DJ Williams
A little song of love for my hometown Richmond, VA featuring Alan Evans (Soulive) on drums, Darby Wolf on Bass keys, organ, & Synth, & yours truly on guitar.
updated 5 years ago
Featured Musicians:
DJ Williams – Guitar & Lead Vocals
Jiho Han – Bass
Joey Porter – Organ
Deven Jenkins – Drums
Dominick Williams – Keys
Turn up the volume, let the rhythm take over, and relive the magic of this incredible night. If you love live funk, rock, and soul, don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more live performances! 🎸✨🔥
From the get-go, Williams sets the tone for a record that doesn't play it safe.
DENVER, CO — Guitarist, songwriter, and vocalist DJ Williams is set to release Gravity & Grace, his fifth solo album, on June 3, 2025. A fierce, unfiltered rock record rooted in personal truth, social tension, and creative liberation, Gravity & Grace marks a defining moment in the artist’s evolution—one where his gritty authenticity meets layered musical finesse.
Entirely written, arranged, and performed by the guitar virtuoso, Williams — except for Track 5 (“Super Star”)—Gravity & Grace channels decades of eclectic influence and raw experience into eight explosive tracks. “This is the rock record I’ve always wanted to release,” Williams says. “It’s raw, honest, and loud in all the right places. My heart truly resonates with this style of music.”
Pre-save the album now: distrokid.com/hyperfollow/djwilliams/gravity--grace
Pre-order the album here: elasticstage.com/djwmusic/releases/gravity-grace-album
The eight-track album opens with the unapologetically bold “You Best Believe,” a guitar-driven anthem of artistic conviction that launches the listener into a cinematic soundscape, brimming with riff-rock intensity. From the get-go, Williams sets the tone for a record that doesn't play it safe.
“It gave me the space to be fully myself as a songwriter, guitarist, and vocalist,” he says. “It’s everything I’ve ever wanted to channel in a record.”
Among the standout tracks is “It’s Fine… Everything’s Fine,” a more laid-back yet thematically potent tune exploring our collective tech obsession and emotional detachment. Its irony-laced lyrics dig into the modern condition with subtlety and groove.
As with each of his solo projects, Williams includes a single cover song. This time, it’s ZZ Top’s classic “Just Got Paid,” a nod to one of his favorite riffs in rock guitar history. “It’s such a raw, iconic track, and it felt right to give it my own spin,” Williams says.
Lyrically, Gravity & Grace pulls no punches, reflecting the fractured yet resilient state of the country. “Injured Bad” takes aim at systemic injustice and the wounds left by institutional failures, while “Mr. Marvelous” offers a biting critique of performative ego and blind ambition.
The album’s title speaks to the broader human experience—where contradiction and coexistence often define our reality. “It’s the duality we live in,” Williams explains. “We’re all balancing the weight of gravity with the hope of grace.”
Despite its unflinching themes, the album is also a celebration of growth and freedom—especially for Williams, who says he’s finally writing from a place of honesty after years of deflecting deeper truths.
“I mainly just want to write about what I’m really feeling and seeing in life — something I’ve always avoided in the past.”
Williams’ relationship with music runs deep, stretching back to childhood. “I’ve loved music since I hit my first note on the piano at four years old,” he recalls. “We had a room in our house just for music, reading, and art.” It was in that room — surrounded by vinyl from Curtis Mayfield, Stevie Wonder, The Beatles, and Chaka Khan—that his love for soul, funk, and rock was born.
Later, his older sister introduced him to acts like Fishbone, Led Zeppelin, Bad Brains, and George Clinton, laying the groundwork for his rock and funk sensibilities. His adolescence brought further expansion with artists such as Nirvana, Tribe Called Quest, Digable Planets, Radiohead, TOOL, and Dr. Dre. In adulthood, jazz legends like John Scofield, Miles Davis, and Thelonious Monk have continued to inspire his musical palette.
“If it evokes emotion in me, I love it,” he says.
Guitarist and vocalist DJ Williams got his professional start with Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe — a group affectionately dubbed “Tiny University” by its members for the sheer amount of musical growth and real-world experience it provided. During his time with the band, Williams shared stages with some of his personal heroes, including John Legend, Dave Matthews and George Clinton. His fiery guitar work draws comparisons to iconic players like Jimi Hendrix, Prince and Lenny Kravitz.
Now the frontman of his own project, the DJ Williams Band, he leads an expansive ensemble with more than 50 rotating members. Though he spent several years immersed in the Los Angeles music scene, Williams has called Denver home since 2018.
“Colorado just hits differently,” he says. “There’s a rhythm to the way folks support one another — it’s like everyone’s part of the same song, just playing different parts.”
Williams will hit the road in support of Gravity & Grace beginning this month, with an album release party at Cervantes in Denver, CO on June 20. Tour stops include key cities across the East Coast and Colorado, with additional dates to be announced.
