If
you lived in California in the 90s, chances are
you've sung Joyo's refrain in the shower. After
the Manila-born NoCal transplant finished studying
opera in Rome, she returned to the Bay Area, where
she and future husband Lyrics Born recorded what
would go on to be Solesides' greatest hit, a little
number called "Balcony Beach." The song
appeared on 1997’s The Album, a record that
went on to sell over 100,000 copies worldwide.
As part of the seminal indie hip-hop label Quannum
Projects – a group whose founders included
Lyrics Born & Lateef the Truthspeaker, Blackalicious,
DJ Shadow, Jeff Chang (Can't Stop Won't Stop/VIBE
Magazine,) and Joseph Patel (MTV) – Joyo quickly
found her place as “The Quannum Songstress.”
In 2000 her first official solo offering –
the jazzy and soulful “People Like Me”
– was released on the label compilation Quannum
Spectrum. In support of the album, Joyo and the
crew toured relentlessly, which gave her the opportunity
not only to hone her vocal and performance skills,
but also to expand her steady base of loyal listeners
from the US across the globe, from Australia to
Europe to Japan. The following year, she further
displayed her versatility with the cult hit “Sweet
Angels,” a lilting reggae-inspired tune that
quickly became a fan favorite.
Music is her first love, of course, and her versatility
as a singer/songwriter, belter, storyteller and
explosive live performer knows no bounds. But Joyo
has been recognized as a fashion icon, as well.
She’s been featured in San Francisco's 7x7
magazine (9/1/2006) as one of the Bay Area's trendsetters
and style-makers to watch, and has received endorsements
and performed at exclusive fashion shows and events
for Puma, Evisu, Diesel, Upper Playground, Adidas,
among others.
Having already appeared twice on Jimmy Kimmel Live!
and featured on over 20 albums, including Lyrics
Born's blockbuster indie classics Later That Day
(on which she performed and co-wrote 10 songs, including
the ubiquitous “Callin' Out” –
featured on commercials for Diet Coke and Motorola),
2005’s Same Sh*#%t Different Day, and 2008’s
Everywhere at Once, 2009 will finally see Joyo step
into the spotlight, with the release of her solo
debut.
Love and Understanding – preceded by the digital-only
EP, self titled on May 26, 2009 – is a refreshing
perspective on traditional soul music handcrafted
by Joyo and Lyrics Born with the help of fellow
producers Jake One, Emmy Award winner Asa Taccone,
RJD2, Tommy Guerrero, Headnodic (Crown City Rockers),
and the Lifesavas’ Jumbo the Garbageman. A
glimpse into Joyo’s positive, self-affirming
outlook, not to mention her impressive talent, it’s
already caught the attention of award-winning writer/actor/director
Danny Hoch, founder of the Hip-Hop Theater Festival,
who used her new song "Feels Right" in
his latest play, Taking Over. Love and Understanding
will come out physically and digitally on November
3rd, 2009. |
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