Willem James Cowan Offers a Gentle Reminder with New Single

Willem James Cowan’s new single, “You Will (A Brief Reminder to Look Up),” is a warm, Laurel Canyon–inspired ode to optimism – a gentle reminder that no matter how heavy life feels, things will get better. Breezy yet reflective, the track blends folk, rock, singer/songwriter, and Americana influences to create an uplifting space that feels both timeless and personal.

The spark for the song came in an unlikely place – a movie theatre. “A couple months after ending a long-term relationship, my brother and I went to see the movie Beau is Afraid,” Cowan recalls. “The movie as a whole didn’t have a huge impact on me, but I was really inspired by the dream sequence about three-quarters of the way through where a woman is prophesying a character’s life. Each sentence starts with the phrase ‘you will’ as she details the events to come, and I really liked the way it sounded. I had to pull my phone out and write the idea down (against theatre etiquette – sorry everyone). I went home and wrote the lyrics with the same idea. This song is a reminder to myself and others that no matter how down you feel, things will get better.”

With that spark, Cowan began shaping a song that leans on simplicity, comfort, and lightness rather than the darker, more complex moods of his earlier work. “There’s something really comforting and easy about a lot of those records and I wanted to capture that too,” he says of the Laurel Canyon influence. “It’s definitely lighter and breezier than anything I’ve released before. Less wordy, maybe. I’m not usually so optimistic in my writing, so I wanted the production to reflect that.”

At the heart of “You Will (A Brief Reminder to Look Up)” is an openness that reflects both Cowan’s personal journey and his admiration for songwriters who balance intimacy with universality. The track’s standout moment for him comes in the form of a clever nod to Joni Mitchell in the second verse. “It’s specific to someone in my life and a little more personal than I usually get,” he explains. “I like a lot of the lyrics in this song, though. It’s easy to get corny with songs in this theme, and I think I rode that line pretty well.”

Among the lyrics that carry that delicate balance are these lines:

You will breathe in the day

All your grief will float away

Won’t break down when someone plays “For the Roses”

It’s a subtle moment of self-assurance, wrapped in melody, that feels grounded rather than sentimental. Cowan’s voice moves easily over the arrangement, which is anchored by warm acoustic textures and steady rhythms that evoke the timeless ease of ’60s and ’70s folk-rock.

For Cowan, the song also carries meaning beyond its sound. “It makes me proud, in a weird way. Not of the song necessarily, but I guess of where I’m at,” he reflects. “I wrote this song at a pretty low point in my life as a way to remind myself that things get better. As a way to pull myself out of it, maybe. And things did get better. It feels good to sing and listen to it now in retrospection.”

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The single also represents an evolution in Cowan’s catalog, which has been steadily unfolding since 2018. His sweeping folk anthems have been capturing ears across eastern Canada, ranging from stripped-back acoustic confessions to lush, full-band arrangements. Across three releases and various singles, he has explored the uncharted corners of his soul and sound, sometimes alone with a guitar and sometimes supported by a collective of musicians known as The Friends of the Cove.

Whether minimalist or layered, Cowan’s songs carry an honesty that resonates with listeners seeking both comfort and clarity. His latest effort continues that trajectory, though with a brighter hue: less about the storms themselves, and more about the clear sky that follows.

“You Will (A Brief Reminder to Look Up)” is a song that feels like a deep breath – a musical reminder to slow down, lift your head, and remember that even in life’s lowest moments, hope has a way of resurfacing.