By: Rick Landers
Images courtesy of Yasmin Williams
Fingerstyle lap tap aficionado Yasmin Williams
The first time I met Yasmin Williams, she was hauling her guitar, pedals and a bag filled to the brim with cables and other gear to a festival stage outside Leesburg, Virginia. She smiled when I asked if I could help carry some of her gear, but she was determined to get there under her own power.
Later, she would perform a stunning set of instrumentals, with her guitar on her lap, tapping, slapping the guitar’s soundboard, while drawing charming notes and harmonics from her six-string.
Williams was into the music, focused, intent on gifting us with a sonic array of sounds, that sparkled and chimed. Studious and conscientious to entertain, as much as to inform on her style of playing, and as each instrumental ended and drifted beyond us and into the Virginia countryside. She beamed. She was satisfied, we were in awe; her mission complete.
Along with her syncopated guitar style, Yasmin,would later pull out a Kalimba and at once, performed double duty on her two instruments.
Oh, then she did a Jimmy Page thing with a bow!
It’s only been about two years since Yasmin Williams began to play out, but within that short time she has attracted the attention of National Public Radio (NPR), Acoustic Guitar magazine, and Vintage Guitar magazine, in what might be called a soft explosion onto the world’s music scene. Her music isn’t thunderous, no Marshall stacks, no pyrotechnics, just an earnest musician, and a guitarist’s guitarist.
Just short of two years ago, Williams released her appropriately titled album, Unwind, that’s been pegged as simply, folk, yet the ten tracks are more eclectic, and they carry you along like a summer breeze.
She taps, strums, plucks and you can hear her knocking all over the territory of her guitar, in a captivating beat patterns. She pulls, draws the soul out of her guitar, and lets it breathe, and she reminds us of the beauty of instrumental guitar. No track slumbers or yawns, each has its own unique musical presence and meaning. No background riffs, one after another, the tracks have their own appealing sonic signatures. A beautiful album – 5 Stars!
******
Rick Landers: When I first saw you play, the 2007 movie, August Rush, came to mind, Michael Hedges, and Kaki King. The style is still unique, a niche that captivates and today you’re recognized as a master of the guitar style. How about telling us about your first attraction to the guitar and at what point did you begin to focus on your lap-tapping technique?
Yasmin Williams: Well, my start to playing guitar was a bit funny. I first started playing because I beat the video game Guitar Hero 2 on expert level. Once I beat the game, I convinced my parents to buy me a real electric guitar.
After playing electric guitar for a while, I got bored of the style of music I was playing. I played a lot of rock music ie Nirvana, Jimi Hendrix, and others. Then I became interested in fingerstyle guitar. I started lap tapping because I thought it was a more natural playing position for me.
I had always enjoyed playing guitar tapping styles on Guitar Hero, but I couldn’t successfully translate this style to a real guitar, my hands are pretty small. So, I laid the guitar on my lap and I could tap a lot easier and do more percussive styles.
Yasmin Williams
Rick: Do you prefer using pickups or is the style sonically better using a mic?
Yasmin Williams: I prefer using pickups in live situations since set up is easier, and I use pedals. James May Ultra Tonic pickups are great for any style, especially for percussive fingerstyle guitar. I use microphones exclusively when doing studio recordings.
Rick: What guitars are you using? Any electrics or have you tried 12-strings?
Yasmin Williams: My main guitar is my custom Skytop Guitar, made of a Teredo Holed Sitka Spruce top and Spalted Tamarind back and sides. The top has natural holes in it that were made from Teredo clams that burrowed into the wood. This guitar also has two large side soundports, in lieu of a traditional sound hole on the top, which I think gives the guitar great clarity for the player and the audience.
I also use a Timberline Parlor Harp Guitar. As for electric guitars, I have a two electric guitars and a bass. I also have a Takamine 12-string.
Yasmin Williams: Yes! I have done covers of a couple of popular hip hop songs that worked surprisingly well for my style:
“Sunflower” by Post Malone and “Old Town Road” by Lil Nas X. I play “Sunflower” quite a bit in my shows and it seems to be a crowd favorite.
I love playing it because it allows me to play comfortably in my lap tapping style, and also using tap shoes, while having the song be easily recognizable.
Rick: Have you been surrounded by family members or inspired by any particular member of your family who gave you the confidence or motivation to make music a career?
Yasmin Williams: I come from a musical family, so all of my family has always been very supportive of my musical endeavors. Even when I was a bit apprehensive about pursuing a music degree in college, my parents thought that I should follow what I really wanted to do, which was to have a music career.
Rick: What guitars do you have and do you have any dream guitars that you hope to have someday?
