William Control is an American electronic music artist that started in 2008, and the side project of Aiden’s William Francis.

Wil Francis formed William Control because he was interested in making music that didn’t match the style of his other band, Aiden.

He was signed to Victory Records and has released two albums (Hate Culture and Noir), and a EP (Novus Ordo Seclorum).

A third full length album, entitled Silentium Amoris, was released on April 2nd, 2012.

I was lucky enough to get some time to speak to the incredibly talented musician ahead of his headline slot at Download this year.

S: Hi William, thank you for taking the time to speak to me – how are you doing today?

WC: I am doing fairly well today. In Paris at the moment. I went to the tomb of Oscar Wilde today. That is very exciting for me.

S: Download is such a big festival – are you excited to play tonight?

WC: Excited? You could say that! I am very nervous as well. It’s such a big festival. Truly an honor.

S: Who is ‘’William Control’’?

WC: William Control is just one of the many versions of myself running around inside my head at any given time. He’s a sadistic and yet caring, with a heart filled with hate he still wishes to change the world for the better.

S: Describe your sound for someone who has never heard you before?

WC: It’s a modern take on 80′s synth and industrial. Think new order and Gary numan mixed with Depeche Mode and bad religion. If the streets of Spitalfields, cirqa 1888 could talk they would sing William Control songs.

S: As an artist – what other artists influence you?

WC:Artists that have influenced me the most are probably Morrissey, Elvis, David Bowie, and the misfits.

S: You have worked on audio releases before (release of readings of Edgar Allan Poe) is this something that you would like to do more of?

WC: Yes most definitely! I think the problem is finding the time to sit down and bang them out. It’s a very long process.

S: You are incredibly inspiring to young artists with the diversity and creativity that you bring to your work – would you have any advice for any young artists reading this interview?

WC: I would say that this life is full of heartache and sorrow. Long and tiresome nights traveling to get to the next place and a whole lot of yearning to sleep in your own bed. It’s definitely not for the faint of heart. If, standing on stage performing to a crowd of people you don’t know is your passion, then it’s worth every sleepless night and weary dream.

S: Do you approach book and song writing differently or are they more of less the same to you?

WC: The song process is much different than writing prose. Fitting lyrics with melody is like putting a complicated puzzle together. Whereas writing an essay is just getting whatever I am thinking out and onto the page. I love the difference between them. I would get so bored if everything was just the same.

S: What moment is musical history would you of loved to been around for?

WC: I think I would have liked to been alive right after disco died and the punk movement started in the late 70′s. There are so many good bands that released one or two albums and then broke up. What an excellent time. The attitude and the edginess. Everything seems so safe these days. There was danger back in those.

S: What is your favourite place in the world and why?

WC: My favorite place in the world would have to be in London. The history, the wit, the architecture, the great rainy days. I’ll never tire of that city.