“It’s a highway, filled with deep, exotic colors and beautiful delicate things as well as the perils that come from moving so fast,” says Dar Williams, describing modern life. On her 13th album, Hummingbird Highway, out September 12 on Righteous Babe Records, Williams celebrates the colors she glimpses from her vantage as a touring musician. “I was a kid from the suburbs who listened when her hippie teachers said to get out in the world,” Williams muses. Hummingbird Highway is the latest chapter in a richly unfolding story. Drawing on her experience as a playwright, Williams populates her latest album with nuanced characters that come alive in the space of a few minutes.
On the title track, Williams sings from the perspective of a child speaking to her peripatetic and sometimes struggling parent. Blooming columbines, china blue teapots, and cinnamon bark number among the “treasures” in her life, despite the “pirates” that she imagines populating her worldly parent’s life. “The pirates can be all sorts of things living inside and outside your head. The child, for better or worse, knows that there is joy, unpredictability, and instability on the home front. She’s rooting for the joy.”
Joy Clark
Joy Clark is a New Orleans singer-songwriter, lyrical guitarist and composer who creates soulful original compositions that celebrate peace and the undeniable power of love. Her intricate rhythms and warm melodies reveal a sweet vulnerability that enchants her audiences around the world. Like so many other artists in New Orleans, Joy’s first stage was in church. Growing up the daughter of a minister, she learned to create an atmosphere ripe for an emotional experience. So it’s no wonder she believes music is her ministry and intimacy is her superpower. “I love boots, guitars, mangoes, horses, jasmine blossoms, road trips, cloud watching, donuts and my family. I believe in the power of inner peace. I understand the glory of a righteous twist out. I make time to marvel at the mysteries of the world around me. I pour my fears and anxiety into vectors for healing. Joy’s melodic offerings are a healing balm to an anxious heart. Each song welcomes the close listener in with open arms– always beckoning truth, authenticity and the courage to tell one’s story. The Boot says “Joy’s music is rhythmic like the pull of the tide.” Her single “Good Thing” beautifully captures her craft and depth of her artistry, and musicianship and has garnered radio play along with an official video debut with DittyTv. Joy has toured with Allison Russell in her ensemble of phenomenal artists as well as Brandi Carlile and The Indigo Girls. Joy received a Grammy for her work on The Returner album with Allison Russell. The past few years have brought beautiful beginnings for Joy. Joy signed with Righteous Babe Records in 2023 and has released several singles so far for them. “Guest” and a holiday song “Gumbo Christmas”, Lesson and “One Step In The Right Direction”, and the new single “Shine” that was released October 4, 2024 along with the debut album “Tell it to the Wind”. Joy has toured as lead guitarist with Cyril Neville and Water Seed and shared the stage with Ruthie Foster and Hozier, Brandi Carlile, and many others. Joy just completed a tour with Ani DiFranco thru Texas In January 2025 and a tour with Madeleine Peyroux in Europe in February 2025.
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