Yasmin Williams

603 fans

Yasmin Williams has received critical acclaim from outlets such as Pitchfork, which included her in its list of 25 New and Rising Artists Shaping the Future of Music in 2023, and NPR Music, which named her its Breakthrough Artist of 2021, saying: “Yasmin Williams treats her guitar like a playground. She taps the wood of the instrument, fingertaps the fret—on other songs, she taps dance shoes, plays the kora or a thumb piano while playing the guitar.” The outlet further noted the “joy and possibility she brings to the guitar … This music goes back to Black blues guitarists; she’s reclaiming, but she’s also staking her claim at the same time.”

A native of northern Virginia, Williams began playing electric guitar in eighth grade and quickly moved on to acoustic guitar, finding that it allowed her to combine fingerstyle techniques with the lap-tapping skills she had developed, as well as perform as a solo artist. Williams’ influences include the smooth jazz and R&B she listened to growing up, Hendrix and Nirvana, go-go and hip-hop. Her love for the band Earth, Wind and Fire prompted her to incorporate the kalimba into her songwriting, and she has also drawn inspiration from other Black women guitarists such as Elizabeth Cotten, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, and Algia Mae Hinton. On her previous album, the highly acclaimed Urban Driftwood (SPINSTER, 2021), Williams referenced the music of West African griots through the inclusion of kora and by featuring the hand drumming of 150th generation djeli of the Kouyate family, Amadou Kouyate, on the title track. Last fall, she released the Acadia album track “Dawning,” featuring Aoife O’Donovan on vocals, Kafari on rhythm bones, and Nic Gareiss’ percussive dancing.
  • Twitter account

Top tracks

11
Doc's Guitar
Yasmin Williams
I Am A Pilgrim: Doc Watson at 100
02:31
Composers: Doc Watson
03
Juvenescence
Yasmin Williams
Urban Driftwood
03:50
Writer: Yasmin Williams / Composers: Yasmin Williams
05
Swift Breeze
Yasmin Williams
Urban Driftwood
03:02
Writer: Yasmin Williams / Composers: Yasmin Williams
02
I Wonder (Song for Michael)
Yasmin Williams
Urban Driftwood
05:24
Writer: Yasmin Williams / Composers: Yasmin Williams
10
After the Storm
Yasmin Williams
Urban Driftwood
05:42
Writer: Yasmin Williams / Composers: Yasmin Williams
07
Through the Woods
Yasmin Williams
Urban Driftwood
05:19
Writer: Yasmin Williams / Composers: Yasmin Williams
08
Jarabi
Yasmin Williams
Urban Driftwood
03:34
Writer: Yasmin Williams / Composers: Yasmin Williams
01
Dawning (feat. Aoife O'Donovan)
Yasmin Williams
Dawning (feat. Aoife O'Donovan)
06:27
Writer: Yasmin Williams - Aoife O'Donovan
09
Urban Driftwood
Yasmin Williams
Urban Driftwood
05:02
Writer: Yasmin Williams / Composers: Yasmin Williams
04
Dragonfly
Yasmin Williams
Urban Driftwood
04:44
Writer: Yasmin Williams / Composers: Yasmin Williams
08
Nectar (feat. Magro)
Yasmin Williams
Acadia
02:59
Writer: Yasmin Williams
06
Adrift
Yasmin Williams
Urban Driftwood
04:36
Writer: Yasmin Williams / Composers: Yasmin Williams
02
Harvest (feat. Kaki King & Darian Donovan Thomas)
Yasmin Williams
Acadia
04:05
Writer: Yasmin Williams
03
High Five
Yasmin Williams
Unwind
03:46
Composers: Yasmin Maria Williams
06
Dawning (feat. Aoife O'Donovan)
Yasmin Williams
Acadia
06:27
Writer: Yasmin Williams - Aoife O'Donovan
09
Malamu (feat. Marcus Gilmore & Immanuel Wilkins)
Yasmin Williams
Acadia
04:20
Writer: Yasmin Williams