The wait is over! My brand-new single “Come Here For Love” is officially here, along with this fun home video! This release is special to me, but here’s a little reminder: not everything we create has to be some big, grand masterpiece. Sometimes, we just need to let go, be silly, and have fun. 🎉 Making this was a balance of heart and play, and I hope it inspires you to find joy in the process, too! 🌹❤️
✨ Listen now on your favorite streaming platform.
📲 HOW YOU CAN HELP ME:
1️⃣ Stream the song—every play makes a difference.
2️⃣ Share the video with someone who needs to hear this message.
3️⃣ Drop a comment below and tell me what you think.
I’m so proud to release this through my own label, Projekt Music Group, and can’t wait to hear what you think. Let’s get this anthem out to the world.
Big thanks to Dominick Williams 🎹, Will Gaines 🎸, Will Trask 🥁, & our host Sean Lamborne
©️ written by DJ Williams
Full concert: youtube.com/watch?v=ROy9oaN-GbM&t=2347s
DJ Williams 🎤 🎸
Eric Luba 🎹
Jiho Han 🎸
Will Trask 🥁
Lead Audio Engineer: Klaus Larson
Video Engineering: Alec Kenefick & Mark Montour-Larson
Hosted by: Abi Clark
KUVO Program Director: Shane German
Booking: Domi Edson
DJ Williams: guitar, vocals, Michaelangelo Carubba: drums, Andrew Randazzo: bass, Brian Mahne: keys, Samantha Reed: lead vocal. Tonya Jackson: vocal
Animation by: Alex Hoff
“As a long-time Nirvana fan, DJ Williams' cover of "Heart Shaped Box" is a haunting reimagining that feels both familiar and unsettling. He strips the song down, amplifying its raw emotion while twisting it into something darker and more atmospheric. The eerie, slowed-down instrumentation echoes Cobain’s anguish, but with a spacey, almost dreamlike quality that gives the song an entirely different weight. While it lacks the grunge fury of the original, it taps into the same sense of tortured beauty, making it feel like a ghostly reflection of a track that defined a generation.”
#morningsession #ericclapton #signe #acoustic #djwmusic #denver #newmusic #guitarist #producer
Uncle DJ
The first single, “Mr. Nobody,” has already landed, complete with a video created in collaboration with Boondocks animator, Fyhan Hossain. The album was entirely self-produced and performed, and it marks an exciting new beginning for Williams, who is launching a nationwide tour this spring and summer 2024.
Previous endeavors saw Williams tour with eclectic Richmond funk outfit DJ Williams Projekt; lead of the west coast rock & soul band Shots Fired; and handle guitar for San Diego's legendary tour-de-force, Karl Denson's Tiny Universe. Since launching onto the scene, Williams has also had the honor of performing with some of live music's greatest names including John Legend, Dave Matthews Band, Warren Haynes, Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings, John Oates, Hannibal Buress, Robert Randolph, Soulive, Slighty Stoopid, & many others.
The first single, “Mr. Nobody,” has already landed, complete with a video created in collaboration with Boondocks animator, Fyhan Hossain. The album was entirely self-produced and performed, and it marks an exciting new beginning for Williams, who is launching a nationwide tour this spring and summer 2024.
#djwmusic #newrelease #denver #rva #soulmusic #rock #guitar #ProjektRecords #burninash #ByWayOfRVA
www.djwilliamsmusic.com
The first single, “Mr. Nobody,” has already landed, complete with a video created in collaboration with Boondocks animator, Fyhan Hossain. The album was entirely self-produced and performed, and it marks an exciting new beginning for Williams, who is launching a nationwide tour this spring and summer 2024.
Previous endeavors saw Williams tour with eclectic Richmond funk outfit DJ Williams Projekt; lead of the west coast rock & soul band Shots Fired; and handle guitar for San Diego's legendary tour-de-force, Karl Denson's Tiny Universe. Since launching onto the scene, Williams has also had the honor of performing with some of live music's greatest names including John Legend, Dave Matthews Band, Warren Haynes, Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings, John Oates, Hannibal Buress, Robert Randolph, Soulive, Slighty Stoopid, & many others.
Here's the video to the first single "Mr. Nobody" designed by Williams with the help of animator Fyhan Hossain.
DJ Williams: guitar, vocals, drums, bass, keys, artwork, mixing, engineering
Mastered by: Doug Krebs
Animation: Fyhan Hossain
Arrangement by: DJ Williams
Guitar & Vocals: DJ Williams
Vocals: Kanika Moore (Doom Flamingo)
Drums: Adam Deitch (Lettuce)
Bass: Josh Fairman (Sunsquabi)
Keys: Ian Gilley (Recess)
Trumpet: Eric “Benny”Bloom (Lettuce)
Sax: Nate Miller
Video Guests
Andy Frasco
Shawn Eckels
Maddy O’Neal
Dominic Lalli
Jeremy Salken
Locations:
My home
Diebolt Brewery
Yacht Club
Denver Kush Club
Cervantes
Rosenbergs
Five Points
X Denver
- "Soldier of Love" is available now on all platforms. Enjoy this pro shot footage Live in the Making of "Johnny's Got a Gun" at Scanhope Sound
#fyp #viral #studio #soldieroflove
“D.J. Williams is an acclaimed guitarist, singer-songwriter, and producer whose illustrious career has seen him traverse the globe, igniting stages ranging from intimate clubs to renowned festivals with his fiery performances. Described by Premier Guitar as “… a monster… an inventive, effective, and ear-catching soloist, armed with a warm tone and superior chops,” Williams is ready to unleash his next creative achievement: new album Soldier of Love on Perception Records.
