Wilma Archer

Wilma Archer’s music is an ambitious, exquisitely arranged fusion of orchestral jazz, alternative R&B, and underground hip-hop, among other genres. The British producer, composer, and multi-instrumentalist has collaborated extensively with artists including Sudan Archives, Nilüfer Yanya, and George Maple, in addition to forming the left-field rap duo Wilma Vritra with producer/emcee Vritra. Initially making more beat-oriented music under the moniker Slime, the artist released the more organic full-length A Western Circular as Wilma Archer in 2020.
Will Archer was born in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, England, in 1991. He attended the London College of Communication, studying sound art and design. Archer began making music under the name Slime around 2010, and additionally played live drums for the band Vondelpark. His debut EP, Increases, appeared in 2011, followed by a second volume in 2012. Archer co-wrote and co-produced the song “Something Inside” on Jessie Ware’s acclaimed 2012 debut, Devotion, and remixed Lianne La Havas’ “Lost & Found.” In 2014, he produced George Maple’s “Began to Say” and released the Slime mixtape In the Brick House. His full-length debut, Company, which included appearances by Maple as well as Selah Sue and Jeremiah Jae, was released by Domino’s Weird World imprint in 2015.
In 2017, Archer discontinued the name Slime and began working as Wilma Archer. “Like a Hunger,” a bubbling pop tune featuring Amber Mark, was issued in 2017. Switching to an evocative, primarily acoustic jazz sound, he released the single “Scarecrow” in 2018. The following year, Archer and Los Angeles-based experimental rapper and producer Vritra (formerly known as Pyramid Vritra, and an original member of Odd Future) released Burd, the debut album by their Wilma Vritra project. Archer also produced several songs on Nilüfer Yanya’s debut album, Miss Universe, two tracks on Sudan Archives’ Athena, and “Ugly Thoughts” from Celeste’s EP Lately. Wilma Archer’s full-length debut, A Western Circular, arrived on Domino in 2020, featuring guest vocals by Sudan Archives as well as MF DOOM, Future Islands’ Samuel T. Herring, and Laura Groves. ~ Paul Simpson