Van William Pierszalowski is a California-based singer/songwriter who first became known for his folk-rock outfit Port O'Brien and later the rock band WATERS. Formed in the late 2000s, Port O'Brien found initial success among the burgeoning indie folk movement, delivering rustic-toned tunes in the vein of bands like Great Lake Swimmers and Blitzen Trapper. Following the band's breakup in 2011, Pierszalowski relocated to Oslo, Norway, where he formed the more rock-oriented band WATERS, who made their debut that same year with Out in the Light. Returning to California, he eventually repopulated WATERS with a West Coast lineup and released two more LPs in 2015's What's Real and 2017's Something More! In the summer of 2017, Pierszalowski made his debut as a solo artist under the name Van William, releasing "Revolution," a collaborative single with Swedish sister duo First Aid Kit. It was later included on a four-song EP called The Revolution. Countries, William's first full-length as a solo act, was released in January 2018. ~ Timothy Monger