William's musical influences are eclectic. He cites Fleet Foxes (once calling their song "Someone You’d Admire" one of the best songs ever written) and Sufjan Stevens, particularly his album Seven Swans as the reason he made it through his last year of college. Ray LaMontagne’s album Gossip in the Grain, particularly the song, "Let it Be Me" and The National’s album Boxer have also been listed as music that influences him. In a May 2017 interview with Behind The Setlist, Williams said, "I pull influences from a lot of places, not just R&B or black music. You know that Elliott Smith record Either/Or? I posted that up and some girl was like, ‘What! You like Elliott Smith?’ I'm like, ‘Yeah, of course.’ He's super sad, but he's got these beautiful, fantastic melodies."
