Welcome to the Mythos of William Sanford
In a world where reality blurs into legend, I am both the storyteller and the story, a Dance/Electronic musician navigating the liminal spaces between genres, sensations, and identities. Born in the enigmatic month of December 1980, I live in the intersection of the synthetic and the organic, the simulation and the real. My music reflects this oscillation, inviting listeners to explore the spaces between the familiar and the fantastical.
Despite what Google might suggest about my existence—claiming I was born in 1764 and passed into legend in 1837—I embrace this playful fiction. The truth, after all, can be stranger than the narratives we construct. So, what is “real” in this era of digital myth-making? Perhaps I am merely a manifestation of our collective imagination, an evolving persona shaped by the influences that color my artistic journey.
Influences & Inspirations
My sonic palette is as eclectic as it is foundational. From the ethereal sounds of Boards of Canada and the experimental textures of Aphex Twin to the timeless melodies of Tori Amos and the vibrant energy of Prince, my influences span genres and eras. Here’s a glimpse into the sonic tapestry that inspires me:
Foundational Influences:
Boards of Canada | Ween | Prince | Yes | Tori Amos | Queen | Aphex Twin | Pink Floyd | Bill Evans | The Cure
Recent Inspirations:
Tame Impala | Neon Indian | Vaporwave | Comfy Synth | Oneohtrix Point Never | Mira Calix | The Flaming Lips | MF Doom | Tyler, the Creator | Tool | Opeth | Rustie | Electric Light Orchestra | The Beach Boys | Kate Bush | Kelly Moran | DJ Shadow | Björk | Genesis | Miles Davis | Tim Hecker | Tom Petty | My Bloody Valentine | Joanna Newsom | SOPHIE | Nala Sinephro | Nine Inch Nails | Cocteau Twins
R.I.P. To My Dear Friend Steve Müeske
My artistic vision is also deeply influenced by the visual arts—surrealism, abstract expressionism, and pop art all inform my aesthetic sensibilities.
Philosophical Underpinnings
I hold a “worthless” degree in Philosophy, which serves as a lens through which I examine existence, identity, and the narratives we construct. The existentialists—Sartre, Camus, Kierkegaard—challenge me to confront the absurd, while post-modern thinkers like Baudrillard, Derrida, and Foucault inspire me to question the nature of reality and representation. Currently, I find myself enchanted by the principles of metamodernism as articulated by Timotheus Vermeulen and Robin van den Akker, oscillating between sincerity and irony in my creative expression.
A Journey of Transformation
Recently, I embarked on a personal journey, shedding 140 lbs to better embody the AI representation of myself—a physical metamorphosis that parallels my artistic evolution. As a working-class male who pulls pallets for a living, I embrace the tension between the ordinary and the extraordinary, the sincere and the fictional.
As an Episcopalian Christian Ignostic, I navigate my spirituality with curiosity and openness, seeking understanding in the spaces where belief and doubt intertwine.
So, dear listener, welcome to my world—a place where the lines are blurred, the stories are rich, and the mythologies are ever-evolving. Until the next iteration of William reveals itself, I invite you to explore my music and join me on this surreal journey of discovery.
Let’s create something strange together.
