Queer Ally Dar Williams Unveils “Hummingbird Highway”: An Anthem of Connection and Hope

On September 12, 2025, acclaimed singer-songwriter Dar Williams released her thirteenth studio album, “Hummingbird Highway,” through Righteous Babe Records, marking a vibrant new chapter in her storied career . Known for her incisive storytelling and commitment to social justice, Williams’ latest project is resonating deeply across queer and allied communities, infusing her signature folk style with urgent themes of interdependence, resilience, and hope.

Williams describes “Hummingbird Highway” as “a highway, filled with deep, exotic colors and beautiful, delicate things as well as the perils that come from moving so fast,” reflecting modern life’s complex tapestry . The album, recorded in part at Brooklyn’s Grand Street Recording and Western Massachusetts’ studios, draws on Williams’ dual experience as a touring musician and a community organizer, channeling both joyful unpredictability and the instability that can come with forging new paths.

Each track on the album is imbued with stories from various walks of life, including the voices of LGBTQ+ individuals and other marginalized communities. “I’ve always felt that our differences are what make our communities stronger,” Williams shared in a recent interview. “With ‘Hummingbird Highway,’ I wanted to explore the ways we find meaning in those differences—how they can become sources of strength and connection rather than division” .

Williams has long been celebrated for her organic approach to songwriting, a process she likens to living authentically. “How I write a song is how I live my life … It’s highly organic, feeling as I go, appreciating that I learn so much every day,” she explained . This ethos is evident in “Hummingbird Highway,” where Williams allows songs to find their own trajectories, often drawing from the lived experiences of LGBTQ+ people, women, and people of color.

A standout moment during the album’s creation was the writing of “Tu Sais Le Printemps,” a breezy bossa nova single released in July 2025. Williams recalled, “I questioned why I was writing a light, flirty song amidst so much gloom in the news. But my fellow retreat leader, Beth Nielsen Chapman, told me, ‘That's just what I want to hear right now!’ It was a reminder to follow my own advice—to let the song find its way, just as we all have to find our own way, especially those of us whose identities are still too often marginalized” .

Williams’ new album is particularly notable for its embrace of queer and intersectional perspectives. Through collaborations with artists like Crys Matthews and Hayley Reardon, and contributions from the vocal group Windborne, “Hummingbird Highway” becomes an ecosystem of co-creation that foregrounds diverse voices .

On the title track, Williams sings from the perspective of a child addressing a parent who is often absent, alluding to the instability and unpredictability familiar to many LGBTQ+ families and youth. Despite imagined “pirates” and challenges, the song finds hope in “blooming columbines, china blue teapots, and cinnamon bark,” symbols of the everyday treasures queer people discover in chosen families and affirming communities .

Throughout the album, Williams tackles issues such as climate justice (“Rise”), regenerative farming and food sovereignty (“Finally Home”), and even the persistence of memory and healing (“My Body Remembers”). Each song offers a practical solution or vision of collective optimism, inviting listeners—regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation—to imagine and build a better future .

Williams’ commitment to activism is reflected not just in her lyrics but in her ongoing work as a songwriting teacher and community leader. Since 2013, she has led workshops empowering participants to tell their own stories, with a focus on inclusion and healing. “I want creative spaces to thrive in our outer worlds,” she said, “but that starts with discovering our own processes and being prepared to follow our inner voices—especially for transgender people, queer artists, and anyone whose journey is still misunderstood by the mainstream” .

The album’s closing songs, including “Sacred Mountain” and “Mammoth,” reinforce the idea that activism and self-care are mutually sustaining. Williams wraps a halting melody around a Buddhist narrator’s struggle to balance inward reflection and outward political action—an experience familiar to many LGBTQ+ activists navigating burnout and hope .

To celebrate the release of “Hummingbird Highway,” Williams has announced a 2026 world tour, with stops planned across North America and Europe . Fans can expect intimate performances that double as community gatherings, with Williams inviting audiences to share their own stories and hopes for the future.

As Williams continues her decades-long journey as an artist and advocate, “Hummingbird Highway” stands as an invitation to all listeners—especially those within the LGBTQ+ community—to find strength in difference, to heal collectively, and to imagine a future shaped by song, solidarity, and authentic connection.