Music

Papa Leo heralds his 'Angel' recording with studio shindig

Singer Justin Paul Williams, who performs under the name Papa Leo, celebrates the release of his new single, “Angel,” with a listening party Friday at Capitol View Studios.
Singer Justin Paul Williams, who performs under the name Papa Leo, celebrates the release of his new single, “Angel,” with a listening party Friday at Capitol View Studios.

Remember sitting around with your friends, listening to records and talking about music? That's kind of like what's going to happen Friday as singer-songwriter Justin Paul Williams, who records under the name Papa Leo, shares his debut single, "Angel," during a listening and release party at Capitol View Studios.

And, unlike those sessions of spinning records with your pals, this party will also feature DJ Nick Hud, a performance by rapper Big Piph, an open bar and servings of cake and champagne.

Papa Leo

Single Release/ Listening Party

9 p.m.-midnight, Friday, Capitol View Studios, 120 S. Cross St., Little Rock

Admission: $10

(314) 240-2008

bookings@papercityr…

"The single is loosely based on a true story," Williams says of the track, which is a smooth R&B slow jam loaded with snappy, percussive textures. "It has surreal elements. I was tapping into a spiritual theme in reference to love."

Williams, 31, produced the track and played all the instruments at Joker Studios in Little Rock.

"It's just me and my crazy mind," he says.

The single is being released on Little Rock label Paper City Records. An album, Jan. 18, Reloaded, is in the works.

While "Angel" is his solo debut, Williams has produced and written with local artists including Sean Fresh, Big Piph, B-Ware, Andrew Goins and Arkansas Bo.

"I've done tons of local stuff in a production capacity," he says. "I'm into providing the music and instrumentation. With [Big Piph], I worked on I Am Not Them, Such Is Life and a number of other projects. Piph and I are almost like family. He takes the music and runs with it. He says what he wants to say and I give him a canvas to do that."

Born in St. Louis, Williams was 5 when his family moved to Pine Bluff. He grew up there playing piano and singing in church. His Papa Leo moniker was taken as an homage to his grandfather, Leotis Williams.

"He was the grandfather I never got to meet or know, but when I look at pictures, there's a heavy resemblance. I'm like, 'I'm him!'"

He playfully blames his older brother, Jason, for turning him on to music: "It's all his fault. Jason played the drums. When I was young, I was the brother he could have an influence on. He's like, 'Justin, listen to this,' and it just perpetuated from there. I was 13 and listening to jazz standards. He exposed me to all of that."

Jason Williams, who is 10 years older, is still an influence, running Paper City and managing his little bro's singing career.

Lately, Justin Williams says his listening tastes have been leaning toward -- wait for it -- Mike + the Mechanics, the middle-of-the-road '80s pop supergroup formed by Genesis founder Mike Rutherford.

"Really, dude," he says. "I'm into that. All those '80s bands -- Cutting Crew, Mr. Mister, The Police. It's all beautiful stuff to me. I internalize it."

Weekend on 06/15/2017

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