Joy Oladokun

Joy Oladokun, a talented singer-songwriter known for her introspective music on identity and mental health, shares her journey of perseverance in the music industry. She discusses the complexities of navigating personal identity and authenticity, revealing the pressures faced by queer artists. Joy candidly reflects on the idea of quitting, the joy of new connections, and the emotional weight of self-discovery. With a humorous touch, she also shares anecdotes about love and creativity, highlighting the importance of embracing individuality.

Joy Oladokun is a singer and songwriter from Arizona, now based in Nashville, who’s been releasing music since 2015. Last year, she was named an Artist to Watch by NPR, Spotify, and Amazon, and she was #1 on Vogue’s list of New LGBTQ Artists To Listen to Now. She put out her third album, In Defense of My Own Happiness, in June 2021. It includes the song “Look Up.” For that track, she worked with Grammy-nominated songwriter and producer Dave Bassett, and while they were working and talking, they recorded a couple long voice memos. Joy sent me those voice memos, and in this episode, in addition to the stems of the recording, and Joy’s story about how it was made, you’ll hear the actual moments in late 2019 when the song was first coming together. Joy explains how the song was inspired by the different, and maybe opposite ways that she and her partner see the world. For more, visit songexploder.net/joy-oladokun.