Selfless: The exclusive Interview of Miss.Joyce.
Here she stands! Surrounded by standing ovations, fans, and a future that is as bright as the dancing sun. Here she stands! After depression, losses, and tragic events that would drastically shape anyone's childhood. Here she stands! Misunderstood but relate-able, soft to approach but hard to hold onto. Joyce an indie artist that wears more accolades than imaginable, with a voice to match the greats. Songs that drift into the soul, with a heart dipped into compassion and power. A poet an advocate a singer Joyce is someone who lives for the art and strives for the glory. Hoping her music touches deeper than ears and beyond the heart, as the notes find a way to tango with the soul. She does this for everyone. No topic, genre, or sound ever lives off grid. For some artist the sky being the limit is enough. For her, the top is yet to be seen. This is the exclusive interview of Miss.Joyce only at v2#
Tell us who is Miss Joyce?
Miss Joyce is a mother, advocate,
activist, Vocalist, Writer, Knowledge Seeker, and Melanated Woman
So you actually lived in Germany
parts of your life, How was that any stark differences?
Yes I did.
Some of the biggest differences were the education , food and the way you were
allowed to have fun. For instance the children were allowed in certain bars etc
as long as the parents were with them..the beer man delivered beverages to your
home. I remember being able to go to the meat truck, fruit truck and ice cream
man at the same time. The education was advanced at that time and they loved
Michael Jackson and Boy George. This was in the 80's so I'm not sure how things
have changed since then.
Your father was a preacher and
kept you sheltered a big part of your life? How did that effect
you.
I always felt judged for
everything I did or thought about doing..that was considered secular..I think
people forget that the calling on your life cant be forced upon someone. As
much as I loved church I realized that helping people had to involve more than
just the church because lets be real everyone is not going to eventually start
going to church and believe in religion or even a God. And for me I saw many
other sides of life outside of the church. Music was my escape from it all but
a lot of times my reality as well.
School life was hard for you. Tell
us about the moment you were kicked out of school.
School life was
difficult because people always fear or make fun of what they don’t understand.
I was kicked for being too Pro Black and standing up against a lot of the
injustices still being fought such as having to say the pledge but not being
enlightened nor allowed to know of the Black National anthem on the flipside
being bullied by the students the very people I was standing up for but I
understood at an early age that my battles would not be easy.
You were raped at a young age.
Tell us about that moment, any advice you can give to anyone who went through anything similar.
I had an encounter with a family friend that went on for over a
year so I was about 8 or 9 when they moved away. I didn’t tell anyone because I
knew no one would believe me and I was always the child that I would try to
keep commotion down even if that meant me hurting..Im still like that in many
ways..Of course I eventually spoke out and there was nothing done about so I
just moved on with my life because that’s what the world does..you have to keep
moving..fast forward to when I was raped at 16 while in state custody. He ended
up serving only 8 years and I was not notified of his release..I found out when
my I found out he had moved next door to a family member of mine that I visited
on a regular basis..It was heart wrenching I didn’t know how I would react if I
seen him. There are still struggles but I still say tell someone and get help
for what you deal with from these experiences. I wanted to be bitter but I am a
woman that wants these things to make me better to help someone else..Keep believing in yourself, know that you are worthy of love no matter how tainted
or dirty you may feel that you are beautiful..be that ear for someone else that
you didn’t have going through..that has always helped..the short version of
this..lol
You went through a deep
depression where you stop doing music for 3 years? How was that time in your
life and do you have any tips to fighting it.
I will say this it is an everyday
struggle some days moment to moment. It wasn’t easy at all, I dropped out of
college, was institutionalized eventually..I couldn’t even take care of daily
activities for myself..I had a caregiver for a while cause I didn’t talk for
the first year of my depression they call it a catatonic type state..I'm not gone
sugar coat it..I couldn’t face people, life, myself..for things I had no
control over..I have learned and still learning how to embrace who I am..people
close to me know I joke all the time about my different personalities I have
and how I talk to myself often even during my conversations with others. I used
to try to hide these mannerisms and symptoms because of embarrassment but I am
who I am and people have loved me for as I continue to peel back my onion
layers..they will make you cry but you cant get enough of the flavor in your
food..lol.. my main advice is SEEK HELP if you have too, steer clear of those
Get over it people..when you reach out to them..remember you are not alone..I
know it feels that way I feel it too daily..
