BIO

Wila Frank isn’t afraid to dive headfirst into the abyss of raw truths, vulnerable love, and ethereal contemplation. Or rather, she admits she is afraid and does it anyway. On her forthcoming EP, ‘Agua Verde’ the young songwriter elicits poetry from the swirling depths of love and loss, enhanced by her striking approach as a producer and multi-instrumentalist. This comes just a year after the release of her mesmerizing debut album ‘Black Cloud’ deemed “Introspective and cinematic” by NPR Music All Songs Considered. While her debut struck at the jagged edges of alt-rock, ‘Agua Verde’ exhibits a more delicate side of Frank’s nature through rippling acoustic guitars and lush strings illuminating the stark softness of her voice. 

Recorded in a single afternoon at Blackbird Studio in her homebase of Nashville, what was originally meant to be a handful of demos turned into a shimmering emotional work in which Frank lures listeners into internal reflections on uncertainty, love, and mortality. “I had extra time at the studio and had just written some of these songs, so they were in a very newborn and fragile state in my head,” says Frank. At times, the EP feels like looking through old photographs, peering into someone else’s past and experiencing unexpected nostalgia. Frank has the stunning ability to string together words that give listeners the feeling that they are hearing their own story, processing their own lives.

Frank was raised on a farm in a rural bohemian community in Oregon, where she formed an early passion for classical and folk music. She learned violin at only four years old, followed by piano, mandolin, cello, and guitar. She began writing songs at the age of 12 after losing her father in a tragic accident and her grief became an essential motif throughout her writing. At 18, Frank moved to Nashville to record and tour with indie-folk duo Paper Wings and Grammy-Winning Civil Wars alum, Joy Williams among other artists and projects. While folk music and mastering the violin were essential to forming the foundation of Frank’s artistry, her own songwriting led her to a wide range of feelings and moods making her an excitingly multifaceted artist.

“Agua Verde” will be available on all DSPs July 19th, 2024.