Willi Carlisle (born May 29, 1989) is an American folk singer-songwriter from Kansas and based in Arkansas. His music pulls from traditional American folk music, punk music, and country music. Many of his songs contain themes of drug abuse, queer life, and rural American life.
Early life Carlisle grew up in a musical family, with his father being a polka musician. Thus he was introduced to American folk, bluegrass, and country music. He participated in school musicals and was a member of his school's choir. 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. While in college he realized a disconnect existed between contemporary poetry and regular people spurring him to write music connecting people.
Discography Albums +List of albumsTitleRelease dateLabelTo Tell You the TruthMay 11, 2018Self-releasedPeculiar, MissouriJuly 12, 2022Free Dirt RecordsCritterlandJanuary 25, 2024Signature Sounds RecordingsThe Magnolia SessionsDecember 6, 2024Anti-CorpWinged VictoryJune 27, 2025Signature SoundsThe Universal BubbaNovember 6, 2026
Singles and EPs +List of singles and EPsTitleRelease dateLabelAppears onToo Nice to Mean MuchOctober 10, 2016Self-releasedBoy Howdy, Hot Dog! (GemsOnVHS Field Recording)March 11, 2022GemsOnVHSTulsa's Last MagicianMarch 29, 2022Free Dirt RecordsPeculiar, MissouriLife on the FenceMay 16, 2022VanlifeJune 14, 2022All of the Redheaded StrangerMarch 6, 2023Self-releasedThe Grand Design (GemsOnVHS Field Recording)April 29, 2023GemsOnVHSAngels (Western AF Version)June 19, 2023Western AFWilli Carlisle Western AF Field Recordings (Western AF Version)August 31, 2023CritterlandOctober 16, 2023Signature Sounds RecordingsCritterlandWhen the Pills Wear OffNovember 13, 2023Higher LonesomeJanuary 11, 2024Dry County DustJanuary 22, 2024Penny Evans (Live)August 13, 2024 Tales From Critterland (Live)Tales from Critterland (Live)August 16, 2024
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