Willzee, a Limerick-based artist of Traveller descent, today releases new album Deep Tinker. Working across music, poetry, screenwriting, and activism, Willzee is known for his honest writing and a hybrid sound that fuses rap, Irish folk, and spoken word. Deep Tinker acts as both a reflection and a declaration – an album to reflect the resilience and reality of the Irish Traveller community.
The project is introduced by its defining single, Travelling Man, a proud statement of identity and belonging. The song captures a life shaped by movement and tradition, while addressing the lack of representation that has long defined Traveller voices, reclaiming that space with purpose and clarity.
Across 10 tracks, Willzee draws on both personal experience and collective memory, exploring themes of marginalisation, family, and resilience. There are reflections on injustice and cultural erasure, but also a strong sense of forward momentum through growth and the strength of community.
Collaboration plays a key role in the record, expanding beyond a single voice, with contributions from Steo Wall, Sharyn Ward, Enda Gallery, Strange Boy, and T.O.H. Each contribution adds depth and perspective, reinforcing the album’s core message: that these stories are shared, lived, and ongoing.
Speaking on the album, Willzee says:
“This album is my story, but it’s also our story. It’s about where we come from, what we’ve been through, and where we’re going. I wanted to create something real, something my family, my community, and the next generation can feel proud of.”
Tracks like No Fixed Abode and Let It Rain confront the realities of marginalisation and generational struggle, while Dreamin’ captures a sense of ambition and possibility. Elsewhere, Oh Brother and This Is Our War speak to solidarity and resistance, with Where Did The Love Go and Ireland Is reflecting on connection, legacy and belonging.
Closing with The Tribe and Living in the Times, the album brings together reflection and celebration, capturing both the past and the present through a distinctly Irish Traveller lens.
Through Willzee’s honest storytelling and collaborations, Willzee amplifies voices often unheard, creating a politically resonant body of work that documents and celebrates life as an Irish Traveller today.
Photo credit – Myriam Riand
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