We Can Chase Influences Without Getting Trapped By Genre | The Desert Vibe · Season 2 · Ep 4

A blues record can be honest without being a costume, and that question of authenticity drives our conversation with William Stafford, the songwriter behind Window Business. He joins us to unpack why he resists being labeled “a blues guy” even when the music hits hard, and how chasing influences across decades can produce something that still feels modern. We get into the difference between genre as a sound and genre as a community, plus what it really means to “earn the blues” without turning your whole identity into a marketing tag.  Visit Will's Website: window.business William also opens up about craft from a lyricist-first perspective, pulling inspiration from artists as different as Kendrick Lamar, Leonard Cohen, Harry Chapin, and Kurt Cobain. We talk about the magic of holding beauty and ugliness in the same line, learning the roots without repeating the mythology, and building a repeatable recording process with a trusted engineer and team. If you’re an independent musician, a songwriter, or just someone who loves hearing how records get made, there are plenty of practical takeaways here.  After our interview, we roll into What’s Vibin' in the Desert, our statewide Arizona live music and open mic roundup, with stops from Sedona and Glendale to Tempe, Florence, the White Mountains, Tucson, and Yuma. We wrap with Walt’s Wisdom and a simple idea that makes every scene stronger: it’s nice to be nice. Subscribe for more Arizona music discovery, share this with a musician friend, and leave a review with the open mic or venue you want us to cover next. Support the show Connect with The Desert Vibe Podcast 🌵 Website: https://www.thedesertvibepodcast.com 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61581168623261 ▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheDesertVibePodcast 🎵 Get Desert Vibe Podcast merch and support the show: https://www.thedesertvibepodcast.com/category/all-products Hosts • Walt Richardson: https://walterrichardson.com • Glen Gardner: https://glengardner.net Marketing, PR & Website • Emma & James Mattison: https://emmaandjames.music Regional Contributors Featuring rotating representatives from across Arizona through our "What's Vibin' in the Desert" segment. Interested in being interviewed or representing your region? https://www.thedesertvibepodcast.com #TheDesertVibe #WhatsVibinInTheDesert #ArizonaMusic #ArizonaMusicians #LiveMusicAZ #ArizonaLiveMusic #SupportLocalMusic #OpenMic #ArizonaBands