Over the course of his career, William Fitzsimmons has made his living writing a specific brand of honest and inward-looking folk songs that fearlessly and candidly examine the evolving self while dextrously communicating his talent for robust melodies and catchy instrumentation. Fitzsimmons has released nearly a dozen full-length, EP, and live records of profound and intensely personal material. When it comes to his song-writing, nothing in his private life is off limits: he has written about being raised by disabled parents, experiencing two divorces, adopting his two children, and working with the mentally ill as a mental health therapist prior to his music career. Amsterdam is about fighting the natural process by which our minds relegate often experienced pieces of information (a loved one, a beautiful city, a breathtaking vista) to the subconscious level and promising to always keep the person we care about the most in the foreground of our perception. Just as one can lose the wonder of a beloved place, our most treasured loved ones can also become mere background figures to us.