The first album of electronic artist William Davidoff is Join Us. Late-night strolls, nights of sleeplessness and the incessant battle between being alone and desire to socialize are what influenced this raw, atmosphere project. Davidoff was raised between Luneberg and on the periphery of the electronic music scene in Hamburg. He built his sound in a very discrete manner and avoided using social media and the stress of the music industry. The album is made up of that deliberate distance. To him electronic music was to be heard and experienced first hand without being refracted through picture or advertising. This philosophy is mirrored in Join Us, which features coarse synths, low-key vocals, and an atmosphere that has been entirely crafted by the heart and not outward looks.
The album is a welcome to somber electronica, stacking sheets of somber synthesizers pads, devastating beats and vocals that are intentionally left rugged at the edges. Midnight Fever and Shadows I Still Follow and City of Echoes are some of the tracks, which show how he manages to transform vulnerability into something that is moving and rhythmic. They are like sound tracks to deserted train stations or silent drives at night, when the world is silent enough to listen to what you are thinking. Running From Yesterday and Clockwork Heart are some of the songs that explore the theme of identity, memory and the suffering of leaving home.
Davidoff terms the album as a result of tension between the desire to fit and the necessity to remain as one to oneself. This motif can be traced throughout all the elements of the music, including the darker and more focused production as well as the direct and emotionally open lyrics. His artistic technique is very graphic. He constructs scenes in his mind then composes melodies. The sound is affected by pictures of dimmed down street, neon lights and the colder sections of Berlin. Even the flaws of his voice are left, and the emotional truth in the heart of the music is retained.
Although he limited the number of people to whom he entrusted the collaboration, the minimal number of producers who worked on the project assisted him in making the sound more refined without losing his vision. The result is an intimate, film noir world that is intimate and large at the same time. Through Join Us, Davidoff embarks on the initial actual chapter of his artistic self and invites the listeners to the silent sincerity of his late-night streets.
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What was the inspiration behind “Join Us,” and what themes or messages did you aim to explore throughout the album?
The inspiration behind “Join Us” came from feeling caught between isolation and connection. I spent a lot of time walking alone after a night out in Berlin and Hamburg, and that energy shaped the whole project. I wanted to capture that mix of inner noise, streetlight calm, and the pull to be part of something bigger while still keeping your own identity. The album deals with movement, loneliness, desire, and the strange comfort of late-night places where you feel both invisible and understood.
How does “Join Us” differ from your previous works in terms of musical style, lyrical content, and overall vision?
“Join Us” feels more defined and more confident than anything I’ve made before. My earlier work was introspective and floating. This record is bolder, darker, more rhythmic. I leaned into grittier synths and more structured grooves, and lyrically I allowed myself to be more direct. The vision was clearer: capture the tension between small-town roots and big-city nights, and let the production reflect that push and pull.
Can you describe your creative process for this album? Were there any new approaches or experiments in songwriting and production?
My process is very visual. I usually start with a scene: a street, a train station, a night sky. Then I build synth textures that match that atmosphere before I even write a melody. For this album I experimented with more percussive synth lines, layered pads, and letting imperfections stay in the vocals. I also produced most of it in the late hours, which gave everything that nocturnal feel. I tried not to polish things too much so that the emotion stayed raw.
How did collaboration with other artists or producers influence the sound and direction of “Join Us”?
I kept the circle small. I didn’t want the project to lose its identity, but the few people I worked with pushed me in the right ways. I shared stems with a couple of producers I trust, mostly for texture and drum work, and their ideas helped tighten the sound without changing the core of it. The collaborations weren’t about features, but about energy. They helped shape the atmosphere, not the message.
Are there particular tracks on “Join Us” that hold special significance for you? What stories or emotions do they convey?
“City of Echoes” means a lot to me because it opened the whole emotional direction. It’s about hearing a version of yourself in every place you walk through.
“Midnight Fever” is another important one because it captures the feeling of being pulled back to life by someone or something unexpected.
And “Shadows I Still Follow” is probably the most honest track on the album. It deals with the remnants of people you’ve tried to move past but still carry in your system.
How would you describe the overall sound and mood of “Join Us”?
It’s neon, gritty, emotional and nighttime-driven. The sound sits somewhere between synth-pop and moody electronica. There’s movement in every track, but also an underlying melancholy. It’s designed for late walks, empty roads and headphones. The mood is intimate but cinematic, like being alone but not lonely.
Was there a deliberate effort to target a specific audience or evoke certain emotions with this album?
I didn’t aim for a specific demographic, but I did aim for a specific feeling. I wanted the album to resonate with anyone who has ever felt stuck between where they came from and who they’re becoming. I aimed to evoke that late-night honesty that only shows up when everything else is quiet. If you’ve ever processed life while wandering through a city at night, those are the people I’m speaking to.
What do you hope listeners will take away from “Join Us” after hearing it fully?
I hope they feel seen. I hope they hear a piece of themselves in it. And I hope it gives people the sense that you don’t have to have everything figured out to keep moving. Sometimes just showing up, or walking forward, is enough. “Join Us” is an invitation to find connection in your own way.
How has the reception been so far, and how do you usually respond to feedback on your albums?
The early reception has been encouraging. People are connecting to the mood and the atmosphere, which means a lot because that’s the core of what I’m trying to create. I take feedback seriously, but not personally. If someone points out something real, I learn from it. If it doesn’t resonate with me, I let it go. At the end of the day, the music has to feel honest to me first.
What does “Join Us” represent for you personally and professionally at this stage of your career?
Personally, it represents accepting who I am and where I come from without letting it trap me. Professionally, it’s the foundation of my sound. It’s me saying, “This is the world I’m building. You’re welcome to step into it.” It feels like the first chapter where everything is starting to make sense.
Looking back, what was the biggest challenge you faced in creating this album, and how did you overcome it?
The biggest challenge was trusting my own instincts. When you’re not active on social media and you’re working quietly, it’s easy to question whether your ideas matter. I overcame that by staying rooted in the process. Every time I felt doubt, I focused on the scenes and emotions that inspired the songs. The music itself kept pulling me forward when my confidence didn’t.
