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Growing up in the shadow of two of country music’s most iconic figures could have provided an easy pathway for the daughter of Hank Williams, Jr. and granddaughter of Hank Williams, Sr. to follow in their footsteps, but Holly Williams took a giant leap forward and decided to tackle the intricacies of the music business solely on her own. “My management, my label, my first album - everything I’ve done totally on my own,” Holly tells us. “I started my own website and drove my mom’s suburban all over the country touring.” While the road to success proved to be a difficult task, Holly embraced the challenge and is finally reaping the rewards from the years of hard work.
Holly Williams forgoes the shadow for the spotlight!
(By: Bessie Sorge)
Growing up in the shadow of two of country music’s most iconic figures could have provided an easy pathway for the daughter of Hank Williams, Jr. and granddaughter of Hank Williams, Sr. to follow in their footsteps, but Holly Williams took a giant leap forward and decided to tackle the intricacies of the music business solely on her own. “My management, my label, my first album - everything I’ve done totally on my own,” Holly tells us. “I started my own website and drove my mom’s suburban all over the country touring.” While the road to success proved to be a difficult task, Holly embraced the challenge and is finally reaping the rewards from the years of hard work.
In 2004, Holly released her debut album through Universal South Records. As a result of poor advertising, the album failed to chart and only one single was released which led to Universal dropping Holly from their roster. Holly was quickly grabbed up by Mercury Nashville Records and has finally found her place amongst country music fans. The release of her second album “Here With Me” is quickly climbing the Billboard Country Music charts and is currently sitting in number 38 position.
The first single from “Here With Me” is a song that hits close to home and explains the difficult journey Holly has faced with becoming an musician. “Keep the Change” is one of the few songs which Holly did not write, but she explains the song as one that everyone can relate to. “We’ve all been there,” Holly explains. “I’ve paid my dues, you can keep the change.”
Hollywood Teen’Zine went backstage after Holly’s performance at the Sommet Center during this year’s CMA Music Festival. Immediately after the show ended, fans were eagerly waiting at the barricades to meet Holly and get an autograph and photo with her. Here is a selection of questions Holly answered for us backstage.
When did you realize that you wanted to make a career out of making music?
At seventeen, I picked up a guitar and learned a couple of chords and literally that afternoon two songs came out of nowhere. I went downstairs and told my mom I’m going to be a singer and I’m going to college; I have to do this. I worked in makeup part-time and played at any club that would let me play - just me and my guitar over and over. I was just very, very, very committed. It took a lot of work. Even though you’re Hank’s daughter, that doesn’t make people give you money and sign you to a record deal. I played for probably four years, touring, touring, touring, and finally got a deal five years after I started.
What direction did you want to take this second album to make it different from your first album?
The first one the songwriting was so much similar, but was a little more produced, a little more polished. I really wanted this record to have some very raw moments on it. There is a song called “Three Days in Bed” that is just myself and the guitar, and I definitely was writing a little root sealer, and I had my piano songs. I love to sing and play the piano. It’s definitely more mature, I would say, lyrically. I’ve been through a lot more and there’s a lot more that I had to say on this record.
Where do you draw your inspiration from when you are writing your music?
A lot of it is things around me. Some people watch movies and read books to get inspiration, but mine is just from people, whether it be myself or my family or friends. I’m always drawing inspiration from people closest to me and they kind of inspire my songs.
Let’s talk about “Mama,” can you tell us about writing that song and the dedication to your mother?
She was just an amazing mom and she never complained during the divorce, she was never bitter towards my dad, she never made us feel like we were in the middle, and she always encouraged our relationship with our dad. We got along with them great, me and my sister. It was just amazing. She really was a very strong woman and had two kids pretty much on her own because my dad was touring all the time. They split when I was three. My dad always said it’s because you have a great mom. They are still friends. I’m just really glad that they kept that relationship up.
Who influences your music style?
The most influences are the Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Jackson Brown, Conway (Twitty), the kind of song writers of the 70’s, before I was born, which is kind of strange. I love all kinds (of music). I love Keith Urban and Miranda Lambert. I love Louis Armstrong. I love the Rolling Stones and Zeppelin. You know, I’m really influenced all over, but the songwriters are the ones that really get me.
As a recording artist, you have so many things you have to do; with you writing most of your songs, recording them, laying down the track, finalizing the album, then promoting it, performing, meeting the fans and being here at the CMA Festival; what is your favorite part of the whole entire process?
My favorite part is once the album is done and meeting the fans. I can’t tell you the relief when all this work is put into the songs, all this work in the studio, vocals, mixing, copying vocals. I’m the type of artist that is there for every second, for every guitar lick and piano, so there’s nothing like the feeling of having the package – I just got it this week – in your hand. All of the photo shoots are done, all of the thank you’s, all the lyrics, and just here it is. Giving something to the fans is my favorite moment; just handing it over going here’s the songs.
Do you ever get nervous to go on stage and perform?
Every now and then, but not for this (CMA Fest) kind of stuff. If I was doing a really quiet theater like the Ryman Auditorium where people were sitting and not talking it would probably make me more nervous. When there is a little more noise around I don’t get as nervous.
I’m sure growing up with your family in the business you noticed that they had a lot of stuff they had to do in order to promote their record, in order to get it out there to the fans. Today you have the internet and this whole different platform to get your music out there nationally and internationally. How has that affected your music?
It’s really been unbelievable, especially last night. I went on YouTube – I had a video come out three days ago called “Three Days In Bed” that I shot in Paris, France – and there has already been 103,000 views and I couldn’t even comprehend that. Like over 100,000 people have been watching my video; that is just wild to me. It is unbelievable how you can reach thousands of people by one click on the People Magazine website; they have been promoting me and they have like 1.8 million views a day or something crazy. It’s just great that you can get that instantly, you can show the fans your videos that you make and just get it out there real quick.
After our interview ended, Holly was eager to get back out there and meet her fans. Here is a photo we snapped right after the interview of Holly greeting her fans, signing autographs and taking photos.
Look for Holly to open for Sugarland on select tour dates this summer. Stop by our “On The Road” section to find out if she will soon be visiting a town near you.
To find out more information about Holly Williams be sure to stop by and visit her Official Website and Myspace pages. You can purchase a copy of “Here With Me” by clicking here. Don’t forget to check out Mercury Records' YouTube account to see her brand new video “Three Days In Bed.”
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