"The standout set of the day was Jaik Willis. As a one man band, this guy’s energy alone is astonishing. He doesn’t just sing, he belts his lyrics out, all while hammering on his guitar, dancing around, and stomping his feet as if the energy of his music is just flowing out of every end. His songwriting style is really unique as well; he doesn’t always use hooks or choruses, instead often weaving these extended prose-poetic verses filled with candid humor. The acoustic Flying V guitar might suggest rock star but Willis is a genuine raconteur, as unpretentious as it gets. Near the end of his set is where things got even better. Following a shout of “Beat Box!” from the back of the barn, Willis said, “That sounds like a request” and jumped into a dazzling ten minute improvised beat box version of “Superstitious.” He went from spinning folk rock yarns to spitting a sharp, almost electronic-sounding remix of a funky classic… with only his mouth and a microphone. Jaik Willis is one hell of a talented musician." - (Soundfuse Magazine)

"Whether playing progressive folk music on his acoustic guitar, beat boxing while singing at the same time, shredding an electric guitar for a jazz project or yodeling for Bassnectar, Jaik Willis always has tricks up his sleeve and the ability to impress in so many ways." -J-man (MusicMarauders: News, Reviews & More)

"Jaik is a hardcore troubadour somewhere in between Steve Earle and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. He has wandered around the USA like a modern minstrel, surfing sofas, car camping, and paying dues to sing the blues. It is a high energy solo show featuring Jaik's horn-like voice darting around a blistering broken-string approach to his acoustic flying V guitar, with original songs that are accessible, and message driven" - (Chicago Jams)

“He has a most unique soaring falsetto and a wild eyes rolled in the back of his head fierce guitar style. He writes original songs, including a fantastic song about Freedom (the gas station). Jaik's sound is somewhere between Anti-Folk and The Band and it is unlike anything I've heard from anyone else. His energy is fierce, his vocal range is inhuman, his beard is long.
You've gotta check this guy out.”- ( Independent Music Center )


"Best beatboxing at a folk music fest: Jaik Willis. There’s no joke here. The first show I saw on the second day ended with a beatbox of “Thank You For Letting Me Be Myself.” Jaik Willis is a solo performer who plays on an acoustic flying V and sings with super-high energy. We’ve all seen solo acoustic acts before, but when you see one that’s truly great, it sticks out. Willis is a phenomenal guitarist, playing fast, complicated music while singing along with a lot of soul. The songs that he writes are upbeat but personal, with songs about a car crash that killed a friend of his and how uncertain the future is. I asked Willis where the personal nature of his songs came from, and he said it was from his past and things his friends have gone through, going further to say that non-fiction is just more interesting than fiction to him. And back to the beatboxing: it came from the habit of making music all the time, so he began to make music with his mouth when he couldn’t with his hands due to an injury. It’s the mark of a true musician heavily rooted in his craft."
- QUINN MCGEE , Heave Media
http://www.heavemedia.com/2013/05/21/widows-peak-2013-saturday/