William Control
Electronic · US · Active since 2008

William Control

Sleek, gothic synth-pop with a heavy baritone croon. It is the sound of a rainy city at midnight, blending industrial grit with a romantic, darkwave heart.

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Intro

William Control creates a world that feels like a modern film noir set in a neon-drenched metropolis. The music is anchored by a deep, commanding baritone that bridges the gap between 80s new wave icons and modern darkwave intensity. It is polished, dramatic, and unapologetically gothic, trading the raw aggression of punk for the cold precision of synthesizers and drum machines.

What sets this project apart is the commitment to narrative and atmosphere. Each release feels like a chapter in a larger, darker story, often exploring themes of mortality, obsession, and existential dread. The production is crisp and clean, yet it retains a certain shadowy depth that makes it feel intimate and expansive at the same time. It is music for the outsiders who find beauty in the dark.

Start with Hate Culture for a concept-driven introduction to his darker roots, or dive into Silentium Amoris for a more refined, synth-heavy experience. Both albums showcase his ability to craft infectious electronic hooks that carry a significant emotional weight.

William Control is an American music project founded in 2008 in Seattle, Washington. It was the side project of Aiden's William Francis before Aiden's hiatus, and he later operated as William Control full-time. 'William Control' therefore refers to both the band as a whole and to Francis as his stage name. Francis was signed to Victory Records before starting his own independent label, Control Records, and, as William Control, has released five full-length albums (Hate Culture, Noir, Silentium Amoris, The Neuromancer and Revelations (split into four separate EPs)), an EP (Novus Ordo Seclorum), two acoustic albums (Skeleton Strings and Skeleton Strings 2), two live DVDs (Live in London Town and Babylon) and a remix album (Remix). The first part of Revelations, The Pale, was released on October 14, 2016. The second EP The Black followed on February 17, 2017, and the third, entitled The Red, followed that with a release date of July 14 of the same year. The album was completed by The White on November 24. As of The Neuromancer Francis referred to his band as 'The Neuromantic Boys', and the 'Boys' most recently consisted of Kenneth Fletcher (who has been a part of the William Control project since Hate Culture) and Ian MacWilliams, with Crilly Ashes standing in for Fletcher for some of 2017's live shows. Control announced his retirement from music/touring in October 2017, stating that he was going to concentrate on his clothing businesses and Control Records. In June 2018, Control temporarily ceased work due to accusations of sexual assault and the formation of a "sex cult" with women, some of whom were fans of his.
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Our Catalog6 Albums · 2008 · 2023
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