Chris Williams’ and Kid Reverie’s (Steve Varney’s) ethereal new album Something from Nothing unfolds cinematically, their lyrical lens panning slowly across the musical universe and inviting us to peer with them into the vast expanse of human emotion. Their shimmering vocals, lush arrangements, and swirling instrumentation create an atmospheric sound that resembles the Beatles’ “Across the Universe” or George Harrison’s “All Things Must Pass.” The songs envelop us with warmth and comfort while at the same time peering into the corners of our souls, uncovering our loneliness, our desires, our bereavement, our capacity for loving beyond ourselves. Something from Nothing—the title perfectly captures the emergence of beauty from the dark void, the sun breaking through the fog—takes us on a journey, climbing through the sonic stratosphere with exhilarating elegance and revelatory wisdom.
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 mike, 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 sing 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.”
Today Glide is offering an exclusive early listen of Something from Nothing. This stirring collection of songs finds these two talented artists exercising their musical chemistry in a way that feels organic and magical. The result is a collection of sweeping collection of layered folk-rock that pulls you into its warm embrace with rich textures, enchanting lyricism and simple, timeless lyricism. Fans of artists like Gregory Alan Isakov and early Lord Huron will find plenty to love in this transportive batch of songs. It feels collaborative less in a professional way and more in the way of brotherhood and friendship.
Chris Williams describes the inspiration and meaning behind the album:
“This album means so much to me. It is the result of an improbable meeting of two people searching for something during a difficult time for the world. I am grateful for connecting with Steve, growing as a songwriter with his vast experience in music, our hours of conversation and the work we put into these 12 songs. It’s been an invaluable evolving experience that just keeps getting better with every step!”
Steve Varney adds his own perspective:
“I’m so glad this project came to be. For me, these songs will always represent a time when a pandemic made us all feel lost. I leaned heavily on the kindness of others, began teaching again, and was lucky enough to meet Chris through a webcam across the country. It has shifted my view of where songs can come from, and I’m proud of what we made together.”
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