Joy Oladokun
{{Short description|Singer-songwriter and folk musician}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Joy Oladokun
| image = File:P20221213HF-0034 (52651400933) (cropped).jpg
| caption = Oladokun performing at the White House, 2022
| birth_name = Olubukola Joy Oladokun{{cite web|url=https://madison.com/entertainment/music/joy-oladokun-sings-about-the-rage-of-what-it-takes-to-just-be-awake/article_b9a123d2-3af0-544b-b7d3-93bbbe96bf5f.html|title=Joy Oladokun sings about 'the rage of what it takes to just be awake'|last=Derby|first=Samara Kalk|website=Wisconsin State Journal|date=April 22, 2022|access-date=April 4, 2023}}
| birth_place = Casa Grande, Arizona, US
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1992|4|6|mf=y}}
| years_active = 2016–present
| website = {{URL|http://joyoladokun.com/}}
| genre = {{hlist|Folk|Alternative Country|R&B|pop{{cite web|url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/reviews/albums/joy-oladokun-in-defense-of-my-own-happiness-album-review|title=Joy Oladokun's eclectic pop reflections brim with judgement and aspiration|last=Hansen|first=Susan|website=The Line of Best Fit|date=August 7, 2020|accessdate=February 20, 2021}}|roots rock{{cite web|url=https://music.allaccess.com/an-interview-with-joy-oladokun-on-her-debut-album-carry-her-favorite-artists-and-what-inspires-her-each-day/|title=An Interview With JOY OLADOKUN On Her Debut Album "Carry", Her Favorite Artists and What Inspires Her Each Day|website=All Access|date=May 5, 2016|accessdate=February 20, 2021}}|folk-pop}}
| label = {{hlist|Well|White Boy|Amigo|Verve Forecast|Republic{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/sorry-isnt-good-enough-single/1563329063|title=sorry isn't good enough - single by Joy Oladokun|website=Apple Music|access-date=April 30, 2021}}}}
}}
Olubukola Joy Oladokun (born April 6, 1992{{Cite web|last=Oladokun|first=Joy|date=September 15, 2021|title=How Singer-Songwriter Joy Oladokun Is Defending Her Own Happiness|url=https://wamu.org/story/21/09/15/how-singer-songwriter-joy-oladokun-is-defending-her-own-happiness/|access-date=2021-09-15|website=WAMU|language=en}}) is an American singer-songwriter. Oladokun's music spans the genres of folk, R&B, rock, and pop and is influenced by her identity as a queer person of color. She has released five studio albums: Carry (2016), In Defense of My Own Happiness (The Beginnings) (2020), In Defense of My Own Happiness (2021), Proof of Life (2023), and Observations From a Crowded Room (2024).
Early life
Oladokun grew up in Casa Grande, Arizona, listening to country and folk music, as well as Bob Marley and Lauryn Hill.{{Cite web|last=Brow|first=Jason|date=June 1, 2020|title=Joy Oladokun Finds Herself Connecting With A Greater Purpose On The Inspirational 'Mercy'|url=https://hollywoodlife.com/2020/06/18/joy-oladokun-mercy-new-song/|access-date=July 24, 2020|website=Hollywood Life|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=Joy Oladokun 2011 Women's Tennis Roster {{!}} Hope International University Athletics|url=http://www.hiuroyals.com/roster/8/8/148|access-date=2020-11-16|website=www.hiuroyals.com|language=en}}{{Dead link|date=December 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Both of her parents are Nigerian immigrants to the United States. Her family regularly attended a Christian church, where Oladokun was chosen to lead worship. Later, Oladokun left the church because it limited her creativity.{{Cite web|last=Hight|first=Jewly|date=December 4, 2019|title=Mercy Bell And Joy Oladokun On Finding Their Voices, And Common Ground, Through Folk|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/world-cafe/2019/12/04/784380232/mercy-bell-and-joy-oladokun-on-finding-their-voices-and-common-ground-through-fo|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=July 24, 2020|website=NPR|language=en}}
When Oladokun was 10, a video of Tracy Chapman inspired her to learn guitar.
