Beal possesses a booming soulful voice and an idiosyncratic worldview, perhaps shaped by a back-story that borders on mythology. He has been discharged from the Marines, been homeless and been on The X Factor USA. Lonely while living in Albuquerque, Beal left flyers around the city, hoping to meet a girl. Eventually he began to leave CD-Rs along with the flyers, and Found magazine, which uncovers the stories behind lost or discarded items, ran a cover story on him. From here he came to the attention of noted photographer and filmmaker Jamie-James Medina, who made Beal the first signing to his XL Recordings imprint, Hot Charity.
In 2012, Beal has astounded audiences at his first live shows, the promise of his early, lo-fi recordings fulfilled. Filmmaker Mark Romanek has voiced admiration for Beal’s first music video (for Evening’s Kiss, illustrated and directed by Beal), Bruce Springsteen has asked him to tour with him, and Mos Def has asked to film his life story. From outsider to insider: Beal’s story has only just begun.y Jamie-James Medina
Watch Willis Earl Beal perform live in Berlin for Arte.tv, and see his new video, Monotony, below.
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