Less than a mile from the muddy Little Miami River in Greene County Ohio, 10-year old Andy Wills tuned his radio to the local oldies station. Instantly, he was mesmerized by the powerful melodies and clever use of words. He heard Elvis, Elton John, Bob Seger, The Birds, Ricky Nelson, the Beatles and Eagles.  

Into his teens, he began writing down lyrics and putting them to chords with a high-actioned Harmony guitar he bought from a  high school buddy for $15. But it wasn't until years later, after graduating with a Business Management Degree from Wright State University, getting married and working in the backpacking industry for 4 years before he would answer the calling in his heart.  

Upon returning to Ohio, after his wife's graduate studies in Pennsylvania, ASW was unable to find a suitable job. Additionally, the couple had just welcomed their first child who was born with cerebral palsy and so Andrew chose to stay home with his son and "give writing songs a try." In December of 2008 he made the decision to plan a trip to Nashville, Tennessee and begin meeting people in the industry. 

Within a year of his journey, ASW had scored a Top 10 Christian Country hit when Johnny Jolin recorded his song "Thank God" peaking at #6 on the Power Source Country Charts. In 2012, Wills won a songwriting competition with fellow songwriter Chad Tyler and they were granted a writing session with Country Music singer Andy Griggs. The song they wrote ("Can I Get An Amen?") was released on iTunes and to small market radio. 

Soon afterward, he and his family made the move from Gallipolis, Ohio to Nashville, Tennessee to pursue music full time. Since then ASW has over 100 songs recorded by artists such as Jerrod Niemann “Blue Bandana” (Top 40 hit), Stephanie Quayle “Selfish” (Billboard Hot Country), Braxton Keith “Cozy”, Peter & Bruno (#1 All-Genre album in Sweden), Shotgun Rider (#1 streamed album in Texas), Lucas Hoge (Billboard #1 Album Sales Chart) and publishing catalogs at Sony/ATV Nashville, Torrez Music Group, Green Hills Music & Living Wills Music.  

He is also co-owner of the OutdoorProTrax catalog which has had music placed in shows like The Sportsman's Channel's Rugged Nation TV, The Pursuit Channel's Outdoor Edge's Love of the Hunt and Wild Adrenaline.  

Early life

Wills was born and raised in Greene County, Ohio and developed a deep interest in local Native American and frontier history including archetypes Simon Kenton, Tecumseh, Blue Jacket and Daniel Boone. One of his favorite books is "The Frontiersmen" by Allan W. Eckert. This interest was fostered by his parents and later led to the founding of his music project Hawken Horse. He earned a Business Management Degree from Wright State University.

Songwriting Career

-In 2011, while living in Gallipolis Ohio, he won a songwriting competition where he and friend Chad Tyler earned a co-write with country music star Andy Griggs. Soon thereafter he moved his family to Nashville, Tennessee.

In 2015 Wills scored his first Billboard Hot Country and Country Airplay Top 40 with Jerrod Niemann's "Blue Bandana" co-written with CJ Solar and Ben Goldsmith. Later that year he inked an exclusive global publishing deal with Sony/ATV Nashville.

In 2017 Stephanie Quayle released Billboard charting single "Selfish", co-written by Wills, Quayle and Tori Tullier.

In 2019 Texas country artist Triston Marez released his breakout song "Darlin'" co-written with Wills followed by many more Wills co-penned songs including "Forgot About You" "One Day" and "Until I Found You".

In 2021, Wills began producing traditional country artist Shelby Lee Lowe including projects "Stubborn Heart" released in 2021 and "The Fame Sessions" released in 2022 which was recorded at Fames Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. The project includes the single "Where There's Country" featuring Frank Foster.

On March 22, 2024 Warner Music Nashville country artist Braxton Keith released "Cozy" co-penned by Wills.

Hawken Horse

In 2022, on a 14-hour drive from Nashville to northern Wisconsin for a hunting trip, Wills came up with the concept for his frontier folk project Hawken Horse. The concept combined his love of music and American history. The music was quickly embraced by the living history,

muzzleloading hobbyist and outdoor communities resulting in frequent article write ups and podcast interviews. Soon thereafter he began writing articles for various history and outdoor related magazines such as American Frontiersman Magazine, Guns of the Old West, Muzzle Blasts Magazine , Muzzleloader Magazine, Hook & Barrel and Backwoods Home Magazine.

On March 7, 2023 Meat Eater's Bear Grease Roadshow released the short film documentary ""Mountain Lion with Warner Glenn" about famed rancher and mountain lion hunter. Hawken Horse's single "Ballad of Warner Glenn" was included in the film.

On June 21, 2023, he was a guest on Meat Eater's Bear Grease Render Podcast where he discussed Davy Crockett, performed the "The Ballad of Davy Crockett" and introduced his second Hawken Horse project Longhunter.

In 2025, the Wills produced track "Hard Times" by 6 Gun Justice featuring Hawken Horse was included in the movie Guns of Redemption starring Casper Van Dien, Sean Astin and Jeff Fahey. Later that year he was a guest on the Nine Finger Chronicles Podcast.

Personal life

Wills lives in Goodlettsville, Tennessee with his wife and their two children.

Hawken Horse Discography

Hawken Horse Albums

Self-titled (2022)

Longhunter (2023)

Westward Water (2023)

Hammered & Hewn Vol 1 (2024)

Hammered & Hewn Vol 2 (2024)

The Teton Tapes (2025)

 Singles ACCOLADES

Year Single Artist US Country Album

2015 "Blue Bandana" Jerrod Nieman #32 Single

2017 "Selfish" Stephanie Quayle #57 Love the Way You See Me

2025 “Cozy” Braxton Keith - Certified Gold

Music Videos

Year Title Artist Director

2015 "Blue Bandana" Jerrod Niemann Directed by P.R. Brown

2018 "Selfish" Stephanie Quayle Directed by Jeff Johnson

2020 "Annie Oakley" Cassandra Sotos Directed by Robert Hubbard

2023 "Weirder Than You" Shelby Lee Lowe Directed by Victoria Metzger

2024 "Cozy" Braxton Keith Directed by Unknown