Will Anderson

The most meaningful love stories are rarely straightforward—they contain joy and fulfillment, but also heartache, frustration and at times even grief. From the bliss of first saying “I do” to the heart-crushing reality of losing someone, the act of loving another person is ever-evolving.

Will Anderson tells his own love story on his full-length solo debut LP, How Little Love Is / How Worth Everything. Snapshots of his life come into focus as he shares vivid memories of his late wife Courtney Kampa, processes the pain of suddenly losing her, and unassumingly connects by opening himself up. The platinum-certified singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer both celebrates her life and uses her light to heal himself and others. 

“This is my story with Courtney, but I hope someone can identify a part of their own story in it,” he states. “I want them to understand what an amazing person she was and see how lucky I was to be married to her. Grief is, obviously, one of the most basic aspects of human experience, but it’s not as isolating it seems. When I started to play the record for other people, I realized I wasn’t alone. If someone listens to it, I hope they’re reminded they’re not alone too.”

Friends since college, Will had spent more than half of his life with Courtney. They dated for four years and were married for five years until her passing in 2022. In the aftermath, he understandably didn’t want to create music. After staying with his parents for two months, he returned to Nashville, moved into a new house, and lived on his own for the first time. Most days passed in a blur of walking his dog, reading, and golfing. 

One day, inspiration unexpectedly struck as he walked out of aNashville coffee shop. What would become the lead single “Until We Meet Again”had arrived in his head “fully formed with lyrics and melodies”—as here calls. Song in hand, he quietly dove into writing recording by himself at home for the next year.

“The music was me trying to remember her and our relationship, so I’d never forget,” he says. “It was my eulogy to her.”

Will utilized the sound itself to pay homage to Courtney. He intentionally embraced her palette, nodding to “1940s orchestral music, acoustic songs, pop, and the Beach Boys.” In essence, she remained a north star for the direction of How Little Love Is / How Worth Everything.Plus, he covered one of her favorite songs “Excuses” by The Morning Benders.Meanwhile, various sonic elements even corresponded to moments in the story encouraged by mixer Konrad Snyder.

“I was very intentional about setting the scene with the sound design,” he notes. “The music reflects the moments I found myself slipping into that strange subconscious of a memory. I wanted it to sound like you’re snapping in and out of a daydream. It was also Konrad’s idea to use reverb asthe signal for memory. When you hear more depth and reverb, it’s a moment of remembrance.”

On the single “Fever Dream,” ethereal keys wrap around a funky, head-nodding beat laced tight by a deftly played bass line. Will leans into his high register on the hook, “Each time I think of us, it feels like a fever dream.”

“I could’ve made an album of devastating songs, but that wasn’tCourtney,” he goes on. “She was the most fun, vibrant, colorful, and interesting person. ‘Fever Dream’ was the kind of upbeat pop she loved.It’s about the feeling you have when you’re grieving and you don’t know what’s real or not. I’m trying to come to terms with the reality of our relationship like, ‘What am I misremembering or making up?’”

Acoustic guitar gently echoes in the background of “TogetherForever.” He adopts a lullaby-like cadence as he exhales, “Life feels so wrong when it’s only me.” On the verses, the volume barely cracks a whisper. Finally, he tries to make sense of it in the chorus, “How am I supposed to live without her when we said we would be together forever?” Fittingly,“Together Forever” concludes with the last voicemail Courtney left him.