After college, at a friend's suggestion, Oladokun moved to Los Angeles to pursue her music career. She later moved to East Nashville, where she signed with Prescription Songs.{{Cite web|last=Ladd|first=Olivia|date=February 2, 2020|title=Outstanding Storyteller Joy Oladokun on Finding Her Voice in Music City|url=https://www.nashvillescene.com/music/features/article/21116887/outstanding-storyteller-joy-oladokun-on-finding-her-voice-in-music-city|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=July 24, 2020|website=Nashville Scene|language=en}}
Career
In 2015, Joy Oladokun self-released her debut EP, Cathedrals. Her debut studio album, Carry, was funded by Kickstarter and released on April 29, 2016, through Well Records.{{Cite web|last=Commander|first=Lowndes|date=July 1, 2020|title=On Happiness and Humanness: A Conversation With Joy Oladokun|url=http://atwoodmagazine.com/jodh-joy-oladokun-interview-2020-defense-of-my-own-happiness-vol-1/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=July 24, 2020|website=Atwood Magazine|language=en-US}}
Oladokun released the single "Sunday" in 2019, saying {{"'}}Sunday' is the song that 12-year-old Joy, seated in the back of church youth group, needed to hear. She needed to hear that you can be queer and happy. Queer and healthy. Queer and holy. She needed to see married women kissing and playing with their kids."{{Cite web|last=Ermac|first=Raffy|date=June 1, 2019|title=Joy Oladokun's New Track 'Sunday' Will Give You All the Feels|url=https://www.pride.com/music/2019/6/19/joy-oladokuns-new-track-sunday-will-give-you-all-feels|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=July 24, 2020|website=www.pride.com|language=en}} The music video highlights people in LGBTQ relationships and has a predominantly queer cast.{{Cite magazine|last=Daw|first=Stephen|date=June 2, 2019|title=Joy Oladokun Celebrates Both the Joy and Fear Of Coming Out in 'Sunday' Video: Watch|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/pride/8516826/joy-oladokun-sunday-video|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=July 24, 2020|magazine=Billboard}}
In 2020, during the Black Lives Matter movement Oladokun released "Who Do I Turn To?", a ballad co-written with Natalie Hemby.{{Cite web|last=Mauch|first=Ally|date=June 5, 2020|title=Singer Joy Oladokun Releases Powerful Ballad 'Who Do I Turn To?' in Support of Black Lives Matter|url=https://people.com/music/singer-joy-oladokun-releases-powerful-ballad-amid-george-floyd-protests/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=July 24, 2020|website=PEOPLE.com|language=EN}} Oladokun’s song "Mercy" follows in the same theme, describing her experience as a black person in the United States, while the single "I See America" criticizes systemic racism.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=June 2, 2020|title=A Look At Songs Inspired By The 2020 Protests For Racial Justice|url=https://www.npr.org/2020/06/27/884213562/a-look-at-songs-inspired-by-the-2020-protests-for-racial-justice|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=July 24, 2020|website=NPR|language=en}}{{Cite web|last=Trageser|first=Stephen|date=2020-10-26|title=Joy Oladokun Issues a Firm, Gentle Call to Action in 'I See America'|url=https://www.nashvillescene.com/music/nashville-cream/article/21144121/joy-oladokun-issues-a-firm-gentle-call-to-action-in-i-see-america|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-10-29|website=Nashville Scene|language=en}} NPR listed "I See America" on its 100 Best Songs of 2020.{{Cite web|title=The 100 Best Songs Of 2020 (Nos. 80-61)|url=https://www.npr.org/2020/12/03/934634561/the-100-best-songs-of-2020-page-2|access-date=2020-12-04|website=NPR.org|date=December 3, 2020 |language=en}}
On July 17, 2020, Oladokun released her second studio album, In Defense of My Own Happiness (The Beginnings), with White Boy Records.{{Cite magazine|last=Daw|first=Stephen|date=2020-07-31|title=Joy Oladokun Found Happiness As a Queer Black Woman. Now It's Her 'Responsibility and Gift' To Share That Experience|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/pride/9427848/joy-oladokun-artist-of-the-month-profile|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-08-01|magazine=Billboard}} Billboard described the album as a "stunningly emotional collection".{{Cite magazine|last=Daw|first=Stephen|date=July 1, 2020|title=First Out: New Music From Troye Sivan, The Aces, Shamir & More|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/pride/9420373/new-music-troye-sivan-aces-shamir|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=July 24, 2020|magazine=Billboard}} Mitch Mosk, editor-in-chief of Atwood Magazine, called it a "a sweeping, soaring, and stunning sophomore record oozing heart and soul."{{Cite web|date=2020-12-21|title=Atwood Magazine's Top Artist Discoveries of 2020|url=http://atwoodmagazine.com/2020-artists-of-the-year/|access-date=2021-01-18|website=Atwood Magazine|language=en-US}}
In 2021, Oladokun received a grant from YouTube's "#YouTubeBlack Voices Fund".{{Cite magazine|last=Cirisano|first=Tatiana|date=2021-01-12|title=YouTube Launches Grant Program for Black Creators & Artists|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/9509542/youtube-black-artists-creators-grant-program/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2021-01-18|magazine=Billboard|language=en}} The same year she signed with Amigo Records, Verve Forecast Records, and Republic Records. On June 4, 2021, she released her third studio album, In Defense of My Own Happiness.
