JOY JOSEPH

Joy Joseph makes her long-awaited debut as solo artist with the single ‘Our Love Is Taking Us Through’ b/w ‘Out Of All The Boys & The Girls’ out on FRIZZ on August 18th. The A-side shows off Joy’s Rocksteady and Lovers’ Rock roots, whilst the flip is an intoxicating slice of 21st century Psychedelic Soul. Both are collaborations with her Mr Hudson & The Library band-mates Raphael Mann and Wilkie Wilkinson, and are the first taste of her upcoming solo LP

LISTEN TO JOY JOSEPH ON last.fm

Listening to the single it’s difficult to believe that these are Joy’s first recordings as a lead vocalist; because what truly distinguishes them is the quality of her voice. Rich and soulful, but sweet and clear as a bell, she has one of the most convincing English Soul voices you’re likely to hear. She has the rare ability to evoke the essence of the great Reggae, Soul and Jazz voices that have inspired her, but yet never for a moment slipping into pastiche. No fake American accents or borrowed embellishments here, Joy is incapable of sounding like anyone but herself, always as raw and real as she is mellifluous. Which makes it all the more remarkable that until the last couple of years Joy’s reputation has been built as a percussionist, steel pan player and kit drummer rather than as a singer…

She was born into a musical family as the daughter of Trinidadian Calypso legend Alexander D Great, and learned her chops playing drums with her father’s Great Band, and with various steel bands from an early age, becoming a Notting Hill Carnival veteran by the time she was in her teens. She went on from there to make her name as an in demand live percussionist on the London club scene (working with a diverse range of djs including Femi B, Rap Saunders, Paul Trouble Anderson, Guy Williams, Severino, Booker T, Danny Rampling, Boy George & DJ Disciple), lending her considerable energy and charisma as well as her musical skills to countless club nights, festivals and parties

She sang backing vocals too for her father’s group, and in recent years she has let herself be coaxed into building on that foundation, singing live as part of The Heartshake (alongside Jo Maeva), and in 2005 joining Mr Hudson & The Library (initially just as steel pan player and percussionist, but as soon as Mr H became aware of her voice, it was only natural for her to become his trusted vocal foil, and an essential ingredient of the live Library sound). She has also had a much needed outlet for her considerable abilities behind the traps recently, drumming and singing for both I Blame Coco and Art Terry

Joy’s solo style shows off the eclectic range of her influences and her varied musical experience, with elements of Roots Reggae, Dancehall and Lovers’ Rock, House and Electro, R&B and vintage Soul and Jazz. She cites her major influences as including Kassav, Alexander D Great, Ella Fitzgerald, Astrud Gilberto, Bob Marley, Soul 2 Soul, Tony Allen, Janet Kay and Carol Thompson, and she certainly betrays elements of all of these, but what distinguishes her is the strength of her personality which enables her to create something fresh out of what inspires her. This is just the beginning…