Remembering the power of the present moment.

Willi Carlisle’s Winged Victory is the perfect blend of the traditional folk sound and personal reflection. The record arrives with a sharp sense of purpose and intimacy. Over the span of 11 tracks, Willi Carlisle cultivates a record that feels both grounded in the past and yet extremely present.

The lead single of the record, “Work is Work,” highlights the overall sound of the record, mixing bits of grit with lyrical clarity. Carlisle’s songwriting is both tender and unflinching on this track. The track “Beeswing” and the title track embrace and capture vulnerability and personal longing and examine emotional fatigue. His lyrics capture the experiences of everyday life with empathy, turning simple phrases into something timeless and personable.

Musically, Winged Victory leans into a more minimalist folk sound. The acoustic guitar, harmonica and folk rhythms support and enhance the stories without ever overshadowing them. In an interview with Rainbow Rodeo, Willi Carlisle has described the record as “Poised on the edge of the apocalypse, or at least at the beginning of a great transformation in America,” and that tension is felt throughout. Rather than collapse and despair, the album holds fast to humanity and celebrates small joys, fleeting moments and shared struggles.

In the end, Winged Victory is a gentle and calming reminder that there is power in introspection and listening. Willi Carlisle doesn’t need grand gestures or loud over-the-top arrangements to make his point and tell his story; instead, he leans into factors like honesty, humility and unadorned truth. These can carry more weight than noise ever could. The album invites us to slow down with its writer, but more importantly, to sit with the discomfort and beauty that comes with life. It highlights the importance of paying attention to each other, to the past and to the present moment.