The songs “Roam” and “Here We Go”, which were written by Wil to accompany Travel Alberta’s stunning “Remember to Breathe” Advertising Campaign will be available for digital download on Itunes, CD Baby and other worldwide digital partners beginning November 29th, 2011.

Travel Alberta first released the full 17 spot commercial campaign on YOUTUBE in late October.The 3 minute video “Remember to Breathe” – Alberta, featuring Wils’ song “Roam” backed byt he stunning images of Albertas’ rural landscape has received so much positive feedback that Wil decided to release the song, along with the commercial version of the very popular “Here We Go” on Itunes and other worldwide digital partners.

Other songs written by Wil for Travel Alberta’s “Remember To Breathe” commercial/video campaign are the acoustic song, Dust, which is featured in “Prairie Palette”, the song Look Around, which is featured in “Rock and Glass” and the song Release which is featured in “Families Grow with Water”.

NOTE FROM THE ARTIST

There are so many wonderful people to thank for the vision and the making of this project: without them I simply would not have had the opportunity to be given the inspiration nor the opportunity to write these songs. Among those involved are the amazing folks at Travel Alberta, Karo Group Inc., director, Sean Thonson and 6 Degrees

Many Thanks, Wil

View all of Travel Alberta’s “Remember To Breathe” Television commercials/videos by clicking here.

Wil Mimnaugh is an Albertan. He doesn’t just play one on TV.

That, sadly, is a message that needs to get out as the artist, who goes by the name Wil, finds himself a musical spokesman for this part of the world, with his participation in the current Travel Alberta campaign. Six of his compositions are featured in the eye-popping campaign, which shows all of the wonders this region has to offer, and he’s even shown in one spot busking on Stephen Avenue Walk, while his song plays in the background.

But, as people are wont to do, there have been a few questions raised about the roots rocker’s prairie cred since he no longer resides in Calgary, where he was raised and began his career.

“My manager yesterday said there’s already some grief on it because I live on Vancouver Island,” says Wil, as he sits in his truck on a street in Qualicum Beach. “As if people don’t have enough to complain about, I guess. So now I had to go back and prove on my website via ensuring that the bio was accurate that I moved to Midnapore in 1980 and spent well over 25 years (in Calgary) cutting my teeth five nights a week in the bars there.”

Besides, he says, there’s one other thing that 100 per cent certifies his true Cowtown citizenship: “I touched my first boob there.”

Read more: http://www.calgaryherald.com/more+than+qualified+sing+Alberta+praises/5709757/story.html#ixzz1dnBaWfvY

Sometimes William Mimnaugh will play shows in strange places. The Vancouver Island-based singer/songwriter—who releases albums as Wil—will do a live show in an unlikely location, as long as organizers have their hearts in the right place.

“To be honest, it’s all about the intention,” says Mimnaugh, who tours with his wife and manager Caroline Mimnaugh. “If the intention is there, we’re on board. We’re not above or below doing any kind of show. That said, I wouldn’t do just anything for money; I would do a lot more meaningful things for no money.”

Rather than money, the reward for Mimnaugh is the positive effect he can have on the people he meets.

“You can tell they’re kind of doing it because there’s no chance in hell you’d say ‘yes,’” laughs Mimnaugh. “So you say ‘yes.’ I love the look on people’s faces when they can’t believe you’re there.”

Mimnaugh laughingly refers to taking on odd shows as the Make a Smile Foundation, alluding to the Make a Wish Foundation. This positive attitude is Mimnaugh’s forte. Everything, he says, is a matter of perspective.

“Everybody goes through a period of time when they can complain about a broken pencil,” he explains, “and then eventually you realize that doesn’t matter. And the next step is it doesn’t matter if your bike got a flat tire. And eventually you graduate to things like, if you got in a car accident but you’re okay, and everyone is okay, it’s no big deal.”

This perspective is maintained when Mimnaugh records his albums. Although he performs primarily as a solo guitarist, he’s acutely aware that putting out albums that are just him performing as a solo guitarist probably isn’t the best approach.

READ FULL ARTICLE:  www.nexusnewspaper.com/2011/10/31/wil-plays-strange-places/

Wil
Victoria House Concert B, Victoria, BC
March 19, 2011

We were close, so we walked.

We were headed to see a small, intimate Wil show at Victoria House Concert B, a venue aptly named: it’s someone’s actual house.

At the door was Mrs. Wil Mimnaugh, who checked our names against the list of people who purchased their tickets online. Much of the organization for this low-key show was done on Facebook.

Squeezing inside, we shuffled into a modest-size living room packed so tightly it appeared chairs might spill into the adjoining rooms.

Taking a seat, I noted that the next room was also quickly becoming overcrowded. It was a bit cramped and uncomfortable, but spirits were high because there were spirits everywhere. It was BYOB, after all.

For those who have never seen Wil play, the man gets every possible bit of sound out of a guitar. Aside from two or three songs performed with an electric guitar—one of which was a rendition of “Honey Pie” that Mrs. Mimnaugh mentioned having never heard electric before—every song was just Wil, totally unplugged.

Stopping to take periodic bathroom breaks and make jokes, Wil decided that the second room wasn’t getting enough of a show, so he walked around and played “Wedding Dress” amongst the crowd hanging out over there.

He blew the audience away, converting any lingering non-believers. It was like he was playing an entire orchestra worth of sound, just with an old six-string.

Knowing that audiences enjoy something special live, the encore was highly improvised, and it ended to a thunderous ovation.

This night was like an amazing house party, but with one of the best acoustic guitarists in the world playing just for you and your friends.

March 23, 2011 – by Dylan Wilks – Contributing Writer

Hey Folks!

Watch the trailer from Much More Music’s “Music is the Message: Wil” WATCH

Andersen took the stage after Wil — a Calgary raised roots singer/songwriter with one missing “l” and no last name now living in British Columbia — won over the packed house. Strumming an old, battered and beaten acoustic guitar, he introduced seven songs of love and death spanning 200 years. His voice — which is a dead ringer for American roots artist Ray LaMontagne’s — had the effect of making the audience, many of who who still eating, pin-drop quiet in a matter of a few bars.rreid@therecord.com

View External Article

Source: The Record-Kitchener, ON

Author: Robert Reid

Roots-rock artist Wil opened for (Matt) Andersen.

Like Andersen, Wil is an intense performer and knows how to pace a song — many of them about strained relationships — to coax every drop of drama from it.

A tall, lean man, he steps back from the mic between lines to bob and weave and frequently jerk a leg back and up, as though it’s attached to a string.

It makes for a distinctive performance, one that suggests his own total engagement in the song and, rather than distancing his audience, drew us in Thursday night.

His set included the dark tune Baby, Baby. It was the first time he’d played it in public, he said, and he accompanied the song with another concert first: whistling.

The latter was a tad ragged, but, his comment about always starting and finishing his shows on time suggesting a touch of obsessiveness, he’ll doubtless work on the whistling.

[ View External Article ]

Source: Ottawa Citizen

Author: Patrick Langston