Joe Williams, the 23-year-old master programmer, singer, guitarist and delay master behind emerging electronic-pop force White Williams, used to crave noise—at one point in the late Nineties he was opening for Black Dice and The Rapture. But one day Williams woke up and decided that a pop sensibility was his sensibility. Was he sick up feeback? Was he hungover? Did he have a feedback hangover? Over time Williams hacked out a new sound using his budding music editing skills and interest in actually playing his guitar. The result is “Smoke,” a debut album that mixes loops, blips, jazzy guitar grooves and some pretty sweet vocals—in other words, less Lightening Bolt, more Paul McCartney. Tracks like “The Shadow” come off as if the Sea and Cake took an e pill and locked themselves in Danger Mouse’s studio; meanwhile, “Fleetwood Crack” is just a funny song title.

Like Brooklyn Vegan, we were honestly most intrigued by Williams because of his association with buzzworthy acts Girl Talk and Dan Deacon. Fun things we learned in the exchange: Turns out Williams was in a band with GT’s Greg Gilles back in ’01. Also: Williams isn’t nearly into sports as much at his Girl Talk counterpart (see last question).

When did you realize your voice (on record) sounded like Paul McCartney?
I’ve never had that realization, so I can’t find a moment in time where I would have thought that I sounded like Paul McCartney. No one has ever mentioned that to me before. What kind of question is that? Obla di Obla dah, life goes on....

What is your formal music training, if any? For a guy associated with the noise scene, your music is pretty pop-driven. Is this project a bit of a retreat from that scene?
I have no formal music training. My music isn’t driven by pop—I think the outcome for this album happened to have a pop sound. I have always liked a variety of music. Then and now I listen to music that could be categorized as experimental, noise, drone, punk and pop. There has never been a deliberate retreat, this is just a solo record that reflects an eight year gap since the moment I began going to shows and playing in a band. I’ve learned a lot about music and my tastes have changed since 1999. We were sheltered; we only had a few choices for venues to play in Cleveland, so we were very much influenced by the bands we saw.

What’s your day job?  
Mostly rehearsing for tour. Since I recently graduated college for graphic design, I have had an infrequent amount of freelance opportunities, including visual design for a fragrance company and making a website for a jewelry designer. I am touring for the next few months, so I don’t really have the time for a 9-5.
 
How do you expect the Dan Deacon/Girl Talk tour to go? You all share a love for innovation and technology. How do you see the three of you are related?
I think the tour is going to be great. Gregg and I have been on two tours in the past and, even with the first one being problematic, we still had an amazing time. Similarities? We're all around the same age. We share a sense of humor. We use computers. I’m not sure how Dan creates his songs, but ultimately I think we use a lot of the same technologies to make music that ends up sounding diverse.

Why is there no Wikipedia entry for White Williams?
I am not sure. Not enough information maybe? No discography.

What is your live show like…laptop? Band? Both?
It is a mix of performers and electronics, two guitarists are playing along with drum machines and a laptop. I have an array of effects for my vocals, and I play a synthesizer.
 
Have you joined a fantasy football team yet?
No.

White Williams plays the Metromix New York Joy to the World Wide Web on Dec. 13