Will Epstein

New Yorker Will Epstein draws on experimental pop, jazz improvisation, and electronic textures to shape his melodic songwriting approach. Early recognition came through saxophone contributions alongside frequent collaborator Nicolas Jaar, after which Epstein launched a solo career as High Water, crafting layered electro-acoustic works that skirted the outer boundaries of pop. He later ventured into film scoring with the 2020 HBO documentary Baby God before issuing the ambient, spontaneous Whims under his own name. With Fat Possum, he pursued a more direct yet still exploratory pop direction on 2023's Wendy.

Raised in Manhattan's TriBeCa, Epstein studied at Brown University with his childhood friend, Chilean-American producer Nicolas Jaar of Darkside. In that partnership he supplied saxophone and keyboards for both studio sessions and major international stages. His first solo outing arrived in 2013 as the High Water EP The Beautiful Moon, a collection of shimmering experimental tracks that showcased his high tenor vocals alongside richly textured production. The 2016 full-length Crush followed, drawing from sources as varied as Bob Dylan and John Zorn. Throughout subsequent years he composed for art installations, the Martha Graham Dance Company, and the 2020 documentary Baby God. Dropping the High Water alias, he issued the 2022 album Whims under his given name, with each track composed and captured in a single day. Soon afterward he joined the Fat Possum roster and delivered his second proper solo album, Wendy, in early 2023. More organic in tone and structure than prior releases, it incorporated soft rock, psych, and melodic indie pop while retaining his experimental core.