With the clear, calm voice of a female troubadour and a knack for nailing lucid images to tender melodies, Dar Williams has established herself as a rising folk singer, comparable to a latter-day Joan Baez. Her recent release, The Beauty of the Rain, is a distillation of pastoral imagery delivered in a refreshing, serene manner. The Daily Cardinal recently spoke with Dar Williams.
How's the tour going?
I like the band a lot, onstage and off.
What's it like to play with a backing band of such high caliber?
I never feel like we're losing the content or the lyrics or emotional quality. They're very good at textures, but they're also very good at rocking out.
Do you consider yourself part of a new folk emergence?
I don't believe in that whole thing. Folk is always going on. This year's Grammys were an antithesis to the year before. There's always a great diversity of music if you want to find it. And that's always been the case.
Why did you choose to support the Solar Electric Light Fund on this tour?
SELF is very honest and solid and they go in by invitation only. They help people help themselves. They're about standing side-by-side with people and coming up with solutions.
How did collaborative performances on the album go?
There's kind of a community of travelers and they all have their stories. No matter who you met on the crossroads, there was always a certain camaraderie.
What drives you to perform?
Performing is very paradoxical. It's intimate and yet at the same time it's a very public space. It's really a magical thing, something I hope to do for a long time.
