Scotland's Dan Willson is known to many as the soulful troubadour behind the moniker Withered Hand. Over the span of 15 years, he's woven together three albums and a string of EPs, all while remaining steadfastly loyal to his DIY ethos within the underground music circuit. Meanwhile, across the border, England's Kathryn Williams shines as a luminary in her own right, with 16 albums to her name and a Mercury Music Prize nomination adorning her illustrious career. Yet, it was a chance encounter in 2019 that would see these two greats merge their talents and forge a remarkable partnership.

Their paths converged in the hallowed halls of Edinburgh during a book festival. It was there that the seeds of their musical partnership were sown, as Williams, curious and bold, reached out to Willson with a simple yet profound question via the the internet: "What kind of songs would we write together and what would they sound like?" What followed was a serendipitous union, which found the two embarking on a creative journey for the two.

Their creative odyssey quickly took flight as they penned their first two songs together. But fate intervened in the form of a global pandemic, forcing the duo to adapt and embrace the virtual world for their songwriting efforts. Undeterred by physical distance, they jouneyed deep into their creative wellspring, navigating the uncharted waters of remote collaboration with grace and ingenuity. As live stream concerts became their stage and digital platforms their canvas, they continued to nurture their burgeoning partnership, weaving a tapestry of sound that transcended the confines of isolation.

Amidst the chaos and uncertainty, a theme emerged organically from their shared experiences: the delicate dance between personal loss and collective mourning. Both Willson and Williams had recently grappled with the passing of friends who had left an indelible mark on both their lives. It was this intersection of private grief and communal remembrance that provided the fertile ground for their album.

As lockdown restrictions began to ease, Willson continued his solo work, releasing his first album in a decade, infused with the creative energy and renewed vigor gleaned from his partnership with Williams. Reflecting on their process, Willson mused, "We talk and spend time together, and then it's almost like the next time we sit down to write – it's like a synthesis of late-night kitchen conversations distilled into the songs."

Their collective vision soon began to take shape, culminating in a full-length album that bears the mark of their synergetic genius. Drawing upon the richness of Scotland's music scene, they enlisted a cadre of esteemed co-conspirators, including Louis Abbott of Admiral Fallow on drums, Graeme Smillie of Arab Strap and the Delgados on bass, and Kris Drever of Lau on guitar, among others. Under the guidance of producer Rod Jones of Idlewild, Willson Williams soon took shape. On it, Willson and Williams have created an album which speaks to the shared human experience, a testament to the transformative power of friendship, support, and creativity.