The Joy Tickets

The five member group’s first release was the 2021 EP Amabutho, a combination of traditional Zulu music with a modern a capella flourish that perfectly encapsulated the band’s spirit. The reviews for the EP were uniformly glowing with Clash, a UK-based music and fashion magazine, describing single “Isencane Lengane” as “a gorgeous piece of music, so relaxing in its gentle flow and subtle distillation of sound”.

The group’s next recording, the single “Egoli”, was released in November 2022 and took The Joy into a rich, melodic, and uplifting music terrain. Produced by Tiago Correia Paulo (Bongeziwe Mabandla, Tumi and the Volume), “Egoli” beautifully showcased what happens when The Joy’s signature harmonies are supported by Maskandi-influenced guitarwork and delicate production flourishes.

“Egoli” was followed by “Mountain”, a sparse but deeply affecting track that was released in April 2023 and has been included on Spotify’s Gospel Greatness playlist and reached number 2 on Redeemed. The next single comes in the form of “Umona”, releasing April 25th, with a new EP, Hammarsdale – named after the KwaZulu Natal township where the quintet is from – following in August 2023.

The Joy is also currently expanding its reach through an uplifting international collaboration and several high-profile live appearances. The collaboration is with The Blessed Madonna on the single “Shades of Love” which, after its release in February 2023, spent more than four weeks on BBC’s Radio 1 Playlist and charted on PROUD on Amazon. In May, The Joy joined the lineup of The Great Escape’s Spotlight Shows, playing alongside Arlo Parks and EEE GEE in May in a show presented by Rolling Stone UK.

With music as deeply affecting as that created by The Joy and captivating live performances to match, it is no wonder The Joy has caught the attention of artists like Alicia Keys, Sam Smith and Jennifer Hudson.