Playlists

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  • Discography
Albums
℗ 2024 YazMelodies Publishing, under exclusive license to Nonesuch Records Inc.
04-10-2024
Acadia
01
Cliffwalk (feat. Dom Flemons)
Yasmin Williams
Acadia
04:44
Writer: Yasmin Williams
02
Harvest (feat. Kaki King & Darian Donovan Thomas)
Yasmin Williams
Acadia
04:05
Writer: Yasmin Williams
03
Hummingbird (feat. Allison de Groot & Tatiana Hargreaves)
Yasmin Williams
Acadia
05:51
Writer: Yasmin Williams
04
Virga (feat. Darlingside)
Yasmin Williams
Acadia
06:22
Writer: Yasmin Williams - David Senft - Auyon Mukharji - Don Mitchell
05
Sisters
Yasmin Williams
Acadia
06:57
Writer: Yasmin Williams
06
Dawning (feat. Aoife O'Donovan)
Yasmin Williams
Acadia
06:27
Writer: Yasmin Williams - Aoife O'Donovan
07
Dream Lake (feat. Malick Koly)
Yasmin Williams
Acadia
04:12
Writer: Yasmin Williams
Access the complete album info (9 songs)
2021 SPINSTER
29-01-2021
Urban Driftwood
01
Sunshowers
Yasmin Williams
Urban Driftwood
04:15
Writer: Yasmin Williams / Composers: Yasmin Williams
02
I Wonder (Song for Michael)
Yasmin Williams
Urban Driftwood
05:24
Writer: Yasmin Williams / Composers: Yasmin Williams
03
Juvenescence
Yasmin Williams
Urban Driftwood
03:50
Writer: Yasmin Williams / Composers: Yasmin Williams
04
Dragonfly
Yasmin Williams
Urban Driftwood
04:44
Writer: Yasmin Williams / Composers: Yasmin Williams
05
Swift Breeze
Yasmin Williams
Urban Driftwood
03:02
Writer: Yasmin Williams / Composers: Yasmin Williams
06
Adrift
Yasmin Williams
Urban Driftwood
04:36
Writer: Yasmin Williams / Composers: Yasmin Williams
07
Through the Woods
Yasmin Williams
Urban Driftwood
05:19
Writer: Yasmin Williams / Composers: Yasmin Williams
Access the complete album info (10 songs)
2018 Yasmin Williams
04-05-2018
Unwind
01
Restless Heart
Yasmin Williams
Unwind
03:33
Composers: Yasmin Maria Williams
02
Song for Alex
Yasmin Williams
Unwind
04:43
Composers: Yasmin Maria Williams
03
High Five
Yasmin Williams
Unwind
03:46
Composers: Yasmin Maria Williams
04
The Missing Piece
Yasmin Williams
Unwind
04:14
Composers: Yasmin Maria Williams
05
New Beginnings
Yasmin Williams
Unwind
03:44
Composers: Yasmin Maria Williams
06
On a Friday Night
Yasmin Williams
Unwind
04:19
Composers: Yasmin Maria Williams
07
One Last Time
Yasmin Williams
Unwind
04:55
Composers: Yasmin Maria Williams
Access the complete album info (10 songs)
Singles
℗ 2024 YazMelodies Publishing, under exclusive license to Nonesuch Records Inc.
05-09-2024
Hummingbird (feat. Allison de Groot & Tatiana Hargreaves)
01
Hummingbird (feat. Allison de Groot & Tatiana Hargreaves)
Yasmin Williams
Hummingbird (feat. Allison de Groot & Tatiana Hargreaves)
05:51
Writer: Yasmin Williams
℗ 2024 YazMelodies Publishing, under exclusive license to Nonesuch Records Inc.
29-07-2024
Virga (feat. Darlingside)
01
Virga (feat. Darlingside)
Yasmin Williams
Virga (feat. Darlingside)
06:22
Writer: Yasmin Williams - David Senft - Auyon Mukharji - Don Mitchell
