Fresh Air Bluegrass Star Billy Strings / Laufey
4 snips
Dec 27, 2025 
Billy Strings, a Grammy-winning bluegrass artist, shares how songwriting has been his therapy after personal loss and reflects on his musical journey influenced by Doc Watson. He performs Browns Ferry Blues, revealing the emotional depth behind his music. Meanwhile, Laufey, an Icelandic singer and cellist, discusses her classical roots and rise to fame during the pandemic. She explores her bicultural experiences and the poignant themes in her album A Matter of Time, including songs about friendship and breakups, while performing live.
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Formative Doc Watson Influence
- Billy Strings says Doc Watson was the foundation of his musical life and he learned tunes as a child.
- He describes learning songs before basic skills and treating Watson's music like a religion in his house.
Story Over Pitch
- Billy says focusing on storytelling calms his performance anxiety and makes pitch less central.
- He links conveying the song's information to authentic singing rather than technical perfection.
Practice Mindful Stage Preparation
- Billy practices mindfulness and inner-game techniques to manage anxiety on stage.
- He treats calming his nervous system as a daily, active practice rather than a one-time fix.