Yasmin Williams: I currently have 10 guitars. I have a custom Skytop Guitar, a Timberline Parlor Harp Guitar, an acoustic Sublime Guitar Company Auditorium, a Takamine Jumbo Cutaway 12-string, two Fender acoustics, a PRS SE Custom 24 electric, an Epiphone SG Special electric, a SX electric bass, and a classical guitar.
I’ve never really had a dream guitar, but I think my Skytop is the closest to a dream guitar.. I would love to own a Buendia and, or Greenfield acoustic guitar someday and an Orn custom electric guitar.
Yasmin Williams
Rick: Many of us, if not all of us who perform have had virtually all of our gigs cancelled. And, in more normal times, there’s back up employment when push comes to shove. Where do things stand for you and as everyone seems to be scrambling to stream their music, the virtual competition may be tougher than working the clubs that we did up until just a few weeks ago?
Yasmin Williams: Sadly, all of my gigs were canceled or postponed, as well. From what I’ve seen so far, the virtual competition is much stronger than putting on live performances at venues or festivals. Everyone seems to be doing livestreams at the same time, so it’s been difficult to plan my own live stream schedule.
Livestreaming is a way to get in touch with international fans who may not be able to attend your performances, though.
Yasmin’s PayPal Address for Donations: Paypal.me/YasminWilliamsMusic
Rick: What have been some of your more interesting performances, where audiences have made a difference in boosting your spirits and affirmed to you that you made the right move to perform professionally?
Skytop Guitar
Yasmin Williams: I’ve only been performing live shows consistently for around two years, but I’ve played several shows that were inspirational to me.
I recently had a solo show that had an amazing turnout and the audience, filled with people who were already fans and people who didn’t know my music, was so appreciative and receptive of my music. It confirmed that I’m on the right path.
Sofar Sounds shows are also always exciting because the audience is always different, and very intent on actively listening to the music. It’s nice to see that my music appeals to so many different types of people.
Rick: What other instruments do you play or do you find intriguing enough to consider buying?
Yasmin Williams: I’ve recently bought a couple of instruments I’ve always been interested in. I bought a banjo, which I’ve had a lot of fun learning how to play.
I also bought a kora, a West African instrument with 21-strings. I’ve loved learning the kora, although it’s a rather difficult instrument to just pick up. It’s been a very inspirational tool for composing. I’m going to use it on my second album, which should be released later this year.
Rick: Given how much competition there is today from other talented musicians, building your own music footprint and expanding your presence on-line is a daunting challenge, what’s the key to making it, in a way that musicians can make a living?
Yasmin Williams: The key is to stand out. Achieving this is much harder than it sounds, due to the wealth of talented musicians there are nowadays, but it’s necessary.
Patience is also necessary. It takes a lot of time and work to book your own shows, fine tune your setlists, and gain knowledge about the music industry.
Rick: People often tell musicians how much they enjoyed performances. Good for one’s ego, is that enough? Are you your best critic or do you have some honest broker(s) who appreciates the spirit of what you do, but can also offer you suggestions that you ponder, consider and take?
Yasmin Williams: I’m definitely my best critic! [Laughs] I do also have some people who tell me things I can improve on or things I can change in my live performance, to make it varied and keep things fresh for me and people who have seen me live before.
I’m very good at critiquing my own performances though, so I usually just use my own criticisms for improvement.
Rick: How do you know when a song is fully cooked, ready to add to your setlist, and how many times do you need to practice it, so you can perform it without thinking about what you’re doing so much, when it becomes intuitive and things just flow?
Yasmin Williams: When I get to the point of being able to comfortably play with few mistakes, and I’m content with the composition itself, then it’s considered mostly finished and I add it to my set list.
I don’t really consider a song truly finished until I can comfortably perform it live without stressing about potential mistakes.
Repetition is really important for me, so I tend to play songs over and over again, until I’m comfortable and muscle memory kicks in.
Yasmin Williams: I’m working on my second full length album, which should be released in September or October of this year. I hope to do a support tour for the album once it’s released.
Rick: What do you have to say to your friends and fans now that we’re in a world of social distancing, sanitizing more, wearing gloves and other precautionary measures?
Yasmin Williams: Keep up to date on the latest news surrounding the virus and the steps to take to combat its spread. Support any artists you can, whether it’s through buying or streaming their music or sending donations to the artists themselves.
Rick: What are you promoting now? Your latest release, some streaming or ?
Yasmin: I just released a new video for NPR’s Tiny Desk Contest, which is on my YouTube page. The song will also be on my upcoming album. Make sure to follow me on Instagram (@guitar.yaz) or Facebook (@yasminmwilliams) for updates and new music clips!
