The Drop: Joy Williams

As one half of folk/rock duo The Civil Wars, singer/songwriter Joy Williams has won four GRAMMY Awards, including the award for Best Country Duo/Group Performance in 2014 for “From This Valley.” The song is featured on the duo’s 2013 self-titled album, which marked their last set of original material before announcing their breakup in 2014. Before The Civil Wars, Williams had a career as a solo artist, releasing her debut self-titled album in 2001 at age 19. She subsequently released By Surprise (2002) and Genesis (2005) and two EPs, One Of Those Days and Songs From This And Songs From That (2009). “Sunny Day,” a track from the latter EP, was featured in an episode of “Grey’s Anatomy” and on the soundtrack to the 2010 film An Invisible Sign. On June 26 Williams returned with her new solo set, Venus, featuring 11 songs that are “unstintingly honest,” according to acclaimed music journalist Jaan Uhelszki. Produced by Matt Moris, Venus features Williams collaborating with artists Michael Einziger and Charlie Peacock, among others. “You might call it a coming-of-age album, but it is so much more than that,” said Uhelszki. “It shows how one woman has come to live her truth — the good, the bad, the petulant, the honorable.” The GRAMMY Museum welcomes Williams to the Clive Davis Theater for an intimate discussion and performance surrounding her new career and life after The Civil Wars, moderated by Scott Goldman, Vice President of the GRAMMY Foundation.