Holly Williams says she just writes songs. But as the owner of a Nashville boutique along with hosting a fashion blog that includes food and travel tips, this girl stays pretty busy. She found time to record her third album The Highway and it is so good that her musical career is about to return to the forefront.
Raised in Nashville, Williams comes from the heritage of the legendary Hank Williams. She is the daughter of Becky and Hank Williams Jr., who were married for ten years and separated when Holly was young. She is also the half-sister of Hank Williams III. Holly never tried to ride the coattails of the family laurels and worked on building an international fan base by touring behind the release of two previous albums The Ones We Never Knew in 2004 and Here with Me in 2009.
No longer signed to a major label, Williams self-financed The Highway as an independent artist on her Georgiana Records label. Holly spent nine months of blood, sweat, and tears recording with a wonderful supporting cast including co-producer Charlie Peacock on keyboards, her multi-instrumentalist husband Chris Coleman, bassist Glenn Worff, and Dan Dugmore playing some beautiful pedal steel. “I love the bridge between people that is music”says Holly. “Everyone came together to help me out with this project, and I have never felt more love from fellow artists and musicians. It’s an incredible feeling to have such amazing support from my peers.” A few friends came to the studio to lend harmonies including Dierks Bentley, Jakob Dylan, Jackson Browne and Gwyneth Paltrow.
With Williams celebrating five years of running her store, moving into a home and cooking delicious gourmet meals, she is finally feeling settled for the first time in her life. Many of the new compositions reflect the changed lifestyle from being on the road constantly. “When you get settled, your focus gets really clear” explains Williams. “It took me a little longer, but I wouldn’t trade that amazing journey for the world. I finally know why I love to connect on a more intimate level in a theatre than in a bigger venue, why I’m writing the songs that I write and saying what I want to say, exactly where my voice can go. It feels good to finally get really comfortable in your own skin as an artist.” From the opening track “Drinkin'” the eleven gorgeous tracks will have you falling head over heels over this record. Two love songs “Without You” and “A Good Man” are about finding center with her husband Chris. “Waiting on June” is about her grandmother June Bacon White, who died in 2009, and her grandfather’s relentless love for her. “Gone Away from Me” takes place in the cemetery near her grandmother’s house where many family members are buried.
Holly Williams will be headlining on tour in March and on select dates opening for Jewel. For more insight into the artist that can’t be found in her liner notes, check out her boutique store H. Audrey www.haudrey.com and lifestyle blog The Afternoon Off www.theafternoonoff.com.
