The Civil Wars’ Joy Williams – HuffPost 8.16.13

Mike Ragogna: What advice do you have for new artists?

Joy Williams: Gosh. I feel like I’m learning so much in this season right now. Look, I’m no sage, I’m trying to figure life out and music out and being a mom and being a wife and all of these things. I don’t feel like I have any sage advice, but I think the thing that I can say I’ve been learning is how important it is to stay connected to yourself and to what truly matters in life as you chase art and chase the muse. Because regardless of what happens with your career, if you keep the core relationships, the people that really love you no matter what, and that it’s not about what you do, it’s about who you are and if you can stay grounded in those kinds of relationships, the twilight zone known as the road can be navigated a little more easily. So as much time as one might spend on the craft, I would say spend time on yourself and becoming the person that you desire to become and that that can only influence your art in a better way and not just your life. But it’s pretty important that it would influence your life as well.