but it's really best understood by simply spending some time with it and taking it in. Specifically it chronicles what I went through when I was divorced a couple years back and the process I went through climbing out of that hole. Honestly it can be a difficult album to listen to if you've been through relevant pain, but more than anything it's meant to be a hopeful story about two people that didn't make it but still seek forgiveness and some measure of healing.

How long have you spent recording this album?

I stepped away from any sort of writing, or music as a whole, in the time following my separation. It got pretty damn dark and music was the last thing on my mind. I was homeless, didn't have any money, and was crashing on friends couches trying to figure out what I was going to do. I came back to writing in the same way I did the first time; as a way to process and understand all the stupid things I'd done and maybe figure out a way to fix it, or at least change. Writing the songs and recording the record probably took a year all said and done.

You write all your own material – where do you find your inspiration?

Up till this point everything I've done has come exclusively from internal and historical things I've been working through. Mostly it's been family issues from years back and more recent things between my ex-wife and myself. I'm not the type of writer who needs to go out and seek it, at least not yet. I've been busy enough just clearing my own shit out of my head.

Do you think it’s harder now to gain chart recognition?

In the few years that I've been fortunate enough to be in this field, I've certainly learned that it's irresponsible to not at the very least be aware of the importance of making sure you're reaching people in the wisest way possible. But honestly I've been very lucky in that I've never had to worry too much about charts and spins and all that. I'm not saying I don't want more people to hear the music, because I believe in the work I'm doing very strongly. But the moment my goal becomes to sell a certain amount of records, or reach some arbitrary point on the charts, I'm not being sincere to the reasons I choose to pursue music in the first place.

How important is chart success to you?

If I'm reaching people with these songs, helping them understand their pains and struggles a little better, offering in some small way a bit of therapy through the songs, then I'm doing exactly what I'm supposed to do. When those things are in place, whatever level of success I'm meant to have will happen. But without those things, other forms of 'success' are fleeting and ultimately will disappear.

You’re currently on tour – how is the tour going? How long have you been touring for?

We're about a couple weeks into a 2 month European and UK tour, and it's been going wonderfully. I've already seen several countries I've never even stepped foot in and can't believe how many people are coming out. I'm also playing with a full band for most of the shows, all of which are great friends of mine, and it's difficult to think of much better than traveling with good friends, and getting to play music for incredible people. I really can't even remember how much touring I've done in the past year, but the fact that I don't exactly remember what my house looks like makes me think it's been quite a while!

What can we expect from your live shows?

I take the live performance of my music very seriously and the most vital component for me is that I'm communicating exactly what the songs are meant to and connecting with everyone who is there as best I can. But that's not to say that we don't have a great time with the shows. I'm not one of those artists who stares at his shoes for the whole show crying into a mic. To me the shows are about letting people experience a range of emotions. I am lucky enough to be told often after shows how pleasant it was to be able to cry and laugh in the same evening and get some emotions out they might have not previously been able to. That's what I'm after and what I work very hard towards.

Do you prefer smaller intimate gigs or the bigger venues?

It's a great question and the truth is that I enjoy things about both situations. To me the strongest argument for the more intimate shows is being able to better connect with individuals; something that has become more difficult as the shows have gotten bigger. But there's also a very salient energy that takes place when there's a great number of people gathered in one place sharing the same experience. If I had my druthers, there'd always be a mix of the two.

Do you have favorite songs which you prefer performing live?

There's definitely some songs I prefer performing live more than others, but it really just depends on what songs I'm connecting to at a given time and, moreover, what songs the audience is most connected to. The creative part of me tends to get much more fulfillment out of the newer songs. Lately the 'Song of the Sparrow' and the "Song of the Crow" have been hitting me hard, those two being the sort of summation songs of the new record and the last few years of my life. But it always does change after a time.

Which of your songs do you feel gain the biggest response from the audience?

From the newer songs it's probably been the ones which are most commonly played: "If You Would Come Back Home," and "You Still Hurt Me”. But "Everything Has Changed" from the last record still seems to be the favorite at shows. I don't think I've been able to leave stage without playing that one yet.

When will you be releasing your next single?

Honestly I'm not really sure. I've been writing new work for a little while now, but being on the road so much over the last year has made it difficult to make too much progress in that area just yet. I'm not the type of artist who can write amidst the busyness of touring. I need the stillness and peace of being home and around the people and things which are most familiar. Also even though the trend in the field is moving away from making and releasing full and proper albums, I have to admit I haven't given up on that idea for now. Of course I see reasonable purpose in making and releasing individual songs, but for me as a fan of music, nothing can ever replace the excitement and satisfaction which comes from being able to take in a complete piece of work, especially knowing the amount and degree of work in which was put into it.

What are your plans after your tour ends and for the rest of the year?

Well as I return home only right in time for the holidays, the remainder of the year will be spent resting and getting back into the routine of working and being at home. It strangely actually takes quite a little while to reacquaint yourself to not touring. You wake up and feel like you should be loading into a bus, or getting on a plane, or tuning a guitar or something. But I feel extremely fortunate to be able to enjoy traveling so much and having time to write and record at home as well.

Will you be returning to the UK next year to tour again?

I'm attempting to give myself the privilege of not thinking too much on the new year. Of course I have general goals, but I've found that it's healthier for me to not have too many expectations or the like. Those tend to limit the directions you're willing to go and I endeavor very strongly not to do that. That being said, I'm rather certain we'll find our way over to the UK and elsewhere in the world in the coming year. Touring is too great an experience to ever leave it go for too long.

And finally, any messages for your fans?

I have found that the wonderful folks who connect with my music tend to be the most kind, thoughtful, and generous people I've ever met. My message to them has always been, and will continue to be, utmost gratitude for allowing me to make the songs and do the work I do.