The project sees Williams collaborate with some of music's most respected performers - including Adam Deitch, Roosevelt Collier, Isaac Teel, Alan Evans, Josh Fairman, Ian Gilley and Kanika Moore - under the guidance of producer Jake “Jay.Greens” Leventhal. The intrepid album is highlighted by the distortion-driven rock of “Black Man”, the gripping, ethereal balladry of “Soldier of Love” and the danceable funk track “Whipper Snapper.” These singles mark a bold evolution in Williams' sound, cementing his position as a dynamic bandleader.
Previous endeavors saw Williams tour with eclectic Richmond funk outfit DJ Williams Projekt; lead of the west coast rock & soul band Shots Fired; and handle guitar for San Diego's legendary tour-de-force, Karl Denson's Tiny Universe. Since launching onto the scene in 2003, Williams has also had the honor of performing with some of live music's greatest names including John Legend, Dave Matthews Band, Warren Haynes, Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings, John Oates, Hannibal Buress, and Robert Randolph.
Following an album release show in Denver’s Fort Greene, Williams plans to take his soulful melodies on the road. Armed with both an inexhaustible skill set and an unfettered passion for music-making, Williams is set to blaze a trail for his listeners - one note at a time.
Soldier of Love arrives June 29, 2023.”
The project sees Williams collaborate with some of music's most respected performers - including Adam Deitch, Roosevelt Collier, Isaac Teel, Alan Evans, Josh Fairman, Ian Gilley and Kanika Moore - under the guidance of producer Jake “Jay.Greens” Leventhal. The intrepid album is highlighted by the distortion-driven rock of “Black Man”, the gripping, ethereal balladry of “Soldier of Love” and the danceable funk track “Whipper Snapper.” These singles mark a bold evolution in Williams' sound, cementing his position as a dynamic bandleader.
Previous endeavors saw Williams tour with eclectic Richmond funk outfit DJ Williams Projekt; lead of the west coast rock & soul band Shots Fired; and handle guitar for San Diego's legendary tour-de-force, Karl Denson's Tiny Universe. Since launching onto the scene in 2003, Williams has also had the honor of performing with some of live music's greatest names including John Legend, Dave Matthews Band, Warren Haynes, Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings, John Oates, Hannibal Buress, and Robert Randolph.
Soldier of Love drops June 29, 2023
The project sees Williams collaborate with some of music's most respected performers - including Adam Deitch, Roosevelt Collier, Isaac Teel, Alan Evans, Josh Fairman, Ian Gilley and Kanika Moore - under the guidance of veteran producer Jake “Jay.Greens” Leventhal. The intrepid album is highlighted by the distortion-driven rock of “Black Man”, the gripping, ethereal balladry of “Soldier of Love” and the danceable funk track “Whipper Snapper.” These singles mark a bold evolution in Williams' sound, cementing his position as a dynamic bandleader.
Previous endeavors saw Williams tour with eclectic Richmond funk outfit DJ Williams Projekt; lead of the west coast rock & soul band Shots Fired; and handle guitar for San Diego's legendary tour-de-force, Karl Denson's Tiny Universe. Since launching onto the scene in 2003, Williams has also had the honor of performing with some of live music's greatest names including John Legend, Dave Matthews Band, Warren Haynes, Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings, John Oates, Hannibal Buress, and Robert Randolph.
Video Animation by Fyhan Hossain
The project sees Williams collaborate with some of music's most respected performers - including Adam Deitch, Roosevelt Collier, Isaac Teel, Alan Evans, Josh Fairman, Ian Gilley and Kanika Moore - under the guidance of veteran producer Jake “Jay.Greens” Leventhal. The intrepid album is highlighted by the distortion-driven rock of “Black Man”, the gripping, ethereal balladry of “Soldier of Love” and the danceable funk track “Whipper Snapper.” These singles mark a bold evolution in Williams' sound, cementing his position as a dynamic bandleader.”
Soldier of Love drops June 29, 2023
Written & Composed: DJ Willaims
Bass,Guitar, Dobro: DJW
Lyrics, Vocals, Mellotron, organ, Drums: Dusty Ray Simmons
Vocals: Brittany O’Neill
MC: Marcus Tenney
Mixed: Dusty Ray Simmons
Mastered: Doug Krebs
Animation: Ian Miller
Video Edit: Eric Imbrosciano
www.djwilliamsmusic.com
Projekt Music 2021
Andrew Randazzo: bass
DJ Williams: guitar
Written by DJ Williams: guitar
Alan Evans: drums
Darby Wolf: organ


