Will Paquin is an American musician and singer from Boston, United States. Born in 1999, he begins playing guitar in childhood and develops a style built around intricate riffs, fingerpicking and instrumental detail.

Style and influences

Paquin’s guitar playing draws on jazz guitarists including Wes Montgomery and Kenny Burrell, as well as samba and classical-influenced players such as Baden Powell and Luiz Bonfa. Although he does not have formal classical training, he incorporates elements associated with that tradition into his electric guitar playing, adapting techniques from one instrument to the other.

His playing also appears in cover versions and instrumental arrangements, including interpretations of Elliott Smith’s “Angeles,” Phoebe Bridgers’ “Kyoto,” and Luiz Bonfá’s “Samba de Orfeu.”

Online breakthrough

Paquin gains wider attention in 2020 through TikTok, where he posts short videos demonstrating his fingerpicking technique. Some of these are filmed on a building near his home in Boston. A video showing the guitar line from his debut song, “Chandelier,” becomes especially widely shared and helps build his audience.

Original songs

Among Paquin’s original recordings are “Now You Know” and “21.” These songs attract attention, including support from Zane Lowe. He also experiments with recording settings, including making “21” in a hotel room in New York City.

Career profile

Paquin is known for creating short, focused musical clips for online platforms, which he uses to share his original work with a wider audience. His profile centres on guitar-led indie and pop-influenced music, with indietronica and indie pop also associated with his output.