The Joy on a roll after opening for Doja Cat
THE Joy have been on a high since their performance on Sunday at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in California, USA.
The male a cappella group, made up of Pastor (Ntokozo Bright Magcaba), Duzie (Melokuhle Mkhungo), Guduza (Sphelele Hlophe), Sthombe (Phelelani Sithole) and Marcus (Sanele Ngcobo), were the opening act for award-winning superstar Doja Cat, who later upstaged her 2022 Coachella performance.
The Paint The Town Red music artist hand-picked the choir after they collaborated with her on two recently released singles, Acknowledge Me and Shutcho, which were re-imagined to incorporate lyrics in Zulu.
Doja Cat’s arty set included backup dancers, lasers, flames and wild visuals. The rapper started with Acknowledge Me and transitioned to Shutcho, led by The Joy. This big moment for the group arrived hot on the heels of their new single, You Complete Me and news of their self-titled debut album, which is set for release on June 21.
The 11-track album was recorded
live at Church Studios in Crouch End, London, with no instruments or overdubs. Songs include Uhlenge, Amaqatha Amancane, Mama ka Nomthandazo and Bayang’khetela.
The group, which hails from Hammarsdale, KZN, have been together since they were teenagers.
A statement explained that they met at their school’s choir when they all turned up earlier than everyone else to practise and started spontaneously jamming a new song into existence.
“In that moment came the realisation that something beyond their collective understanding seemed to happen when they alighted upon the same song,” read the statement.
Award-winning artists Alicia Keys and Jennifer Hudson are fans of the group, with Hudson calling them “my favourite group” and inviting them onto her talk show.
They made their UK debut TV appearances last year on the BBC coverage of Glastonbury and as part of popular UK pianist and band leader, Jools Holland’s 30th anniversary.