The best acoustic guitarists in the world right now
Yasmin Williams, a new kind of guitar hero, is listening to the world around her
Virga - An Amazon Music Original
“Harp guitar in hand, Williams simply puts on a fingerpicking masterclass, creating a driving rhythm that doesn't let up for a second (even, remarkably, while she transitions from playing upright to laying the guitar on her lap – twice!) and a luscious, varied landscape of crystalline harmonics, beautifully melodic figures and booming bass notes from the harp guitar's top neck.” - Guitar World Magazine
Newport Folk Festival
Yasmin Williams: A New Voice in Fingerstyle Guitar
The New York TImes
“Williams, 25, is one of the country’s most imaginative young solo guitarists. Released in January, her second album, Urban Driftwood, represents a clear break with the form’s stoic, folk-rooted mores." -Grayson Haver Currin, The New York Times
Premier Guitar Rig Rundown
Check out my Rig Rundown with Premier Guitar Magazine! I’m super honored and I want to give a huge thank you to Chris Kies for having me on to talk about my guitars, pedalboard, and other gear I use! Also check out my gear page on this site for a complete list of and links to the gear I use.
A Harp Guitar?!?
Check out my new video discussing harp guitars with Reverb!
Madison House
I’m super excited to announce I’ve joined Madison House! Please contact my booking agent, Chris Palmer, at Chris@madison-house.com for all booking inquiries!
Fretboard Journal Podcast
Thank you so much to the Fretboard Journal for having me on their podcast! Shout out to Jason Verlinde for the great interview. I talked about my custom Skytop Guitar, my new album, and much more. Check it out here!
Song You Need to Know: Yasmin Williams, ‘After the Storm’
“When 24-year-old instrumentalist Yasmin Williams plays guitar, she conjures new possibilities and stories from the instrument.”
Thank you Jonathan Bernstein for naming After the Storm as a song you need to know in Rolling Stone! Read the rest of the article here!
Aquarium Drunkard Transmissions Podcast
Thank you to Aquarium Drunkard for having me on the Transmissions podcast! I had a wonderful interview with Jason P. Woodbury in which we discussed me being a black artist in a mostly white genre, issues with the American Primitive guitar genre, the music I grew up listening to, and other topics! Check out the podcast here.
Yasmin Williams Remakes Fingerstyle Guitar in Her Own Image
Urban Driftwood OUT NOW!
My second LP, Urban Driftwood, is OUT NOW on Bandcamp and all streaming platforms! Check it out here: Urban Driftwood Download/Stream Link
Thank you so much to everyone who helped with this record, including: Jeff Gruber of Blue House Productions (recording/mixing), Charlie Pilzer of Tonal Park Studios (mastering), Taryn Wood (cello), Amadou Kouyate (djembe, cadjembe) and Louis Munroe (cover and inner sleeve art) for all their help and support with this record! Thank you to the press outlets who have given Urban Driftwood lots of amazing recognition! Lastly, thank you to everyone who is listening to and buying the record!
Pitchfork Review
Washington Post Feature
"Above all, 'Urban Driftwood' is her challenge to widespread preconceptions about the music made by young Black people or acoustic guitarists. It’s Williams’s achievement that she makes that challenge sound so calming and beautiful." -John Lingan, The Washington Post