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Matthew: What type of records did you hear around?
Joy Jones: I grew up around a lot of gospel music and negro spirituals when I was in my grandfather’s house. In my home, my dad was into all that cool soul/jazz music from the 70’s; Marvin Gaye, Earth, Wind and Fire, George Duke, Ramsey Lewis, Roy Ayers and George Benson, as well as great calypso albums by artists like The Mighty Sparrow.
Matthew: Have your parents’ record collection made an impact on you?
Joy Jones: Oh yes. The funny thing is that their collection is this strange hodge-podge of sounds. There is country western music, Hawaiian Music, Soul, Jazz, Funk, Latin, Classical…everything. The beauty is that now not only do I have a deep appreciation for all kinds of music, but I have been able to pull from many of these musical elements when creating my own sound.
Matthew: Would you say Joy Jones is a spiritual person?
Joy Jones: Definitely. Spirituality has always been very real in my home. We would pray, go to church and have family worship. There were also the many miracles that I witnessed growing up. I was so aware of the spiritual landscape that we move and function in. For me there are no coincidences, no such thing as luck. Life, for me, is divinely choreographed. Of course we decide which moves we will make, or how fast we will dance, but my life has moved most smoothly when I just surrendered to God’s divine rhythm, let my hair down and just danced.
Matthew: Since when have you begun being creative/like, what age? And apart from music do you have any other creative outlets?
Joy Jones: I am an only child, so in many ways my creativity and imagination were my constant companions growing up. I would make toys out of anything, and if I was bought a toy, I was much more interested in taking it apart to see how it worked, than playing with it (which drove my Mother crazy). I would often make up songs about how good dinner was, or how I didn’t want to take a bath, and the great thing was that my family members would sing along. I found something magical in art. I would sing, dance, paint, write, cook, sculpt, build…I just had a passion for creating things. To this day, my muses shift every few months. One month I will be into designing and sewing clothes and dancing, then I will be into redecorating my house or cooking elaborate feasts and writing. It is a bit schizophrenic, but it works for me. Music however, has always been a constant.
Matthew: Do you have an album available to buy yet?
Joy Jones: I have my first 12” now available on the CO-OP/GOYA label and I have just finished my full-length album, which I hope to release later this year.
Matthew: You moved to the UK after studying at Duke University, what made you move?
Joy Jones: Well, honestly. I just didn’t want to return home. I was one of those people who, after graduation, had no idea what I wanted to do. I did know that I didn’t want to go home, I was too used to my freedom. So I looked on the internet for opportunities related to my studies, and I came across a graduate program in medical anthropology at the University of London. I applied and was accepted. 2 weeks later I was on a plane to London, knowing nobody! I felt so grown. Before long I had found my niche, some fabulous friends, a great apartment in Brixton and had carved out a second home for myself in the UK. To this day it was one of the great adventures of my lifetime.
Matthew: In your bio it says you've done a lotta travelling and shared your work in many countries. What does it feel like to have that opportunity? Does it open up your world?
Joy Jones: I am always humbled by it. I do not take the opportunity to travel for granted and I rarely turn down the chance to jump on a plane and go some place far away. I am so amazed at how similar we are, people and cultures, I mean. We have many of the same fears, dreams and goals. That is why music is so universal. I have sung to people who didn’t understand a word of English, but they still got the sentiment of what I was talking about. That is just amazing to me. When I have kids I’ll make sure that they travel extensively. I feel it is the best education a person can have and it gives you so many tools with which to navigate through life. Ya know?
Matthew: Your hometown now is in L.A, California. What is life like living there, musically and outside of your musical world?
Joy Jones: LA, on the surface, is a very superficial city. You know, with the entertainment industry and all. But underneath, it is a very diverse and warm city. There is so much to do and see. You need to have a car of course. In a day you could go to the snow, then go to the desert and end up on a beach. I try to take advantage of it as often as I can.
Musically, there are always wonderful acts passing through town and opportunities to get involved in different aspects of the industry. Right now our soul scene is really making a name for itself. We have folks like Raphael Saadiq, Frank McComb, J*Davey, Kim Hill, Sy Smith, Sa-Ra, Adriana Evans, Georgia Anne Muldrow, Lalah Hathaway and so many others. The sounds emerging from the West Coast are really pushing the boundaries of soul music and I am so proud to be part of that.
