With a new original song set to be released next month and several live shows in the works, local singer and songwriter Will Dempsey is planning for a big 2021.
The Ama native and resident – he recently built a house on the same street he grew up on – became an instant Internet sensation in 2019 after his wife Tiffany posted a video on Facebook that showcased Will and their son Weston playing guitar and singing together.
The video went viral and launched Will’s pastime of singing into something more.
“The Internet is a crazy thing nowadays,” Dempsey said. “Two years ago I didn’t have any followers. It’s pretty cool that other people appreciate what you’re doing.”
Dempsey began posting videos of himself singing after the Facebook video’s success.
“I did not expect that at all,” he said of the video’s mass following. “We posted it because Weston’s reaction was hilarious, but after it blew up I was like, ‘Well I guess if anything’s ever going to happen about a singing career this is it.’ It was pretty cool just seeing how your life can change in a day.”
In November of 2019 Dempsey performed his first ever live show, and ever since he has poured any time he has outside of his full-time employment and family into his passion for music.
He said Tiffany has been a constant source of encouragement.
“She’s been really supportive,” he said. “All of this takes a lot of time and effort.”
The focus has paid off. Dempsey auditioned for American Idol in 2009, but since then he has been contacted by producers from The Voice and America’s Got Talent.
And while the offers of appearing on a television show seem enticing, Dempsey said the time he’d have to take off of work and be away from his family doesn’t make sense for right now. Instead, he is focused on an upcoming local show in April, as well as next month’s release of his original song “Mississippi Mud.”
“This is a song that a lot of people have been waiting for me to record and release,” he said. “I wrote and played it live a bunch of times and people really like it.”
Listeners can pre-save the song on Spotify by visiting http://mm.willdempseymusic.com
Dempsey drew inspiration for the song, which is about following your dreams and staying true to yourself, during a 2019 trip to Nashville. It marks his second original release and is followed by “Best Parts of Me”, a song Dempsey wrote about his now 8-year-old daughter Isabella.
“I’ve had about a dozen people tell me that they were going to use my song about my daughter, ‘Best Parts of Me’ as their father daughter dance in their wedding,” he said. “I can’t think of a bigger compliment than that right there.”
The two songs are not the first ones he penned, however.
“I used to write songs when I was in my early 20’s and late teens, but I don’t want anyone to ever hear those songs again,” Dempsey said laughing.
And as for the people who have encouraged him, purchased his music and attended his live shows, Dempsey said his gratitude runs deep.
“I certainly appreciate every single one of them,” he said. “Writing music is something you really have to put your heart and soul in to, and when other people connect with and want to hear your songs, it makes all the hard work worth it. When I first started doing this, I never imagined I would get this type of response to my music. I have no idea what the future holds, but I’m definitely enjoying the ride.”
For more information on local shows and song releases, visit Dempsey’s Facebook page.
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