Interview: In Conversation with Will Varley

Will Varley chats with Will Varley all about his new album 'Machines Will Never Learn to Make Mistakes Like Me' read the interview here or listen live over on YouTube.

Kent’s celebrated singer-songwriter Will Varley releases his seventh studio album, Machines Will Never Learn To Make Mistakes Like Me on 30 May 2025—a richly produced meditation on apocalyptic anxiety, fatherhood, and the irreplaceable chaos of human creativity. Recorded over seven months in Deal with collaborator Tom Farrer, the album marks Varley’s most sonically ambitious work yet, featuring guests like Billy Bragg and Bastille’s Dan Smith. With over 30 million Spotify streams and sold-out global tours under his belt, Varley balances wry storytelling with lush arrangements, proving why he remains one of Britain’s most vital folk voices. He sat down with us to discuss his new album. 

Madeleine: This album feels bigger sonically than your previous work. How did collaborating with artists like Billy Bragg push you beyond your signature acoustic style?  

Will Varley: I’ve made albums in a very short amount of time. ‘Kingsdown Sands’ I recorded in a day—just went in acoustically. This album had the most time I’ve ever spent on production. Having guests on was great, but it was really down to Tom Farrow, who I co-produced with. He was clinical with production. That was a great experience after being rough and ready in the past.  

Madeleine: This album balances apocalyptic themes with wit. You’ve called AI a "toaster with trust issues." Is humor a survival tool for heavy topics?  

Will Varey: I don’t remember saying that, but maybe. You’ve got to laugh. We’re very basic animals—we think we’re advanced, but we’re not far from snails. Laughter and silliness are key to being human. I’ve got two kids, and they’re profoundly silly. You can’t take anything too seriously without getting away from what it is to be human.  

Madeleine: You’ve resisted the "folk" label. Is that about artistic freedom?  

Will Varley: Labels change over time. If you’ve got a guitar now, people say "alt-country." I don’t mind what people call it. It’s just me and a guitar singing songs—that’s been around longer than genre names.  

Madeleine: Your songs often feel like stories. Do these narratives come from research or intuition?  

Will Varley: It depends. I’ve written songs after research, like one based on books by Maurice Sendak where I stood in the woods at midnight to get into character. But mostly, songs are reflections from my subconscious. They come from an internal place.  

Madeleine: How has becoming a parent coincided with this album’s themes about end times?  

Will Varley: My kids are three and seven. In my eldest’s life, there’s been COVID, war, and climate change. The album is an expression of trying to deal with that seriously while having a three-month-old in your arms. How do you do that and feel hopeful? That’s what the record explores.  

Madeleine: After years of touring solo, you’re now with a full band. How does that change things?  

Will Varley: The band tour just finished. Playing solo, there’s no rehearsals—you’re free. With a band, you’ve got to rehearse and be rigid with the setlist. But for big festivals with 5,000 people, a band elevates it. I’ll do more band tours, but also solo tours.  

Madeleine: How has your stage presence evolved?  

Will Varley: I started playing gigs at 12. I don’t know if it’s improved—it’s just what I do. The crowd feels like an old friend. Whether in Germany or New York, I talk to them like I’m picking up a conversation I’ve kept going since I was 13.  

Madeleine: Which track best represents the album?  

Will Varley: ‘Different Man.’ It sums up the general reckoning—the sense of change.  

Madeleine: And finally, how does music support your mental health?  

Will Varley: Having a creative outlet helps. I wrote a novel in lockdown when struggling. But when creativity becomes your job, it gets tricky. There’s no set path or performance review. It can be difficult to keep pushing your art. It might’ve helped my mental health—or ruined it.  

Madeleine: Does AI’s rise frighten you as an artist?  

Will Varley: Yes. If I were 15 now, competing with infinite AI song generators? I might’ve quit. Songwriting is fragile—knowing a machine does it "better" is a reason to talk yourself out of it. But mistakes make us human. That’s why the album’s called ‘Machines Will Never Learn to Make Mistakes Like Me.’

Interview Conducted by Madeline Horton

Article Written By Madeleine Horton