Joy Conaway: Music to fill you with "joy!"

Joy is an up and coming independent artist based in Atlanta, GA. We met through a mutual friend in the business, my talented fraternity brother and singer/songwriter Tyrone J. Joy and I instantly hit it off. Her sparkling personality mixed with her gorgeous voice makes this beautiful songstress a breath of fresh air to the indie music scene in Atlanta.

Fast Facts About Joy Conaway

Hometown: Detroit, MI and Atlanta, GA
Schoolin' Life: Georgia State University
Twitter: @joyful_sings
Instagram: @joyful_sings
Facebook: www.facebook.com/atjoyfulsings
Sound: Soul mixed with acoustic pop!
Crayon Box Color: Purple, for royalty.

Pat: So tell me a little about yourself Joy?

Joy: I graduated from GSU last year. My major was television film production with a minor in history…. NOTHING to do with music. You know, it’s really weird. IN high school I didn’t know what I wanted to do. But you know, music doesn’t really pay the bills. Well, I started editing my own videos, music videos and thought hey I could kinda incorporate this into what I want to do in life. I love music and I could still learn a craft that would be helpful down the road.

Pat: So being an actor, I know that it is hard work to get out there. How has it been for you getting your brand out there.

Joy: The first lesson and you know what I’m actually learning it now, not everybody is your friend. I know that sound cliché, but I would go out to others shows and support and when I needed them to come through for me that way, they didn’t show up. My whole thing is people aren’t really against you, but their aren’t for you. They don’t go as hard for you, as you would for them.  And I think that was kind of disappointing, but I think that really pushed me to just do it for myself.

Pat: You consider yourself an indie artist?

Joy: I do. I do. Last year I started calling myself that. People were like, “If you’re don’t want to be an artist then what are you doing?”  But I didn’t want the responsibility of the artistry, because when you’re an artist there’s an expectation of a look and I just wanted to be Joy. But that's not it, that's not even. I think I was just being kind of lazy before and now I'm focused.

Pat: How has that been? Building that image and finding out who Joy is?

Joy: Well, my mom always shopped at thrift stores. Being an indie artist…obviously you don't have any money, so as far as my look, the thrift store is my friend. As far as trying to be high fashion in my look and do these heels, that wasn’t for me. I more comfortable in a vintage, classic, chill vibe. I think that comes across in my music and presentation. Folks were like, “Well your already short, so you should wear heels.” I’m like,  “Ain’t nobody getting in anybody’s heels to trip.” That’s not the idea I have for my life. Finding the look wasn’t hard, but maintaining the look has been a challenge.

Pat: So your confident in your artistry and your image, now comes the music. Can you talk a little about your song writing process? I’d love to talk about Deepest Fear.

Joy: The song writing process. That’s probably my biggest struggle and insecurity. You don’t know if people are going to like it. If people attack it, it feels like they are attacking you. The first song I wrote, “Finally” was a mini anthem for me. I wrote it and recorded it, and I remember releasing it on Sound Cloud and my hands were shaking and I did not want to click submit. If someone doesn’t like your outfit, you get over it. When they don’t like your music that’s hard. Deepest Fear...actually, Tyrone J wrote that. All of it, and it’s amazing and I wanted to sing that.

But my songwriting process is something that I need to grow on. I’m afraid, but I’m going to take the chance. It’s really homework that I need to do. You're not gonna get better unless you do it. That's something that I have to challenge myself to do.

Pat: So musically, who are your inspirations?

Joy: I’m trying to think of the CD’s I have in my car. Artist that have influenced my sound? Well.... John Legend, Rascal Flatts, Katy Perry, Whitney Houston, Keeyen Martin, Michael Jackson, Beyoncé (that's kind of a given...), Doug Whatley, EWF, Jayh, Prince, Norah Jones, Jade Novah, The Clark Sisters, Frank Ocean, Brik Liam, India Shawn, Kelly Clarkson, Pink, The Temptations.... just to name a few.

I definitely enjoy Janelle Monae because she's chill. She's not going to be in the 8-inch heel all the time. She does and wears what she wants. I love that.

Pat: What’s down the road? Artistic goals?

Joy: I had this conversation with God and asked him to surround me with good people. I wanted something that was reachable for me. I’m not looking to jump through hoops. I love singing and I love kids, so I'm trying to put those two together. Singing for a children’s hospital or a cancer ward. I’m looking to connect with places in the area. There are definitely a lot of broken people, but music can heal. People going through cancer or depression need something. Sometimes you can't get to church and sometimes...church can't get to you, but music can.

#artsupportsart

Listen to Joy on Sound Cloud: https://soundcloud.com/joyful_sings

Or, purchase Joy's newest single, Deepest Fear on iTunes HERE.

There's always enough black to go around,

Pat

Keeyen Martin: #DiveN2Luv

I met Keeyen in the halls of the Morehouse College music department. A gifted singer and songwriter, Keeyen has hit the ground running in Atlanta since graduating from Morehouse, stretching his music beyond the black Mecca to listeners across the country.

Hometown: Charlotte, NC

Schoolin' Life: Morehouse College
Crayon Box Color: Macaroni & Cheese

Website: www.keeyenmartin.com

Facebook: Keeyen Martin

Twitter: @KeeyenMartin

Instagram: Keeyen Martin

Pat: So, who is Keeyen Martin?