℗ 2023 YazMelodies Publishing, under exclusive license to Nonesuch Records Inc.
21-09-2023
Dawning (feat. Aoife O'Donovan)
01
Dawning (feat. Aoife O'Donovan)
Yasmin Williams
Dawning (feat. Aoife O'Donovan)
06:27
Writer: Yasmin Williams - Aoife O'Donovan
2022 Dobrotto
22-04-2022
Nova to Ba
01
Nova to Ba
Dobrotto
Nova to Ba
02:46
Composers: Yasmin Williams - Hernan Jose Do Brito
2020 Yasmin Williams
06-01-2020
Dragonfly
01
Dragonfly
Yasmin Williams
Dragonfly
04:51
Composers: Yasmin Maria Williams
2019 Yasmin Williams
30-08-2019
Take That Step
01
Take That Step
Yasmin Williams
Take That Step
04:17
Composers: Yasmin Maria Williams - Jason Bembry
2018 Yasmin Williams
23-11-2018
I Wonder
01
I Wonder
Yasmin Williams
I Wonder
05:23
Composers: Yasmin Maria Williams
Featured in
(P) 2023 Fli Records, Budde Music
28-04-2023
I Am A Pilgrim: Doc Watson at 100
01
Shady Grove
Jerry Douglas
I Am A Pilgrim: Doc Watson at 100
03:28
Composers: Doc Watson
02
The Last Thing on My Mind
Dolly Parton
I Am A Pilgrim: Doc Watson at 100
02:43
Composers: Tom Paxton
03
Am I Born To Die
Nora Brown
I Am A Pilgrim: Doc Watson at 100
04:06
Composers: Doc Watson
04
Alberta
Jeff Parker
I Am A Pilgrim: Doc Watson at 100
03:59
Composers: Doc Watson
05
Make Me A Pallet
Steve Earle
I Am A Pilgrim: Doc Watson at 100
04:04
Composers: Doc Watson
06
I Am a Pilgrim
Rosanne Cash
I Am A Pilgrim: Doc Watson at 100
02:29
Composers: Doc Watson
07
Florida Blues
Jack Lawrence
I Am A Pilgrim: Doc Watson at 100
02:41
Composers: Doc Watson
Access the complete album info (15 songs)
℗ 2023 Tommy Emmanuel
28-04-2023
Accomplice Two
01
Doc's Guitar / Black Mountain Rag
Tommy Emmanuel
Accomplice Two
02:43
Composers: Doc Watson - Leslie Keith
02
White Freight Liner Blues
Tommy Emmanuel
Accomplice Two
04:16
Composers: Townes Van Zandt
03
Daddy Frank (The Guitar Man)
Tommy Emmanuel
Accomplice Two
05:04
Composers: Merle Haggard
04
Precious Time
Tommy Emmanuel
Accomplice Two
03:06
Composers: Tommy Emmanuel
05
Cajun Girl
Tommy Emmanuel
Accomplice Two
04:04
Composers: Bill Payne - Martin F. Kibbee
06
Another Man Done a Full Go Around
Tommy Emmanuel
Accomplice Two
02:53
Composers: Roy Book Binder
07
Son of a Gun
Tommy Emmanuel
Accomplice Two
01:57
Composers: Tommy Emmanuel
Access the complete album info (16 songs)
Aural Canyon
05-11-2021
Once It's All On The Ground
01
Once It's All On The Ground
Lake Mary
Once It's All On The Ground
11:58
Composers: Chaz Randy Prymek
02
You Shouldn't Have To Worry Like This
Lake Mary
Once It's All On The Ground
06:29
Composers: Chaz Randy Prymek
03
Halfless
Lake Mary
Once It's All On The Ground
02:07
Composers: Chaz Randy Prymek
04
The Flowers Above You Are Blooming This Time Of Year
Lake Mary
Once It's All On The Ground
11:36
Composers: Chaz Randy Prymek
05
Only Angels, No Masters
Lake Mary
Once It's All On The Ground
04:41
Composers: Chaz Randy Prymek
06
My Sweet Pup
Lake Mary
Once It's All On The Ground
01:54
Composers: Chaz Randy Prymek