Hometown singer performing at annual Town Day
Published on September 4th, 2002
STONEHAM, MA - There’s usually a moment somewhere along the lines of an epiphany when a person realizes what they want to do for the rest of their lives. For Stoneham resident and singer/artist Becky Williams, it may have been a photo sent to her in the mail from a couple of loyal fans. A fan from Moline, Illinois , that had stumbled onto Williams web site and was quickly charmed by the embracing lyrics and sweet melodies of the songstress, paid the ultimate tribute of homage to the artist. The woman had an inspiring lyric from a Williams song stenciled onto the side of her motor home. The aforementioned lyric from a song on her first CD entitled “Child in the Wilderness” reads “We fly on the wings of a far greater dream.”
“It was pretty amazing to me, and really showed that it’s possible to strike a really special chord with people through music,” said Williams. “I used to try to write love songs, but I really only found my true voice in songs about the incredible journey of life and discovery that we are all on.”
“I’m a storyteller and a story-listener by nature, and that is what you’ll find in my songs,” added Williams. “They are the stories of the journey, from my own life and the love of those that have touched me.”
Williams grew up in Ohio, but really gained a passion for music in her early twenties. The budding chanteuse was an avid fan of Joni Mitchell and James Taylor, and emulated their folksy, storytelling style of musical expression.
“I was really shy about performing when I was younger, but I remember being at this art festival in North Carolina,” said Williams of her beginnings as a performer. “They had an open mike where I just decided to get up and perform, and I turned out to love it.”
Williams describes her music as contemporary folk with a little bit of country thrown in, and celebrates the release of her second CD ‘The Hero’s Journey” on September 28 at the Calvary Church in Arlington. Becky has found an embracing audience in new age and yoga centers, spiritual conferences and retreat centers that have brought her to stages in California, Washington DC, Chicago, Paris, and Brisbane.
“I still do the coffee house thing, but I really wanted to branch out and try some different venues,” said Williams, who says she simply contacted the different gathering places and arranged a time to play.
Residents of Stoneham will get a chance to sample a taste of Williams, as she will be performing between 1:00-1:30 p.m. on the main stage at Town Day September 14.
Williams has constantly worked on her craft, and her second CD was a byproduct of her hours of labor and self-improvement. She was at a songwriting workshop working under renowned folk and new artist Ferron.
The two enjoyed collaborating so much that Ferron agreed to produce William’s second CD. The months of labor turned into “The Hero’s Journey”, and also acted as a form of artistic therapy for Williams.
“Before there was the outer music, there was the inner music,” said Williams. “Hearing that music and writing it down is my way of opening myself up to the Spirit. Facing a problem or some pain, I reach into my heart and something comes forth beyond anything I alone could have imagined. That’s the special gift I receive from song writing.”
Williams described the process as a two month grueling process that found her completely numb to her songs for a short, cooling off period.
“You’ve heard these songs so many times that you really need to take a few months away after production is over,” said Williams. “Even now, when I hear those songs I am my own worst critic.”
But despite her disciplined style of self-criticism, she has developed a fan base around the world. Williams credits the internet with her global influence.
Williams doesn’t harbor any fantasies of becoming a folk superstar and selling millions of records, but dreams about playing music for a living and touching more people’s lives, ears and hearts.
“I dream about playing music all day, and constantly bringing something new to the creative process,” said Williams. “Music is such an incredible way to open up the heart and mind with words, ideas and concepts.”
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