Whiskey Lies & Alibis: William Beckmann’s New Album Blends Heartache and Honky-Tonk Truths
William Beckmann’s 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 today’s country scene because of his authenticity and heartfelt storytelling.
“I naturally gravitate towards the sadder stuff,” explaining, “I like breakup albums… and that’s just naturally where I go.”
This emotional depth shines through in songs like “Not That Strong” and “Borderline Crazy,” which explore heartbreak with classic, boot-stomping country sounds.
His favorite song on the album, “Lonely Over You,” challenged him both vocally and creatively. He expressed that he “really tried to kind of chase a Roy Orbison, like Elvis kind of thing with that tune,” which “allowed [him] to find a different side of [his] voice that [he] had never heard before.”
Other standout tracks include “Neon Sound,” written by country legend Dean Dillon, which Beckmann described as “cool and spooky.” He also mentioned the energetic, classic honky tonk tune “Honky Tonk Blue.” The album closes with “Por Mujeres Como Tú,” a Spanish-language song honoring Beckmann’s South Texas heritage. He said singing in both English and Spanish
“It’s not something I intentionally or I try too hard to do. It’s just what I’ve always done,” he reflected. “I just try to stay true to myself and what I know, and what I experienced.”
Reflecting on his Grand Ole Opry debut, he recalled singing in Spanish because “that’s what [he] would have done growing up,” and he added that including a Spanish song on the album “only felt right.”
Beckmann first gained attention with his 2018 EP Outskirts of Town, and since then, he’s 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 Chapman’s “Fast Car” featuring his roommate’s ad-libs went viral.
He said, “I 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.” That experience taught him that “you can’t predict what will go viral,” and often “the stuff you don’t overthink is what resonates most.”
Whether opening for bigger artists or headlining his own shows, Beckmann’s goal stays the same: to connect with his audience and turn listeners into fans.
“When I open for bigger artists, my goal is just to convert as many people as I can into fans,” Beckmann said. “And when it’s my own headline show? That’s the best. Everyone there knows the words. That energy, that love — you can’t beat it”
With Whiskey Lies & Alibis, William Beckmann is proving himself as one of country music’s most authentic new voices — rooted in tradition, honest about heartache, and proud of his heritage.
