Willy William

Biography

Willy Fauade William, known professionally as Willy William, is a French DJ, record producer, and singer. He was born on June 27, 1981, in Fréjus, France, to a Guadeloupean father and an Ethiopian mother. He was raised in Champagné, in northwestern France. His multicultural background and a household filled with diverse musical genres, from French chanson to Haitian compas, influenced his musical style. His mother bought him a guitar to channel his curiosity, which sparked his passion for music-making, later expanding to keyboards and computer music.

Career Beginnings

William's career began in 2003 with his collaboration with DJ Flex on the track "B Boyz Shake da Body". He gained further recognition as a producer under the pseudonym "Lord William". In 2009, he joined the French music collective Collectif Métissé, which achieved significant success with their debut single "Laisse-Toi Aller Bébé". During his time with the group, he also became known for his remixes of artists like Big Ali and Macklemore.

Solo Career and Breakthrough

Willy William launched his solo career in 2013. His 2015 single "Ego" became a massive hit across Europe, charting in France, Italy, Belgium, and Germany. This track was the lead single from his 2016 debut album, "Une seule vie". The song's success made him the #1 most Shazamed French artist.

International Success

William achieved global stardom in 2017 with "Mi Gente," a collaboration with Colombian superstar J Balvin. The song, a rework of his previous single "Voodoo Song," topped charts worldwide and remained at #1 on Spotify Global for 12 consecutive weeks. Its popularity was further boosted by a remix featuring Beyoncé. The music video for "Mi Gente" has amassed over 3 billion views on YouTube and won an MTV Video Music Award for Best Latin Video.

Notable Collaborations

Throughout his career, Willy William has collaborated with numerous international artists. Some of his most significant collaborations include:

- "Goodbye" (2018) with David Guetta, Jason Derulo, and Nicki Minaj.
- "Mambo" (2021) with Steve Aoki, Sean Paul, El Alfa, and Sfera Ebbasta.
- "Trompeta" (2022), which samples Guru Josh's "Infinity".

Musical Style and Impact

Willy William is known for his fusion of various musical genres, including electronic music, Latin pop, reggaeton, and house music. His music often features catchy, upbeat rhythms. He has been recognized for his innovative sound and for promoting multiculturalism in music. His work has earned him a Latin Grammy nomination and a BMI Award.