STATELINE, Nev. – In the winter of 1998, an Australian student named William “Willy” Price arrived in Lake Tahoe with $160, a work visa, and an incredible sense of adventure. Twenty-six years later, his extraordinary journey culminated in Big Blue, a song about his transformative American experience. 

“In early 1998, my twin brother met two American girls in a Sydney nightclub,” Price said. “I stayed in touch via email. I then discovered the Internet at the Uni, which led me to a student visa program. I walked into the student work visa conference in 1998. One person did not turn up. I took his spot and 6 weeks later was getting ready to go to the U.S.A.” 

That chance encounter spurred a chain of events. 

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“I pretended I had money, but I arrived with $160 and a 4-month work visa,” he said. 

His first three nights were spent in a hostel in Compton, CA. 

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“Then I sold my paper plane ticket,” Price said. “The price was $50 to fly from Los Angeles to San Fransisco. There was one condition, the stranger had to send the remaining paper flight ticket to my friend in Walnut Creek so I could use the international return fare to get home in February 1999.” 

Then Price hired a people mover with 8 strangers and spent the next few days driving across California with them, ending in Tahoe.

He landed a job at Sierra-at-Tahoe as a lift operator. 

“I walked in off the street with my work visa,” Price said. “I slept on a couch and partied about every second night at a house near the baseball field below Heavenly Ski Resort. Yes, I have a picture of me attempting to crowd surf in my living room.”

This trip created lifelong memories. 

“It was a record year,” Price said of the winter of 1998. “Great powder, awesome people, and lots of fun working and partying.” 

This past November, Price transformed those memories into music by releasing his song Big Blue. 

“The song is a romantic geographical road trip song about the greatness of America,” Price said. “It sings of a time that may have passed, but a reality that is still possible if we are willing to turn our efforts into reality.”

The lyrics describe his adventures, with lines referencing Stateline, California, and the Sierra Mountains that “are setting us free.” 

Price writes and sings, plus plays the guitar.

“The song publishing came about because a local hip hop band Versace Boys, Will Henderson and Coasty, realized I was a tragic fan and decided to help me record my music,” Price said. “Will Henderson helped me record and produce the music (fully paid). I got to make my music a reality and do it with my favorite band. Pretty cool.”

The song’s backstory began a few years ago when Price had a brain injury. Music became a crucial part of his recovery. 

“What worked for recovery was my music and hugs from my family,” he said of his wife and four daughters. “I would sing every day about my life in song. It was great for putting my children to sleep. It also fixed my brain. One of the songs that came from my effort was a story about my time living and working around Big Blue.” 

Price said he loved his four months in Tahoe.

“I wrote about it using local language and places to remind people who live or have visited Lake Tahoe of its wonders and great people,” he said.

Price lives on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia. He is a tradesman for Bechtel.

So far, Price has released three songs, Alive (life), Soul Riser (surf), and Big Blue (snow).

In 2025, he plans to release six songs including a new house music track and a country song in addition to a book, “Create your Revolution.”

Big Blue is a testament to spontaneity, cultural exchange, and the transformative power of travel. 

The lyrics capture his experience: “Stateline, California, I see the colors of your stars and stripes / I hear the sounds of your days and nights.” 

It shows that sometimes the most extraordinary experiences begin by taking a chance. 

As he sings in Big Blue: “I’ll see you tomorrow in the snow your way / friends at night and fresh tracks all day.” 

In February 2026, Price and his family will travel to Tahoe for their traditional annual snow adventure. Past trips include Japan, New Zealand, Canada, and Australia. 

Price’s music can be found under the handle /onewillprice on X, Instagram, Spotify, Apple Music, and other online music platforms.

Price’s website is http://www.onewillprice.com and https://onewillprice.com/jis