Christian Music Today has a really nice interview with Joy Williams that you might find interesting. When she was just 17, Joy Williams launched onto the CCM pop scene with a bang, and then kind of faded away. She’s spent the last several years writing for film, TV and other artists. In this interview she talks with reporter Andrea Dawn Goforth about leaving the Christian market circuit and finding her own voice.Williams says, “I understand that the mantra for a lot of Christian music is that it’s ‘safe for the whole family,’ but I don’t believe that faith is always meant to be safe.” She adds later, “At 17, I was so excited about changing the world, telling people about the Lord, and rubbing shoulders with people and hearing their stories. The more I heard stories of some of the things that people were going through, it made me realize that faith was not some sort of religious high. It’s a lot less performance-based than I thought it was.”The irony, of course, is that with that spiritual maturity and an honest exploration of faith and art comes the typical Christian bubble reponse. Williams says people her if she’s still saved and where Christ is in her music. Sigh.Joy’s new EP, One of Those Days, is available only at her shows or at Sensibility Music, a music company created by Joy and her husband, Nate. She’s also in a new band, The Civil Wars (video above). You can learn more about what Joy’s up to at her MySpace page.
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posted February 24, 2010 at 3:58 pm
While I don’t know if Williams is still a Christian, and frankly I don’t care, I do care about the music my family listens to.
I just discovered William’s new group, “The Civil Wars” and I had to do extensive research to find out if this was indeed the same Joy Williams that sang songs like “Do They See Jesus in Me,” “Every Moment,” and “Surrender.”
I understand that as an artist, Williams wants to grow and expand her horizon beyond bubble-gum pop. What I don’t understand is the 180-degree turn that I see in her latest release. The very first song I listed to from “The Civil Wars” I hear Williams cursing. I then found a video which shows a man smoking and signs of drinking.
I don’t shelter my family from the realities of the world, but I do explain to them the consequences of their actions. It appears to me that Williams has become just another in the long line of tragically hip, indie musicians who succumbs to the world’s standards in an attempt to “be free.”
All I see is music that is more of the same.
posted October 15, 2010 at 12:08 am
Christopher, the world judges us christians very accurately when they call us judgemental.
[quote]“What I don’t understand is the 180-degree turn that I see in her latest release. The very first song I listed to from “The Civil Wars” I hear Williams cursing. I then found a video which shows a man smoking and signs of drinking.” [/quote]
Is “cursing” when she says “dammit” ? Is that really that harsh? And where in the Bible does it say it’s wrong. Also, I understand our bodies are temples, and perhaps smoking isn’t cool, but is it biblically wrong?
And drinking, while I don’t understand its purpose, is not a sin. Engaging in getting drunk is sinful, but the simple act of whats seen in the video, I don’t believe, is.
I don’t want to stand up for Joy Williams, maybe she is a backslider, but who are we to judge?? Leave that for The Lord of Lords. Imagine someone struggling with a potential relationship with Christ, and they see your narrow-minded judgemental comment, they could be turned off from ever seeking the Lord.
To anyone curious about Jesus, please don’t let Christopher’s comment mislead you into thinking thats what all Christians are like. Christianity is about a PERSONAL relationship with Christ. Everyone of us will let you down, but Jesus NEVER will.
Also the Civil Wars’ live EP was a really good listen. Beautiful harmonies!
posted February 10, 2011 at 11:47 am
Interesting interview! Thanks for the link. I love the Civil Wars. Check out their full-length CD.