On February 17, 2023, Oladokun announced her fourth studio album, Proof of Life, along with the release of the first song off the album entitled "Changes". On March 16, 2023, Oladokun announced the next single off the album entitled "We're All Gonna Die", featuring Noah Kahan, and the lyric video of the song appeared on April 4. On April 20, Oladokun announced her tour for the album which she called "The Living Proof Tour", the tickets for which went on sale on April 25. The tour started on September 10, and ended on October 5, 2023. On April 28, Oladokun released Proof of Life. The album features Mt. Joy (on the track "Friends"), Manchester Orchestra ("You At The Table"), Maxo Kream ("Revolution"), Chris Stapleton ("Sweet Symphony") and Noah Kahan ("We're All Gonna Die").
In August 2024, Oladokun was the opening act for four North American shows on Hozier’s Unreal Unearth Tour. She will also open for the tour’s shows in Australia and New Zealand in November 2024.
Personal life
Oladokun is gender-nonconforming,{{Cite web |title=Get To Know: Joy Oladokun |url=https://stories.sweetjuly.com/editorial/get-to-know-joy-oladokun/ |access-date=2024-08-29 |website=Sweet July |language=en-US}} and "not totally in the binary."{{Cite magazine |last=Nussbaum |first=Emily |date=2023-07-17 |title=Country Music's Culture Wars and the Remaking of Nashville |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2023/07/24/country-musics-culture-wars-and-the-remaking-of-nashville |access-date=2024-08-29 |magazine=The New Yorker |language=en-US |issn=0028-792X}}
Discography
{{Infobox artist discography
|Artist=Joy Oladokun
|Studio=5
|EP=2
|Singles=33
|Music videos = 9}}
=Studio albums=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:17em;"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album details ! scope="col" colspan="3"| Peak chart positions |
| scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;"| US Sales {{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/joy-oladokun/chart-history/tsl/|title=Joy Oladokun Chart History (Top Album Sales)|magazine=Billboard|access-date=May 9, 2023}} ! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;"| US ! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;"| UK |
|---|
| scope="row"|Carry
|
| – || – || – |
| scope="row"|In Defense of My Own Happiness (The Beginnings){{efn|group=upper-alpha|Originally released as In Defense of My Own Happiness (Vol. 1)}}
|
| – || – || – |
| scope="row"|In Defense of My Own Happiness
|
| – || – || – |
| scope="row"|Proof of Life
|
| 96 || 19 || 25 |
| scope="row"|Observations From A Crowded Room{{Cite web |title=Joy Oladokun - Official Site |url=https://www.joyoladokun.com |access-date=2024-10-19 |website=Joy Oladokun |language=en-US}}
|
|– |– |– |
=Reissued albums=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1"
! scope="col" rowspan="1" style="width:12em;"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="1" style="width:16em;"| Details |
| scope="row"|In Defense of My Own Happiness (Complete)
|
|
|---|
| scope="row"|Proof of Life (Deluxe)
|
|
=Extended plays=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1"
! scope="col" rowspan="1" style="width:12em;"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="1" style="width:16em;"| Details |
| scope="row"|Cathedrals
|
|
|---|
| scope="row"|Spotify Singles
|
|
=Singles=
==As lead artist==
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:17em;"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year ! scope="col" colspan="2"| Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album |
| scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;"| US Rock Air. {{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/joy-oladokun/rka|title=Joy Oladokun Chart History (Rock & Alternative Airplay)|magazine=Billboard|access-date=June 21, 2023}} ! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;"| US |
|---|
| scope="row"|"Shelter"
|rowspan="2"|2016 | – | – |Carry |
| scope="row"|"Memphis"
| – | – |rowspan="4" {{n/a|Non-album singles}} |
| scope="row"|"No Turning Back"
|2017 | – | – |
| scope="row"|"Sober"
|2018 | – | – |
| scope="row"|"Blame"
|rowspan="3"|2019 | – | – |
| scope="row"|"Sunday"{{efn|group=upper-alpha|Later included on In Defense of My Own Happiness}}
| – | – |In Defense of My Own Happiness (The Beginnings) |
| scope="row"|"Blink Twice"
| – | – |{{n/a|Non-album single}} |
| scope="row"|"Too High"
|rowspan="11"|2020 | – | – |rowspan="6"|In Defense of My Own Happiness (The Beginnings) |
| scope="row"|"Unwelcoming"
| – | – |
| scope="row"|"Bad Blood"
| – | – |
| scope="row"|"Breathe Again"{{efn|group=upper-alpha|Later included on In Defense of My Own Happiness}}
| – | – |
| scope="row"|"Who Do I Turn To?"
