J. Wilms: The Evan Toth Interview, 11/20/2023

Musicians must be tough. People don’t talk about that too much, but it’s true. Musicians need a thick skin, confidence galore, and discipline. Plenty of discipline comes with the program. This is especially true if you’re hoping to have a career as a professional sideman; musicians who inhabit this rarefied air are true chameleons of the craft. They’ve got to be strong enough to go with the flow; to know when to hold them and when to fold them. To know when to walk away...ah, well you know the rest. In the ring of the music industry, musicians must be skilled fighters.
J. Wilms explores this concept - and many others - on his latest release, The Fighter. Wilms is a long-time musician with an impressive resume. He’s worked with Beyonce, Chico Hamilton, Patti LaBelle, and Bebel Gilberto. Though he is primarily a guitarist, he’s also a multi-instrumentalist who’s prepared to be a utility man in the studio for his esteemed colleagues, but on this album, he explores his own voice and playing from the view of a singer-songwriter.
Wilms and I explore the themes present on his new album. We also learn that we have a few friends in common. Wilms candidly details his experiences inhabiting many different corners of the music industry and he demonstrates knowing how to fully use his strengths as a performer.