Will Kallinderis aka Harpin’ Will K joins Di Spillane this week to discuss his musical journey, a journey that has followed him from Ottawa, Edmonton Alberta, Vancouver, and since 2005 South Australia. Will Kallinderis aka 'Harpin’ Will K' is a singer-songwriter who performs a lively mix of original roots, funk, and blues. Emerging in 2016 with his debut solo album Last Of The Singing Peace Chiefs, a collection of acoustic guitar-driven songs, full-throttled harmonica soloing, and backup harmony vocals. More recently he has been revisiting early influences to create a repertoire of raw ‘n’ gritty stripped-back blues. Will’s been performing on the local Adelaide scene as a soloist and in various projects since 2007.
At 16, Will was inspired to pick up the harmonica after hearing the music of Sonny Boy Williamson, Little Walter, John Mayall, Paul Butterfield, and Bob Dylan. The following year he took up the guitar and was influenced by Hubert Sumlin (Howlin’ Wolf), John Lee Hooker, and Muddy Waters to name a few. Will’s soulful roots sound is a result of many years honing his skills as a regular busker on the streets of Edmonton, Alberta followed by performances in the local blues and folk scene. Over the years his musical influences expanded to include the sounds of R&B, folk, rock as well as Latin, funk, and world music.
Will moved to Adelaide in 2005 and in 2007 he formed a power trio called Star Step Evolution with Mike Palmer on bass and Benjamin Gallasch on drums. Featuring a funky, bluesy, reggae style with plenty of harmonica soloing. The members parted ways in late 2009. Will continued gigging around town as a solo performer honing and evolving his singer-songwriter roots originals as well as building a repertoire of blues.
In 2017 Will joined local slide guitarist Cal Williams Jr for several festival shows. He stepped in at late notice when Adelaide’s blues icon Chris Finnen had to pull out of the Fringe show ‘A History Of Early Blues’. The success of the show led to Will joining Cal Williams Jr and Kory Horwood on double bass for the next two seasons. Will also joined Cal and Kory in Cal’s project The Ukulele Blues Explosion featuring stripped-back possibilities with ukulele, bass, and harmonica. In 2018 Will formed The Young Sequoias with Matt Colyer on drums featuring upbeat guitar and amplified harmonica together with Matt’s catchy rhythms that introduced new interpretations of Will’s debut album along with a vast range of new songs drawing on roots, rock, jazz, soul, funk and electric delta blues. One of the highlights for the duo was the successful sold-out 2020 Fringe show, ‘Electric Delta – Blues Hits Big Town’ celebrating the Blues from raw and gritty Mississippi to the refined urban sounds of Chicago, featuring popular classics by such artists as Sonny Boy Williamson, Elmore James, Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Mississippi Fred McDowell and more.
The Young Sequoias have taken a break and may remain dormant indefinitely. In the meantime, Will is focusing on recording his next solo album and considering teaching harmonica.
Music: intro "Band It About", written and recorded by Catherine Lambert and Michael Bryant. Outro "Where Eagles Fly" by Will Kallinderis, from his debut album "Last Of The Singing Peace Chiefs"
Links: BAND IT ABOUT - Podcast Series links can be found here: https://linktr.ee/banditaboutpodcastseries
Will's Links: https://harpinwillk.com https://www.instagram.com/harpinwillk https://www.facebook.com/harpinwillk https://harpinwillk.bandcamp.com