Growing up, did you always want to be a musician? Can you recall your earliest musical memory? Was there a time where you thought of doing something completely different?

Cole WilliamsPhotographed by Badawy

Growing up never seemed like a reality- I always went in the direction that felt right for me and I loathed structure and other people projecting themselves onto me. Music has always come naturally and it doesn’t hurt that I’ve been playing and training in classical piano since I was 4 years old. As a first generation American I wasn’t raised in an environment where being an artist was a viable career choice, and music was given to me to make me well-rounded, not a career choice.

My earliest musical memory is singing a gospel song “Tomorrow” in my church when I was about 8 years old. I remember feeling so nervous and shy but I sang in key, so it wasn’t that horrible, haha.

I actually thought I was going to become a psychologist. Read more