Stephen Wilson Jr. Releases New Single, “Dig A Hole,” For The Netflix Series ‘The Waterfront’

Stephen Wilson Jr. does not miss.

The scientist turned musician is releasing his first new single since his critically acclaimed debut record Søn Of Dad. In 2023, Stephen Wilson Jr. shook up the scene with the release of his debut record, which was a touching tribute to his late father. The 22 tracks were heavily inspired by his best friend, confidant, and boxing coach.

“Writing and making this album has been very therapeutic for me to learn who I am and what my existence looks like after my father. Because life has to go on. I’m living my own life, but it’s like his death bookended what life he should have had onto mine, and I’m carrying it around like a train car.”

Wilson Jr. shared that he lost his father very suddenly, and has spoken about his death in the past, noting that he said: “goodbye to my dad on an iPhone 8 in my car in the middle of Kentucky.” But instead of wallowing in his grief, he put pen to paper and began writing songs to honor his father’s legacy and to compartmentalize the complex feelings that come with mourning, like the beloved tune “Grief Is Only Love.”

When fans could not get enough of the record, Wilson Jr. surprised them with a few additional tracks for a deluxe edition, which included his stunning cover of “Stand By Me.”

While all the tracks from Søn of Dad are ones that I still constantly reach for, Wilson Jr. is ready to start the next chapter of his career, releasing a new single. His latest release, “Dig A Hole,” hit streaming platforms and perfectly picks up where Søn of Dad left off.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Stephen Wilson Jr. (@stephen.wilson.jr)

Wilson penned the song alongside Audra Mae and Hillary Lindsay for the Netflix series The Waterfront. The show is about a prominent North Carolina fishing family who “wades into treacherous waters to keep their crumbling business empire afloat.” The show’s premise is dark and twisted, and Wilson Jr.’s gothic sound perfectly fits the series.

Although this song was released for the series, if Wilson Jr. had released it on his own, it would have flawlessly fit his unique sound and seemed like something he would have released regardless.

Like the family in The Waterfront, who are running from their troubles and trying to keep family secrets hidden, the lyrics of “Dig A Hole” detail trying to suppress secrets further and feeling like you’re digging deeper into a hole. In the end, you feel as though you’re trapped, and you can’t be saved because you’re being bogged down with holding onto so many dark truths.

“There’s a well, there’s a well
And it’s deep and dark as hell
And I can’t get out
‘Cause you got my soul now
Can’t save my soul now

Give me a shovel
Put it in the dirt
All my trouble buried in the rubble
Running from the devil is Hell on Earth…”

His booming vocals and country grunge sound instantly captivate the audience in true Stephen Wilson Jr. fashion. Melodically, the song has a gothic and dark feel, perfectly matching the lyrics. This song was made for cinema, and I can picture the scene it’s being used for already… fire it up, and if you want to hear it on your TV, be sure to watch The Waterfront on Netflix.

Check out the trailer for the new series which premiere today, June 19th, on Netflix:

The post Stephen Wilson Jr. Releases New Single, “Dig A Hole,” For The Netflix Series ‘The Waterfront’ first appeared on Whiskey Riff.