JoyLuv an independent electronic music artist from New York started her career at a young age. Luckily, she also realized at a young age, that the best way to express her talent and emotions was by venturing off on her own as an independent artist. Having been recognized by a music label early in her career, she quickly saw the big disadvanatages that a large label brings with it.

JoyLuv is now on her own and well on her way to create some of the best electronic soulful music in NYC and the world. She currently teamed up with producer J. Glaze, and they are both working hard to produce music for her upcoming album in Summer 2008.

Check out what inspires Joyluv and her decision to produce, market, and sell her own music. Stay posted here on LaUnion1910 for updates on JoyLuv in 2008.

1) Your career began as a professional musician at a very young age, tell us a little about Joy at the age of 15 and what inspired you then?

At 15, I was fighting with my two sides. I was involved with a choir that I rehearsed with four times a week. We traveled around the world and performed in competitions. At the same time I had my rebellious, downtown-girl side. But through it all, I was just inspired to learn as much as I possibly could about music. How music was made, and what I could do with harmonies; things like that. Also, I was just beginning to learn about the other end of the spectrum: electronic music. Production, engineering and acoustics, all important aspects of making and understanding great music.




2) How did you land a record label deal and why did you decide to venture as an independent artist instead?

Well, my friend from high school hooked me up with my first job at Bad Boy Ent. He knew that I sang and thought it would be a great way get into the biz.
They were looking for interns so he brought me in for an interview. The next day I had a cubicle, and was filing away like my life depended on it. But It was cool because I got to see how everything was done. it was a pretty big scale operation, especially for a young kid, but I got to really see the cohesiveness that went into making it work and getting all the elements of the business done.

Soon, my hard work got noticed and I started getting invited to a lot of studios to sing. I found myself asking a lot of questions outside the booth, and in the back where all the production was done. I remember wanting to know what all the buttons, and knobs and faders did. That was really was the birth of me finding my niche into music production.

As to why I ventured off, my whole life I have been singing other peoples music, writing music for other people, and engineering other people’s projects. I really wanted to pour my heart and soul into a project of my own. Working with J. Glaze is really the first thing I’ve done specifically for me, or us, and know that it is not going to anybody else. I can sing whatever I want to sing about, and really let loose

3) How would you describe your music? Tell us your experience as an independent artist?

I’m into a lot of dark, electronic pop music. I try to embody the and soul of an artist like Erykah Badu or Amy Winehouse while placing it into a more up-tempo futuristic sound. The music is still a series of contrasting moods. Its not all about going out and having a blast. It’s about life experiences and translating it into music.


4) Tell us about your music producer J. Glaze. What music software do you use for your productions? Do you use a mac or pc?

Glaze is a machine. I have yet to meet someone with a work ethic like his and that really inspires me to keep pace. He’s still young, but has already worked with a ton of industry artists and is only picking up more steam. You can check him out on my page and at www.myspace.com/JGlaze.

Regarding the equipment, Glaze is like Harry Houdini. He wouldn’t want me to give away all the magician’s secrets. but I can tell you that he uses a Macbook Pro laptap and Cubase for both beatmaking and song recording. Within Cubase he uses a variety of soft synths and plug-ins from Native Instruments, Spectrasonics, Plug Sounds, Waves and Ultrafunk.


5) You just posted a new song, "Heartbeat" on myspace, tell us about what inspired you to write this song? Can we expect an EP or album in 2008?

Heartbeat was really a spontaneous record that we recorded in early February. we were just having a great time in the studio one night, bonding over beats and cocktails, keeping it upbeat. It was one of the first songs we did, and is really a product of the great chemistry we have in the studio since day one. The dynamic I have with him musically supercedes any ive ever known. we’re both classically trained, “functioning” musicians and it makes everything so pleasant. Both of us are always thinking about music, and we’re both down to work at any hour of the day, seven days a week.

In terms of an album, there will definitely be one in late summer of 2008. We’re also really excited about the opportunities that modern technology offers. We’ll be on iTunes next week around the world and we plan on offering up new songs to fans on a constant basis. I’m really excited about the ability to get music to fans extremely fast. If I make a song on a hot summer day, and the mood of the song reflects that, the fans will be able to share in that emotion. That level of immediate interaction really gives me a lot of inspiration as I’m recording.

6) Tell us about the music video your working on. With so many music categories in youtube, myspace, google and others how would you classify your music and videos?

It’s funny, I’m really just getting used to having cameras around all the time. It’s fun most of the time, but there’s times when you just want to be alone. Right now, we’re capturing a lot of behind the scenes footage, both of the music making process, and our everday lives. As we get closer to the album’s release, you can expect a couple of official music videos.

7) What are your earliest memories of music while growing up? Where did you grow up?

My First Sony!. It was a little boombox, with a microphone that my mom gave me. I raided her tapes, Whitney Houston – The Greatest Love of All, Mariah Carey- Vision of Love. I just remember music always being on in my apartment. And in the lower, in the summer, people play music outside on the block.


8) Who would you like your music to reach?

First and foremost, I write music to express my emotions. It’s my only means of expression. I don’t really like to talk about my feelings, so music has always been release.

I listen to music from around the world, and I’d like my music to reach people on that same level. The great thing about music is that a girl in New York City can have the same reaction to a song as somebody in Tokyo or Europe. Music has historically been a uniting force amongst cultures, and I hope that my music can reach people in the same way.

9) Are you in a relationship? How do you like to spend your free time?

I’m in a relationship with music. Free time is really a relative thing. I approach every day like there’s no time to waste. Of course I don’t make music 100% of the time. I like to go to restaurants a lot. I also love to cook. Just about the only TV I watch is the Food Network.

My friends and I definitely like to go out and have a good time. I think that when you work hard, its important to make room for a little fun. but At the same time, make sure to maintain a good balance. In the past I’ve been known and have seen a lot of people push things to extremes.

Just about everything I do involves music somehow. If I’m out, I’m always listening for new music, and seeing wha’ts moving people. If I’m working out or shopping, you’re probably gonna see me with my iPod. Music is the soundtrack to life.


10) Which one of your favorite artist would you like to collaborate with if given the opportunity?

That’s a hard question, with a much harder answer. Between the two of us, we’ve both worked in so many different genres of music that to choose one artist would be almost impossible. You might hear us working with a rock band one day, and a gangster rapper the next. I guess to sum it up, I’d like to collaborate with artists that are going to bring something unique to the track, and bring out something in me I didn’t even know was there.


11)Thank you for the interview, would you like to add any last thoughts or comments?

I’d just like to say thank you for your time. The questions you asked were great and really inspired some deep reflection. Xoxo, Joy

myspace.com/joyluvnyc