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 the 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 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 her self-titled
digital-only EP on May 206, 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 Tascone,
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 in February
2010. |
|