Keeyen: I’m originally from Charlotte, NC. I was introduced to music at about 2 or 3 and took to singing pretty quickly. My love for music was further cultivated all through my childhood through choir and soloing and playing piano. My father’s side of the family is VERY musically inclined. I guess you can say my first professional experience was my junior year in high school. I was exposed to Donald Lawrence of the Tri City Singers and a few other gospel artists and singers. Then, I decided to move to Atlanta, specifically for music but also for Morehouse. There’s been a lot of great opportunities for me singing professionally and writing for well known artists. Now, as a graduate of Morehouse it has warranted many opportunities for me. I vocal coach professionally and perform music full time, which is really really amazing.

Pat: You’ve had the opportunity to work with the Atlanta Music Project.

Keeyen: The Atlanta Music Project is a social change program that tries to empower young scholars to use music as a change agent. The program seeks to influence them academically, socially and musically. I was introduced to AMP by the co-founder Aisha Bowden during my Music Seminar at Morehouse. I was interested and applied to every open position. They had a position for a woodwind conductor and I even applied for that, and I don’t play woodwinds. At my interview, Aisha said,  “You applied to everything” and I was like, “Yeah, I knew that someone had to meet me.” I was hired as a side assistant, which was great. Basically, we did everything from teaching to mentoring. It was such a great experience. AMP is based out of Ivy Preparatory Academy, which caters to a lot of families in the Decatur area, low-income families who would probably not get this type of exposure to music. One of the best things for me was coming to the school, working with the kids and seeing their growth. By the end of the year, these kids could sight read! They could read rhythms and knew what repertoire is…it was just really fun. I’ve always been attracted to various programs that reach out to youth, especially that are in the performing arts that really empower young people beyond just cultivating their talents.

Pat: So how has your transition been from your artistry as a student to an independent artist in Atlanta?

Keeyen: It’s been both a challenge and a learning experience. I think that a lot of times when we look at challenges, we are sort of ‘over it’ and are ready for the success to happen. For me, at Morehouse I always had a huge function to build my brand beyond the AUC (Atlanta University Center). There were so many people [professionals] doing what we [student musicians] were doing and I knew it was vital to make a connection to them. By my sophomore year that’s when I began to make the shift and started to become acquainted with the Atlanta music scene, which made my transition as a young professional artist a lot easier. What was really cool was to be welcomed and received by these Atlanta artists now, because I connected with them when I was a student.

The one challenge I’ve had has been with stopping myself from getting overwhelmed with the reality of the city where almost everyone is an artist. I had to rest on the fact that I had my own gifts and talents and as long as I focused on them, they would speak for themselves. I’ve allowed myself to not be intimidated and have been holding fast to who I am and what I do; it’s allowed me to be pretty successful. No one can share your gift the way you can.

Pat: So you recently came out with your newest single, #DiveN2Luv. Can you talk to a little bit about your song writing process?

Keeyen: I was always that kid that enjoyed telling stories based off of whatever writing prompts we had in school. I started writing songs when I was about eleven or twelve and I wanted a stranger to literally see what I was writing or singing about. With #DiveN2Luv, I wanted it to capture two things that were important to me: I wanted to become a commercially successful artist. That being said, I knew that the song should be something catchy, that is simple and radio friendly, but because I’m quite lyrical I also sought to paint a picture of this love affair. The other half was rooted in my love for music from the 60’s. The swing, the snap, how they dress…I wanted all of that in that. What I love about songs is that a lot of times we don’t always remember all the lyrics, but it’s that hook….that’s the part they remember. So I try to bridge or marriage the depth of who I am with my passion to create music that reaches people and they can sing along with me.

Pat: What are big things on the horizon?

Keeyen: Certainly, really making my stamp as a recording artist, which I guess is interesting because I technically am. But when I think of a recording artist, I think of someone who is constantly recording and has a body of music. Some people will say, “Oh I’m a recording artist,” but I’m like, “Sweet heart you don’t have anything beyond your city…wait a minute someone’s not telling the truth.” Before #DiveN2Luv, I released a mixtape while I was at Morehouse and it was received really really well. From having such great response people are asking if I am putting out an album or an EP and I’m like no and no. I’ve learned to enjoy the journey and not release my product until I feel that it’s time. You’re the person that is refining it and cultivating it. I want to take the time to build my original catalog. I have songs for days…but there’s a lot that I still need to record and clean up. I want whatever I release to be the most polished product of Keeyen Martin that I can. I just want to release music to let people know that I have original music that’s great beyond just a few singles.

I’m prepping to get aboard some music festivals as well as a tour opportunity that I have with The Alignment, which is an independent artist show case that I put together with your frat brother JaCoby (Brik Liam), and two other female artists JayH and Tiffany Stevenson. We just wanted to create our own, because the struggle is real but the beautiful thing about the indie market was to create something for yourself. So we had our first show last summer at Apache Café and another show earlier this year in January with the help of your frat brother Christopher Patterson. We’re planning on another show sometime this summer and that will be the start of the tour. Artistic growth and development for the rest of 2014.

#artsupportsart

• Keeyen will be perfoming live at Dupp+Swat on Friday June, 6^th at 7PM in Charlotte, NC.
• #DiveN2Luv is available on iTunes, here.
• See Crayon Box Artist, Aaron Leo Gregory’s choreography to #DiveN2Luv, here.

There's always enough black to go around,

Pat