Hey Willpower

Hey Willpower is an American electropop project formed in San Francisco, led by Will Schwartz (best known as a founding member of the indie rock band Imperial Teen) and electronic musician Tomo Yasuda. The project represents a significant pivot for Schwartz, moving from the guitar-driven indie-pop of Imperial Teen toward a sound heavily influenced by R&B, synth-funk, and early hip-hop.

Their sound identity is defined by a high-fidelity, polished production style that utilizes vintage drum machine textures and shimmering synthesizer layers, topped with Schwartz's distinctive falsetto. Culturally, they emerged as a prominent voice in the mid-2000s queer indie scene, bridging the gap between underground electronic music and mainstream pop accessibility. Their influence web connects the dots between Prince-style funk, 80s freestyle, and the burgeoning 'indietronica' movement of the 2000s. Critical consensus often highlights their ability to maintain a sense of indie-rock irony while delivering genuinely catchy, danceable pop hooks. They are frequently cited alongside peers like Sugar & Gold as architects of a specific 'San Francisco sound' that prioritized groove and theatricality.