Wil Wagner Explained

Wil Wagner
Landscape:	yes
Birth Name:	William Wagner
Birth Date:	21 May 1990
Birth Place:	Melbourne, Australia
Years Active:	2008–present
Label:	Poison City Records
Associated Acts:	The Smith Street Band

William Wagner^[1] (born May 21, 1990 is an Australian singer, songwriter, guitar and keyboard player from Melbourne. He is the lead singer of The Smith Street Band.

Career

In April 2008, Wagner released Us Boys Run, credited to Wil Wagner & Friends.^[2]

In 2010, Wagner self-released the EP What Started Off With Trespassing.

In March 2013, Wagner released Laika.^[3]

In July 2015, Wagner released I Hope I Don't Come Across Intense on cassette only. In April 2020, the album was released on other formats, which saw it debut at number 49 on the ARIA Charts; thus becoming Wagner's first solo charting album.

In February 2019, Wagner issued a public statement amid allegations of emotional abuse and support acts pulling out of Wagner's band (The Smith Street Band) national tour. Wagner issued a statement on his band's official Instagram account after emails dating back to 2013 were published on social media. Wagner said "I'm not hiding from anything, I said some incredibly hurtful things that I completely regret. I ask that you make up your own minds based on what has actually been said rather than form an opinion based on someone else's version." The band's statement went on to thank people for their support.^[4]

In September 2020, Wagner released Spiralling, a 7 track mini-album recorded at his bands off grid, solar powered studio, just before stage three restrictions were placed on regional Victoria. Spiralling was produced by Wil Wagner and recorded and mixed by The Smith Street Band's drummer Matt Bodiam and mastered by Joe Carra at Crystal Mastering.^[5]

In October 2021, Wagner released Live from a Beach House in the Rain, a live set recorded by Wagner in the spare room of a beach house. The album debuted at number 14 on the ARIA charts.^[6]

Discography

Studio albums

Title! scope="col" rowspan="2" tyle="width:12em;"

Details	Peak chart positions
AUS ^[7]
Us Boys Run	Released: April 2008 Label: Corsican (COR001) Format: CD	—
Laika	Released: June 2013 Label: Poison City (PCR063) Format: CD, digital download, streaming, vinyl	—
I Hope I Don't Come Across Intense	Released: July 2015 Label: Business Casual (BC-006) Format: Cassette	49
Spiralling	Released: 4 September 2020 Label: Pool House (PHR030CD) Format: CD, LP digital download, streaming	9

Live albums

Title! scope="col" rowspan="2"

Details	Peak chart positions
AUS
Live from a Beach House in the Rain	Released: 14 October 2021 Label: Self-released Format: Digital download, streaming	14

Extended plays

List of extended plays, with selected details! Title! Details

What Started Off With Trespassing	Released: 2010 Label: Will Wagner (WW:001) Formats: CD
Demo (2011)	Released: 2013 Label: Doom Cat Records (DRC011) Formats: Digital download

Notes and References

1. Web site: American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers . March 28, 2024 . Shine . ASCAP Repertory.
2. Web site: Us Boys Run DD. Apple Music. April 2008. 11 May 2020.
3. Web site: Laika DD . Apple Music. March 2013. 11 May 2020.
4. Web site: Smith Street Band's Wil Wagner responds to claims of emotional abuse . Sydney Morning Herald. February 2019 . 11 May 2020.
5. Web site: WIL WAGNER Spiralling . JBHiFi. 12 September 2020.
6. Web site: Music Of The Spheres hands Coldplay seventh ARIA #1 album. ARIA Charts. 22 October 2021. 23 October 2021.
7. Web site: Discography Wil Wagner. australian-charts.com. 25 October 2021.