FROM BUILDING SITE TO SPOTLIGHT: WILL PARKER DROPS THIRD SINGLE FOR DEBUT EP

SINGLE REVIEW | WILL PARKER – BE BACK TOMORROW by Jasmin Savage

Will Parker, a 21-year-old singer-songwriter from Scunthorpe, has just released third single, ‘Be Back Tomorrow’, as part of his newly announced debut EP; Same Old Paradise (out August 14th); along with headline shows set for September.

Before rising to fame, Will worked as a bricklayer for his dad at a construction site. Whilst on the job, he uploaded a song cover to TikTok captioned “POV: your apprentice can sing” which quickly went viral. He only continued to grow from there; posting more acoustic covers until he was eventually signed to Capitol Records UK, kickstarting his music career.

Upon first listen, I was immediately drawn to Will Parker’s voice. There’s a maturity to it that really caught me by surprise – with a slight American essence, reminding me of Bruce Springsteen, but with more rasp. His vocal range and deep song-writing are extremely impressive for his age, so it’s no surprise that he has been recognised for his talent with frequent radio plays, as well as supporting Seb Lowe and Andrew Cushin on their recent tours.

The new single in question, ‘Be Back Tomorrow’, is a heartfelt country-infused acoustic song of reflection, with emotional lyricism referencing personal struggles and self-destructive behaviour. When speaking on the new single, Parker explains:

“I wrote this song about my first year of uni. Specifically the daily repeat of going to the same place physically and mentally, knowing my coping mechanisms weren’t helping and masking some issues I had.”

Be Back Tomorrow – Single Cover Art — ‘Be Back Tomorrow’ Single Cover Art

‘Be Back Tomorrow’ is an expression of the battle in his mind; either take back control over his life, or let it control him. The lyrics “I’m done with all the voices in my head/So I’ll stay high…” are repeated throughout the song. This slowly develops from reliance on the unhealthy coping strategies, to a newfound resilience that he can move forward. The originally negative connotations of the lyrics transform into something more complex and hopeful: he is done listening to the voices of temptation and will keep high hopes that he can get through it. The repetition of “I’ll be back tomorrow” at the end of the song shows a dedication to keep trying again and again until he breaks the cycle.

Similarly, the melody progressively becomes brighter and more uplifting as more instruments are layered, emphasising that shift to a more optimistic mindset. I really enjoyed the addition of trumpets near the end of the song – they feel triumphant, like he has succeeded in getting out of the rut that university brought upon him.

His first two singles for the album: ‘Mindless State‘ (released in April); and ‘Nobody Can Know‘ (released in May); still have those powerful vocals and deep messages, but feel far less country-esque by comparison to this new track. These are in more of a ballad style, reminding me slightly of some of Lewis Capaldi’s earlier work.

I really admire the vulnerability that Will Parker has poured into these singles. Each new song tells a unique story of his lived experience. With honest lyricism; and deep connections to his working-class roots; his music serves an important role in deconstructing the stigma around men’s mental health by being open about the struggles he has faced. He may have built walls physically, but he is breaking them down emotionally one brick at a time.

‘Be Back Tomorrow‘ is out now! Listen here

WILL PARKER – SAME OLD PARADISE EP: Pre-save here

Join Will Parker on his headline shows in September: tickets here