BY GENE COLEMAN

NATCHEZ — Natchez native Preston Lane Williams is embracing his Southern roots in a video for what will be his first major single, “Bottles, Models and Shots.”

Williams, 23, records under the monikers P-Lane and Preston Lane. Williams said he is scheduled to sign on Oct. 10 with 418 Music to have his first single distributed through the global label Universal Music Group.

Since age 10, Williams has recorded what he estimates to be 1,000 songs, many of which are inspired by hip-hop artists of the new millennium and modern country artists alike. He said the artists who inspire him are those who make their own path musically.

“Basically all of my influences are from artists that have a totally different sound and are unique,” Williams said. “I don’t like generic artists, I like the ones that pave their own way, icons who separated themselves as musicians.”

In making his video for “Bottles, Models and Shots,” Williams said he incorporated his stomping grounds of the Louisiana levee and wooded areas of Glasscock Island. He continues to shoot around the Miss-Lou, using friends for the shoot rather than placing a casting call.

Williams said the video will feature “big trucks and beautiful women” and will be a striking contrast to what people might expect from the song.

“I’m a country boy from Natchez, but the kind of music I’ve always made has been a mix between country and hip hop,” Williams said. “It’s got my own spin on it because I’ve created words that have never been used before, so it’s going to be bigger than anything that’s come out. It will be big trucks and beautiful women and mud. I want the content of the song to reach the masses, but the video will blow people’s minds.”

Williams said he will sign his record deal in Philadelphia on Oct. 10 and that a release party for the single will be held Nov. 9-11 in Las Vegas.

Williams said plans also include a string of live shows to start off 2019, but despite the grand plans, his upbringing keeps things in perspective.

“Natchez has kept me humble most of my life,” Williams said. “Natchez has always reminded me no matter how big the world is you can always come back home and be happy and stay rooted and grounded.”