New Orleans-based Americana artist Dusky Waters is back with her highly anticipated new single, 'A House on King Street', accompanied by a powerful music video filmed at the Whitney Plantation Museum. Available on all major streaming platforms on October 25, 2024, fans can pre-save the track now. This marks Dusky’s first release since her critically acclaimed debut LP 'Pass It On', which she released independently in June 2023. In Dusky's own words, 'A House on King Street' is deeply personal: "This song is a meditation on what it means to find a place that feels like home, told through the stories of my ancestors and my own journey of finding belonging in New Orleans. Last year, at a family gathering for my maternal grandmother, stories of our family’s history were told, all centered around this house that my great grandfather, a carpenter, built in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. It was a refuge from the racial violence of Jim Crow Arkansas, a place where my great-great grandfather, who was emancipated in Mississippi, also found safety after making his way to Arkansas. Their stories of resilience have deeply inspired me. The search for a place of safety and wholeness is something so many of us are striving for in a really turbulent world. This song is my ode to everyone on this journey.” Meanwhile, acclaimed New Orleans singer/songwriter/guitarist Joy Clark releases her debut album, Tell it to the Wind. A proud, queer, Black woman, Tell it to the Wind is both a declaration of Joy's independence, and a love letter to the traditions that shaped her. After a childhood steeped in music from the church, Clark left the confines of that experience to find her true community. After becoming a sought-out side player in New Orleans, her incredible musicianship, tenacity and sheer instinct landed her a regular spot playing with Grammy winner and living legend Cyril Neville, mesmerizing audiences in the U.S. and abroad. Clark’s songcraft, paired with sophisticated progressions, and themes of freedom, love and self-acceptance are gaining her momentum on the national folk and Americana scene. Both releases can be found on all music platforms - see taster videos below:
Joycelyn Owens goes by the professional name 'Joy' - not just a simplification, but a pure distillation of the effect her voice has on an audience. She's backed up funk legend Dr. John and toured as the featured backup vocalist with Walter 'Wolfman' Washington. Stages she's graced include the New Orleans House of Blues and the Maple Leaf Bar. In 2016, she released her debut EP, 'Just Like That', and having tested the waters, is in the process of launching her solo career in earnest. She's a proud native of New Orleans.
Her new single, 'Don't Wanna Lose Your Love', is a sultry slice of New Orleans soul. You can listen to it here: Tell us about your new record, what's it all about? My new single is titled 'Don't Wanna Lose Your Love' and as the name implies, it's about not wanting to lose someone you love. Don't Wanna Lose Your Love goes into a very open, very vulnerable place of letting someone know what they mean to you and how much you care about them. So you're New Orleans born and bred? I'm a born, bred and cornbread fed, New Orleanian! I love my city so much, the culture, the atmosphere, and especially the music. I'm a very creative person and I really thrive in a lively atmosphere, that's what keeps me connected to NOLA. It's in the air, it's in the water, in the streets. I'm quite well traveled, and the whole vibe is so unlike anywhere I've ever been. Tell us a little bit about your experience of the music scene here. Which local musicians or artists have been your inspirations or mentors? I've had a lot of amazing experiences in the music scene in NOLA. One of my most cherished experiences is when I performed at the B.B. King tribute at Jazz Fest. As for inspiration, Irma Thomas inspired me as she has five children just like I do and she has been able to soar and really thrive in music. I've also had the good fortune of being taken under the wings of Dr. John and Walter 'Wolfman' Washington. They were the best mentors I could have asked for and I miss them dearly. Which local venues do you most like to perform at? And where do you like to go and see live music? I love performing at Tipitina's, The House of Blues Gospel Brunch, and I really enjoyed my musical residency at B.B. Kings Blues club. I like going to the Orpheum and the Joy theater to see live music as well as the New Orleans Jazz Museum. Where do you like to hang out/see friends/eat/drink in NOLA? I like eating at Commander's Palace, Galatoire's and Brennan's. I also like walking with friends in Audubon park. Where can we see you next or find out more about you? You can find me on all social media platforms @Iamjoyorleans, and see all my upcoming tour dates, events and releases on my website Joyorleans.com
Different day, sane wit
There are two bears inside of you and they’re both really into Alexis and the Sanity. The artists (Alexis Marceaux and Sam Craft) formerly known as Alexis and the Samurai have rebranded, and their debut single doubles as a trippy clarion call to self improvement as well as, perhaps, a melodically confident artist’s statement. The undulating synths and warm vocals set against a backdrop of ethereal moans brought The Eurythmics and Kate Bush to this Terminally Gen-X mind. Marceaux has a tangibly Lennoxian control to her voice, able to emote evocatively whether its via whispers or wails, the full spectrum intriguing enough to command your attention. Meanwhile, the annoyingly talented multi-instrumentalist Sam Craft noodles with a nice array of future-retro electronica, nostalgic and cutting edge at the same time. Can we say Craftwerk? I think we can. The hymnal-like chorus is uplifting musically and spiritually: “Stand up on your hind legs/If you want to evolve/There’s an animal in us all”. It’s hard to argue with, and even harder to not be beguiled by this lovely, affirming slice of inventive pop. (PO) Alexis and the Sanity website |
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