adminProfile Story: From D.C. to the Classic City: How One Musician has Taken Athens by Storm.
(photo / Jackson Riddle)
The heart of Athens is rooted in the rich history of music, evident everywhere you turn. Athens, also known as the Classic City, has launched iconic careers, such as The B52’s, R.E.M. and Widespread Panic, with no lack of up-and-coming talent today.
William Tapley, a Virginia native, arrived in Athens two years ago. William, Wim for short, describes his music as folk-pop, and at first glance, you wouldn’t expect the singer/songwriter to boast an impressive musical discography.
His arms are covered in patchwork style tattoos, adding pops of color to his easy-going personality. His blonde hair creates an almost disheveled look, and paired with his simple yet effective thrifted style, you have a modern folk-pop star.
Taking early inspiration from artists he heard around his childhood house, like Amy Winehouse, Wim began to build his instrumental repertoire. “Everything you hear in my recordings, I play,” Wim says. His records include horns, guitars and drums.
It wasn’t until Wim was ready to start college that the Classic City came calling. “It’s pretty easy to see the magic that’s in Athens,” Wim said, and after his first year at the University of Georgia, he knew that doing the “DIY approach was certainly better” than three hours of guitar assignments. After following his gut, Wim dropped out and began pursuing music full time, a decision that has proven positive.
His room has now transformed into a full studio, with a slew of equipment and sticky notes plastered all over his desk. One reads, “Today I will do what others cannot, so I can accomplish the things they cannot,” which describes Wim’s attitude perfectly.
It wasn’t long after Wim dove completely into music that he discovered a community unlike any other: a community of musicians who want each other to succeed. To put it into words, Athens has given Wim “stupid amounts of gratitude,” and he says “it’s impossible to not be affected” by the strong music community.
For Wim, the fans make it worth it. His current desktop screen-saver is a photo of him performing to a large crowd at the 40 Watt Club in Athens, and the smile on his face explains it all: “looking at the friends in there, I’m like what can I make for these people.”
As a young musician, the pressure of providing for fans and constantly creating better music can be overwhelming at times. Wim’s creating process calls for accountability as well as give and take, but with producing his own music, a lot of times Wim finds himself isolated. “Ultimately, I have to just trust that even if I don’t have people in the room with me, I’m carrying the people I love into that room with me.”
The strong love Wim has for his fans is what keeps him grounded in such a tough and competitive industry. One fan, Allen Albezargan, says that the “authenticity of the music” is what keeps him coming back after discovering Wim earlier this year.
It’s fans like Albezargan who have inspired Wim’s next step as an artist. Not only is Wim a successful recording artist, he’s now putting on the producer hat and giving back to the community that has given him so much: producing other local artists’ music. Wim says it happened organically, and recently he had an artist ask him to be his sole producer. “I’m like freaking out,” Wim said, “I get to shape this guy’s sound.” For Wim, “that’s the gratifying stuff,” he gets to learn other parts of the industry and gets to help people achieve their dreams at the same time.
Wim Tapley is most importantly a lover of music, but he’s also an artist who is dedicated to growth, dedicated to giving back and dedicated to the fans. He is what makes the Classic City a premier destination for music.
(Photo / Jackson Riddle)
(Photo / Jackson Riddle)
Why I Wrote the Story
I love music and I love Athens. Wim Tapley is the definition of what is great about the music scene in Athens. I think his drive is admirable, as well as his incredible relationship to his craft and the fans. People in Athens need to know who Wim Tapley is, and this story is the perfect introduction to an incredibly talented artist.