Willa Ford is back, and she’s brought something genuinely special with her. “Carousel,” the latest single from her first album in over two decades, is out now alongside a music video, and it’s the kind of richly layered pop track that reminds you exactly what this medium is capable of.
Recorded with award-winning arranger, composer, and producer Vincent Ott, “Carousel” draws directly from the symphonic pop of Pet Sounds-era Beach Boys, an influence Ford has carried since childhood. Lavish strings, wildly alternating tempos, and meticulously stacked vocals make the track one of the most ambitious pop productions you’ll hear this year.
Ford describes the process with real candour: “I marched into the studio feeling like it could go well or terribly wrong. I built it part-by-part vocally thinking ‘what would Brian do?’ while also making sure the song showcased my sound.” The result is a gorgeously shapeshifting track about hope, resilience, and the inevitable cycles of a life fully lived.
“Carousel” is the third track unveiled from ‘amanda’, Ford’s forthcoming album, which is out now. It follows “Love4Life,” a euphoric ode to her husband, former Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Ryan Nece, and “Burn Burn,” a dance anthem of self-salvation. Together, the three singles map out an album that balances pure pop pleasure with genuine self-revelation.