Whiskey Lies & Alibis: William Beckmann’s New Album Blends Heartache and Honky-Tonk Truths
William Beckmannâs major-label debut album, Whiskey Lies & Alibis, beautifully combines traditional country music with the rich roots of South Texas. The result is a collection of songs that feel both timeless and deeply personal.
Beckmann is quickly building a loyal fanbase, performing at venues across South Texas and even on the Grand Ole Opry stage. He stands out in todayâs country scene because of his authenticity and heartfelt storytelling.
âI naturally gravitate towards the sadder stuff,â explaining, âI like breakup albums⦠and thatâs just naturally where I go.â
This emotional depth shines through in songs like âNot That Strongâ and âBorderline Crazy,â which explore heartbreak with classic, boot-stomping country sounds.
His favorite song on the album, âLonely Over You,â challenged him both vocally and creatively. He expressed that he âreally tried to kind of chase a Roy Orbison, like Elvis kind of thing with that tune,â which âallowed [him] to find a different side of [his] voice that [he] had never heard before.â
Other standout tracks include âNeon Sound,â written by country legend Dean Dillon, which Beckmann described as âcool and spooky.â He also mentioned the energetic, classic honky tonk tune âHonky Tonk Blue.â The album closes with âPor Mujeres Como Tú,â a Spanish-language song honoring Beckmannâs South Texas heritage. He said singing in both English and Spanish
âItâs not something I intentionally or I try too hard to do. Itâs just what Iâve always done,â he reflected. âI just try to stay true to myself and what I know, and what I experienced.â
Reflecting on his Grand Ole Opry debut, he recalled singing in Spanish because âthatâs what [he] would have done growing up,â and he added that including a Spanish song on the album âonly felt right.â
Beckmann first gained attention with his 2018 EP Outskirts of Town, and since then, heâs built a following with over 180,000 monthly listeners on Spotify. His presence on social media helped boost his popularity, especially after a spontaneous cover of Tracy Chapmanâs âFast Carâ featuring his roommateâs ad-libs went viral.
He said, âI thought it was dumb and funny, but I put it up anyway. Within hours, it hit 200,000 views, then a million in a day⦠it just kept going.â That experience taught him that âyou canât predict what will go viral,â and often âthe stuff you donât overthink is what resonates most.â
Whether opening for bigger artists or headlining his own shows, Beckmannâs goal stays the same: to connect with his audience and turn listeners into fans.
âWhen I open for bigger artists, my goal is just to convert as many people as I can into fans,â Beckmann said. âAnd when itâs my own headline show? Thatâs the best. Everyone there knows the words. That energy, that love â you canât beat itâ
With Whiskey Lies & Alibis, William Beckmann is proving himself as one of country musicâs most authentic new voices â rooted in tradition, honest about heartache, and proud of his heritage.