William Locks – Wide Snapshot: A Deeper Look at “Better Off Alone” and the Stories Behind the Music
You know what? The first time I heard the snippet of this song from William, I was like wow, this is heading straight to the top. You could just feel everything in the song pointing at you, consuming you and making you feel as though, you’re in same deep sh!t. And that wasn’t even the full track. Well finally, William Locks has released his new single “Better Off Alone”, and let me tell you, this song hits like that moment when you stare at your phone, see zero messages, and think, maybe peace isn’t so bad after all.
The track came out on November 28, 2025, and it carries a steady mix of honesty, emotion, and the kind of calm you get after finally accepting that someone is not meant for you. William doesn’t try to dress anything up. He keeps it straight: sometimes walking away is the healthiest thing you can do, even if it feels like pulling off a bandage that’s been stuck for too long.
The song was recorded partly in England and partly in Nigeria. Yes, you read that right. England and Nigeria. If that doesn’t show dedication, I don’t know what does. William teamed up with some producers he knows well. They’ve worked on all kinds of music before, though nobody seems fully sure if they’ve worked with anyone “famous famous”. Honestly, that makes it even better. It gives the song that down-to-earth feel, like it wasn’t made in a room full of pressure and deadlines, but in real places with real people.
William Locks, who comes from Rotterdam and also goes by Willem van der Sluijs, has been dropping emotional tracks this month. Earlier in November, he released “If I Could Say”, another heartfelt piece. So he’s clearly in his “say everything I’ve been holding in for years” era. Good for him. Bad for anyone who thought they were done crying until next year.
In a Q&A about the single, William explained that sometimes it’s easier not to fall in love at all, because at least you know you won’t end up hurt later. It’s basically the type of logic we all pretend not to use but absolutely do. The song also digs into that uneasy feeling when things seem “fine”, but your gut says, nope, something is off here. Anyone who’s ever stared at a relationship like it’s a suspicious salad can relate. His own quote about the track sums it up well: “Maybe choosing to be lonely is easier than choosing hell.” Honestly, that should be printed on a mug, a t-shirt, and maybe a billboard near every dating app office.
“Better Off Alone” isn’t dramatic. It isn’t trying too hard. It’s simply real. It listens like someone sitting next to you saying, “Yeah, it hurts, but you’ll be okay.” It’s vulnerable without being soft, emotional without drowning in it. And most of all, it’s relatable in a way that makes you want to replay it again and again, just to see if the words hit differently the second time.
If you’ve ever stood at the edge of a tough decision and thought, I can’t keep pretending everything is good, this song will feel like it was written with you in mind. And if you haven’t? Well, give it time. Life is generous.
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