Yasmin Williams Explained

Yasmin Williams (born May 31, 1997) is an American composer and solo performing finger-style guitarist^{[1] [2] [3]} from northern Virginia. She plays several instruments like the kalimba, harp-guitar, and guitar with the strings facing up while on her lap.^[4]

Yasmin Williams
Birth Place:	Virginia, United States
Years Active:	2012–present

Early life and education

Williams grew up in Northern Virginia.^[5] In December 2017, she graduated from New York University with a degree in music theory and composition.^{[6] [7]}

Music

Williams was inspired to start learning guitar from the game Guitar Hero 2. She plays the guitar in an inventive way, tuning the strings to be in harmony then playing it a bit more like a piano with lots of finger picking while the guitar sits in her lap. She also adds in other elements, often to introduce rhythm to her wordless compositions.^[8] Pitchfork described her musical approach, "Williams’ inventive style, which has also involved wearing tap shoes and taking a cello bow to her instrument, has made her stand out in the field of solo guitarists." Rolling Stone describe her songs as "textured, harmonious soundscapes".^[9]

William's second studio album, Urban Driftwood, was written during 2020 during the COVID-19 lockdown and was influenced by the Black Lives Matter protests during the summer.^[10]

Discography

Albums

• Unwind (self-released, 2018)
• Urban Driftwood (Spinster, 2021)^[11]

EPs

• Serendipity (self-released, 2012)

Singles

• I Wonder (2018)
• Take That Step (2019) (featuring Jason Bembry)
• Dragonfly (2020)
• Nova to be (2022) (with Dobrotto)
• Dawning (2023) (featuring Aoife O'Donovan, Kafari & Nic Gareiss)

External links

• Official website
• William's Tiny Desk Concert

Notes and References

1. News: The Face of Solo Guitar Is Changing. It's About Time.. Grayson Haver. Currin. The New York Times . April 28, 2021. NYTimes.com.
2. Song You Need to Know: Yasmin Williams, 'After the Storm'. Jonathan. Bernstein. Rolling Stone. February 3, 2021.
3. Web site: Yasmin Williams Transcends All Guitar Norms In Her Tiny Desk Contest Entry. NPR.org.
4. News: Richards. Chris. August 11, 2021. Yasmin Williams, a new kind of guitar hero, is listening to the world around her. The Washington Post. September 26, 2021. https://archive.today/20240406185249/https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/music/yasmin-william-concert-review/2021/08/15/73904826-fdf2-11eb-85f2-b871803f65e4_story.html. 2024-04-06.
5. Web site: Bio. Yasmin Williams.
6. News: Fingerstyle guitarist Yasmin Williams has a new record, "Urban Driftwood" . The Washington Post . 2021-01-25 . 2021-10-11.
7. Web site: Yasmin Williams | Kennedy Center. www.kennedy-center.org.
8. Web site: Sodomsky. Sam. January 28, 2021. Yasmin Williams: Urban Driftwood. 2021-11-04. Pitchfork. en.
9. Bernstein. Jonathan. 2021-02-03. Song You Need to Know: Yasmin Williams, 'After the Storm'. 2021-11-04. Rolling Stone. en-US.
10. Web site: Stanley. Laura. Yasmin Williams' Fingerstyle Guitar Cuts Through Current Climate on 'Urban Driftwood'. 2021-11-04. No Depression. en-US.
11. Web site: Yasmin Williams: Urban Driftwood. Pitchfork.