Matthew: Do you still keep in touch with your family? Do they come and watch you perform?
Joy Jones: My parents used to come out and see me perform every now and then. It would make me feel so great to look out and see them supporting me. It would crack me up to see them surrounded by the club heads, cheering me on.
Coming from a West Indian background, my family always preferred that I choose a more stable career like medicine or education. They saw my music as a hobby, not a career. Before my father passed away a few years ago, I had a crucial conversation with him and my mother. I told them that I have my own goals and dreams for my life that I am responsible for, and at the end of the day, if I don’t do all I can to realize those dreams, I’ll only have myself to blame. It was a very open and honest conversation that ended in them realizing that I’m a woman who must cut her own path and make her own mistakes. That was a defining moment for me, and it released me, in a way, to follow my dreams.
Matthew: Your name Joy Jones is a very positive sounding name; does it make you feel like a positive person to be called Joy?
Joy Jones: (lol) Well I guess it is better than being called “Sorrow Smith” all day long. I believe that words have power and we grow into the names given to us. I think it definitely affected how I see myself in the world. However, one problem was that people definitely thought that I was never sad, which made me withdraw a bit when I was down. But for the most part I’m very resilient and try to be as positive about life and trials as possible. It is a daily struggle, but I do my best, ya know?
Matthew: If you could change one thing about the world, or a few things; what would they be?
Joy Jones: Man, how much time do you have? I would legalize the cures for HIV/AIDS, Cancer, and other ailments that exist and make it illegal for people to capitalize of sickness. I would banish oil-guzzling cars and have all cars run on air,water or electricity. (Gas prices out here in LA are outrageous at the moment!). I would make education and travel available to all and do my best to redistribute the wealth. I would educate and rehabilitate prisoners and make fast food restaurants serve food that is good for the people. Also I would make teaching one of the highest paid occupations in the world!
Matthew: Who do you like in today’s soul music world, and music in general?
Joy Jones: For me, soul music is any music that makes my soul and spirit want to smile, dance, cry or be a better person. For me that’s anything from Fela, Nina Simone, Carmen McCrae, Kim Burrell to the stuff I currently find myself listening to like Amel Larrieux, Bilal, Eric Roberson, Ledisi, N’dambi, Georgia Anne Muldrow and Dwele.
Matthew: Who would you say are your passed influences in music?
Joy Jones: You don’t have enough time for me to really answer that question. (lol) Probably many of the people that I have already named. I admire fearless musicians and folks that really harness the power of music and use it for the greater good.
Matthew: When you came to London, did you stay in West London? Because a lot of the broken beat producers seem to be handeling your work? It's being distributed through Goya Music, which is where I'm currently doing work experience for...where did you stay when you came to London?
Joy Jones: When I first came to London I found a little spot in North London, like Kensal Green/Wilsden area. Then I moved to Brixton, where I stayed few a few years. I actually hooked up with the Bugz in the Attic crew through the UK rapper BREIS. He was doing a session with Daz-I-Cue and invited me to collab on a song. That was my introduction to broken beat. That day ushered me into this whole sound.
Matthew: What did you learn from the experience here in London and did you accomplish what you wanted or thought you wanted to do?
Joy Jones: London changed my life. It opened me up to a whole new artistic community that was celebrated and validated. I was like, “Wow! You guys make a living doing art?” I am still amazed by how supportive your government is of artists. I actually met people who lived as poets. Like they paid the rent by writing and performing poetry. It seemed so foreign to me at the time.
I didn’t come to London with any expectations, but it was there that I really came into myself.
Matthew: What made you last cry/smile?
Joy Jones: My friend just had a baby today and I think that I probably did I whole lot of both. I am so excited, it definitely made my day!
Matthew: You write poetry too, what is the current status on Joy Jones' poetry... any book?
Joy Jones: I’ve been focusing more on music lately, but I’m always writing. I definitely hope to publish a few books in the future. So much to do, so little time!
Matthew: Thanks for doing the interview, we finally got it done! :) Good luck with your career and I'll be sure to check you out when you come back to London to perform.
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