| – | – |
| scope="row"|"Mercy" (featuring Tim Gent) | – | – |
| scope="row"|"If You Got a Problem"
| – | – |rowspan="4"|In Defense of My Own Happiness |
| scope="row"|"I See America"
| – | – |
| scope="row"|"Look Up"
| – | – |
| scope="row"|"Mighty Die Young"
| – | – |
| scope="row"|"My Girl"
| – | – |{{n/a|Non-album single}} |
| scope="row"|"Wish You the Best" (featuring Jensen McRae) |rowspan="6"|2021 | – | – |rowspan="4"|In Defense of My Own Happiness |
| scope="row"|"Jordan"
| – | – |
| scope="row"|"Sorry Isn't Good Enough"
| – | – |
| scope="row"|"Bigger Man" (with Maren Morris) | – | – |
| scope="row"|"Who Are You"
| – | – |rowspan="2" {{n/a|Non-album single}} |
| scope="row"|"Jingle Bells"
| – | – |
| scope="row"|"Keeping the Light On"
|rowspan="6"|2022 | – | – |Proof of Life |
| scope="row"|"Fortune Favors the Bold" {{small|(featuring Tim Gent)}} | – | – |{{non-album single}} |
| scope="row"|"Purple Haze"
| – | – |rowspan="2"|Proof of Life |
| scope="row"|"Sweet Symphony" {{small|(with Chris Stapleton)}} | – |25 |
| scope="row"|"Be Careful" {{small|(with Madi Diaz and S.G. Goodman)}} | – | – |rowspan="2" {{non-album singles}} |
| scope="row"|"Power" {{small|(from the Al Sharpton documentary Loudmouth)}} |– | – |
| scope="row"|"Changes"
|rowspan="3"|2023 | – | – |rowspan="3"|Proof of Life |
| scope="row"|"We're All Gonna Die" {{small|(featuring Noah Kahan)}} | 46 | – |
| scope="row"|"Taking Things For Granted"
| – | – |
==As featured artist==
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:17em;"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year ! scope="col" colspan="2"| Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album |
| scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;"| US Adult {{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/joy-oladokun/chart-history/atf|title=Joy Oladokun Chart History (Adult pop Airplay|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 29, 2021}} ! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;"| CAN |
|---|
| scope="row"|"We Don't Know We're Living" {{small|(Lucie Silvas featuring Brandi Carlile and Joy Oladokun)}} |rowspan="2"|2021 |― || ― |{{N/A|Non-album single}} |
| scope="row"|"Someone Like You" {{small|(Noah Kahan featuring Joy Oladokun)}} |27 || 50 |I Was/I Am |
| scope="row"|"It's a Good Day (To Fight the System)" {{small|(Shungudzo featuring Joy Oladokun)}} |2022 |― || ― |{{TBA}} |
=Music videos=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
! scope="col" style="width:17em;"| Title ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Director(s) |
| scope="row"|"Sober"
|2018 |David O'Donohue |
|---|
| scope="row"|"Blame"
|rowspan="2"|2019 |TBA |
| scope="row"|"Sunday"
|Sami Lane |
| scope="row"|"If You Got a Problem"
|2020 |rowspan="3"|Noah Tidmore |
| scope="row"|"Wish You the Best" {{small|(featuring Jensen McRae)}} |rowspan="2"|2021 |
| scope="row"|"Sorry Isn't Good Enough" |
| scope="row"|"Purple Haze"
|rowspan="2"|2022 |{{unknown}} |
| scope="row"|"Sweet Symphony" {{small|(featuring Chris Stapleton)}} |Mason Allen and Nicki Fletcher |
| scope="row"|"Changes"
|2023 |{{unknown}} |
= Notes =
{{notelist-ua}}
Accolades
| class="wikitable"
|+ !Year !Association !Category !Nominated Work !Result !Ref |
| 2021
| Emerging Act of the Year | Herself | {{nominated}} | align="center"|{{cite web|url=https://americanamusic.org/awards/2021|title=Americana Music Awards 2021|website=Americana Music Association|access-date=January 30, 2022}} |
| 2022
| Outstanding Breakthrough Music Artist | In Defense of My Own Happiness | {{nominated}} |
References
External links
- [http://joyoladokun.com/ Official website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240110173210/https://www.joyoladokun.com/ |date=January 10, 2024 }}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Oladokun, Joy}}
Category:African-American women singer-songwriters
Category:American women singer-songwriters
Category:American contemporary R&B singers
Category:American women pop singers
Category:American women rock singers
Category:American folk singers
Category:American folk musicians
Category:American people of Nigerian descent
Category:American pop musicians
Category:American rock musicians
Category:American rock songwriters
Category:Contemporary folk musicians
Category:African-American LGBTQ people
Category:American LGBTQ singers
Category:People from Casa Grande, Arizona
Category:American queer musicians
Category:Republic Records artists
Category:Verve Forecast Records artists
Category:21st-century African-American musicians
Category:21st-century African-American women