Album Review | ‘Here E.P.’ by Joy Clark’s
Joy Clark’s debut EP wafts in with the security of a warm hug as she navigates life’s struggles.
Back in 2021, I had the opportunity to catch Grammy awarding winner Allision Russell open for the talented Yola at the Ryman. Russell brought with her an array of extremely talented musicians to bring her songs to life on stage. One such artist was her guitarist Joy Clark. The New Orleans native began her love of music through her exposure to the gospel of her parent’s church. After coming out as queer, her relationship with the church and her parent was unfortunately stranded. Using the building blocks of her upbringing, Joy began to shape the music career she has today. Her debut EP Here exhibits some of the influences she’s garnered from folk and singer-songwriters like Tracy Chapman and the Indigo Girls.
The title track, “Here,” gives the audience space to release their anxieties. Clark wrote on her Bandcamp page that the song was a purger of emotions built up during a time of change and stress:
“There comes a time in life when you realize mental health is vital to your well-being. ‘Here’ came to me during a time a stress and new beginnings. I had just moved into a new place on my own and bills were piling up;all the while learning how to feel feelings and be okay with them. I woke up one morning and made a choice to write exactly what I was feeling — -keeping in mind how nature gives us so much beauty and how singing a simple song can change ones perspective. I hope ‘Here’ gives light to someone, somewhere.” — Joy Clark via her Bandcamp page (2020)
Clark gives the piece an air of softness through her delicate guitar work and tranquil vocals. Seeing as this was penned to elevate her nerves, this treatment lulls its listener into a place of placid calm beautifully. She pushes against her intrusive thoughts by focusing on her favorite outlet, “Then a thought creeps in my head / Takes me out my element / Listing problems A-Z / Anxiety and fear and stress / Then a little voice inside / Tells me I’m gon’ be alright / I’ve got everything I need / All I gotta do is sing.” While I think it can feel a bit too airy at times, I do like the softness she brings throughout the song.
“Love Yourself” is a touching ode to finding the beauty in who you are. Clark celebrates the many differences that make her unique, “I’ve been told/ Don’t be too bold/ Girls don’t do this/ Girls don’t do that and so on/ But I listened to my heart/ I never played that part/ I’ll choose who I’m gonna be.” She wishes she could show her younger self just how happy she would become following her path. I love the lush soundscape Clark paints with. It reminds me a lot of some of Paula Cole’s more folk-oriented offerings in the 90s. Joy’s voice carries a sense of confidence that envelopes you with the drive to take on the world.
Joy captures the bliss of being next to the one you love in “I Will Be Here.” You are immediately taken to the quiet security of lying beside your partner as you give a promise to always be by their side, “I will not brag / I will not boast / all I wanna do is hold you close / So just say the word/ And I will be here.” Clark’s voice is almost a whisper rocked by the hush of her guitar. It easily evokes the idea of being sung to see by your partner. Her compassionate tone offers a sweet experience.
Her final offering shakes loose the worries of life’s many transitions in “Changes.” She uses many examples to show that change is inevitable. I like this verse, “Trees oh the trees lose their leaves / That’s what growing tends to do / Whispers from the winter’s breeze / Speaks of me and you / One day we will come to see / That letting go of old / Doesn’t mean we’re losing you and me, no / It only means we’ve grown,” which displays that embracing these moments doesn’t have to be a painful thing. Her simplistic singer/songwriter set-dressing gives the audience a safe place to ruminate on her words. It’s fitting that her acoustic sound gives off a sort of autumnal imagery. She captures its beauty over its chill.
Hearing Joy’s solo work gives me a new appreciation for her talents. Her brand of folk-inspired singer/songwriter tracks brings me back to the early 90s when artists like Paula Cole, Tasmin Archer, Suzanne Vega, and Ani Difranco brought life to the genre. Clark’s voice gives off such a sense of comfort as she discusses life’s struggles and beauty. You can also hear a hint of Louisiana flavor coming through the way she organizes each piece. It’s a shame the EP only has 4 tracks to enjoy. My only hang-up is the title track feels a little too breezy compared to the other three on this release. Joy has released several singles since the release of this EP. I hope she releases another full-bodied project in the future. If you are interested in any of her work, check out her Bandcamp page to see some of the releases you can’t get on streaming services.
My overall thoughts on Joy Clark’s Here EP:
Loved it: “Love Yourself”, “Changes” & “I Will Be Here”
Liked it: “Here”
Disliked it: None
My overall thoughts: 7.5 out of 10.
