William Prince is not waiting. Not holding his breath, not keeping score, not wishing for what he doesn’t have or hoping for better days. From where he stands, those better days are here. Stand in the Joy, William Prince’s new album, is a declaration of joy, an active and energized mind and body state. This is what joy feels like, for William. It’s all around. Leading with gratitude, Prince offers his perspective on what it feels like, for him, to love and be loved wholeheartedly. Over four albums, Prince has created a body of work that traces a remarkable journey. As the music of Chris Stapleton and Sturgill Simpson mines the experiences of folks in Kentucky coal towns, William Prince’s songs excavate the circumstances of his upbringing on Peguis First Nation in search of a universal human element. Either by the grace of his generous empathy, his expressive baritone, or years of therapy, every drop of joy on his latest album Stand in the Joy is acutely earned. In concert, where his musical gifts and worldview converge in and between songs, Prince often remarks on the distance his songs have taken him. Be it his breakout BBC-approved “Breathless,” hometown favourite “7,” or soul searching “Lighthouse,” heard round the world closing Angelina Jolie’s Those Who Wish Me Dead, he’s traveled the road from Peguis First Nation to playing sold out shows across continents. As he readies for his next album, Prince finds himself exactly where he needs to be.