Look Up
Recently I learned about Joy Oladokun first from Osheta Moore. I searched up Joy’s name on Apple music and started playing her album “In defence of my own happiness.” Her voice and honesty layered with her guitar playing or the peaceful piano backgrounds left me a in awe. I am drawn to her lyrics that are full of depth and sadness and yet, as she shares in her bio, a “glimmer of hope.”
“when you listen to me, i want you to feel like you’ve taken an emotional shower,” she leaves off. “that’s what i’m trying to accomplish for myself. to me, music is a vehicle of catharsis. i write a lot of sad songs, but i always push for a sliver of a silver lining or glimmer of hope it could be better. that’s why i’m writing in the first place. i want you to be changed when you hear me, and not because i’m special, but because i make music with the intention to change myself.”
Some of my favorites from Joy’s newest album are: “if you got a problem”, “i see america”, “breath again”, “the mighty die young”, “look up”, “Bigger man”, “mercy” and “judas”….I guess really I just like the whole album, but these stand out to me.
I find Joy’s voice soothing, hopeful and powerfully calling out for change. Thank you, Joy Oladokun, for writing music that inspires change in all of us. I’m listening. And I am changed because of it.
I didn’t necesarily paint this picture thinking of “Look up”, but as the sky and tree evovled it reminded me of Joy’s song. This part of her song is what I think of when I look at the branches of this tree reaching up to the sky…
Look up
Do you see the sunlight?
Look up
There's flowers in your hair
Hold on
'Cause somebody loves you
You know trouble's always gonna be there
Don't lеt it bring you to your knees
Look up
