Yasmin Williams, the talented guitarist who wowed listeners with her 2021 album Urban Driftwood, is returning with a new project that’s sure to impress. After signing with Nonesuch Records and releasing the song “Dawning” with Aoife O’Donovan last year, Williams has announced her third album, Acadia, which will be out in October. The album includes “Dawning” and a brand-new single called “Virga,” a gentle and beautiful folk song that turns everyday moments into something special.
“Virga,” featuring the Boston indie-folk band Darlingside, shows off Williams’s skill in creating intricate melodies that paint vivid pictures.
The song’s title, “Virga,” refers to a weather event where rain falls from clouds but evaporates before it hits the ground. Williams connects this to her experience as an artist in a world that doesn’t always appreciate creativity. She explains, “I felt like I had to learn how to thrive in this ‘virga’—to be okay with feeling like my dreams were hanging in the air, not always having control over things, and not always feeling grounded.”
The album’s title, Acadia, has several meanings that fit well with the music’s themes. It can mean a peaceful, rural place, a safe haven, fertile land, or a place of abundance. Williams says these meanings reflect the spirit of the album. She describes Acadia as a place where creativity can grow and flourish, where different artists can come together and collaborate without fear or judgment.
Williams also wanted Acadia to push the boundaries of folk music by blending different genres. This has been a part of her music since she started writing songs at twelve years old, and Acadia is a culmination of that journey. The album isn’t just a collection of songs—it’s a celebration of creativity, collaboration, and breaking down barriers between musical styles.
As fans look forward to Acadia’s release in October, “Virga” offers a sneak peek into the calm and reflective world Williams has created with this album. The song’s soothing, folk-inspired sound and meaningful lyrics make it a highlight that captures the heart of Acadia.
You can listen to “Virga” now, and get ready for the full experience of Acadia when it arrives this fall.
With its themes of peace, collaboration, and creative growth, Acadia is set to be another important step in Yasmin Williams’s already impressive career.
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