You wrote your first song when
you was 13 years old?
Yes I have always been and probably always will be a Hopeless
romantic. This song was written for my first love..he knew a lot about me and
we helped each other through a lot of hard times coming up thus this song was
born..The lyrics were advanced for my age but my life was too so there you have
it..lol
Tell us about your audition for
"YOUNG AMERICANS" how did it go?
My audition for the Young
Americans went very well, I was accepted to join but unfortunately my daughter
had fallen ill and I decided that I had to let the opportunity pass by because
I had no one to assist me at the time with my daughter and I was going to be
moving to California. I am still considered a Young American and am certain I
will still travel abroad again with my music.
Some people dont know you're a
rapper also?
Over 290,000 views
What started that for you and explain the time that rap took you
viral. I started rapping playing at school during before school and during
lunch beating on the tables but mostly did the hooks..it got serious for me
when as I was growing as a writer I wanted to say things in a way I couldn’t
say as a singer and other rappers needed ghostwriters because they didn’t
write.so boom there you go..my homies always told me I had flow..I freestyle
sometime I don’t battle..but pen and pad game cold..lol I went Viral when I did
the So Gone Challenge I was being serious but playing around as well..it was
like 1 am when I did it..I woke up the next morning with a few thousand I'm like
cool they digging it because everyone had one by then I was eight days behind
from when it first started..lol..then before nightfall there was this surge if
you will..by the next day..I was over 100,000 views and it kept going Im over
250, 000 views..so many comment and shares etc..Im still going through them and its
been months ago..I don’t have a person
that does that for me yet..lol
What has so far has been your
favorite "moment" while being a artist. And whats something you hope
to accomplish before your career is over.
I have a few I must say..One was
when I opened for Nephew Tommy and Mint Condition, winning a Hard Rock Guitar
after performing with the Emissaries of Memphis Music and always when I hear
my music on the radio..straight five heartbeats screaming everytime..lol
How do you like your studio
sessions? What is the perfect vibe for you.
The perfect vibe for the most
part is just good music..sometimes I want the lights low though I love incense,
fruit and water always helps.
What exactly is "New
Nostal(Jah)"?
That is a musical duo comprised of Miss Joyce and my guitarist C.J. Williams. We
have been performing together since around 2011 and thought it was time to come
together to form a group after a TV appearance we had and people loved us
together as well as our appearance on Radio Memphis. Our name means Something
New, Something Vintage, Something Spiritual because that’s what we want to give
you in our music. We have shirts that can be purchased for 12.00 dollars. We
are working on projects together and separately and have several performance
together that can also be found on my Miss Joyce artist page on FB
You have been in country
competitions? Sometimes people cant decipher your voice from your look?
Although
I am a soulful singer, I have been told I sound white..lol..instead of you
sang that well..lol at least they listened though..lol..thats what matters..I
was just often told I would crossover well..But I consider myself to a
brown eyed soul, pop-rocker and youre gonna love me.
Tell us why the song
"Running Towards your Life" means so much to you.
This song was
written primarily for my daughter and all those that are considered the
underdog in life..never give up..continue to push through obstacles, lift
yourself up, encourage yourself, encourage others like you..No matter the stigma
may put on whatever illness, disability, deformity seen and unseen you may have
don’t be ashamed to grow into who you are in a positive way even if the world
and those around you don’t understand you..you keep running toward your life!
We have shirts available for purchase for
this cause as well.
Name some of the amazing people
you have worked with in your career and the awards you have won?
I have
the opportunity to do shows with Dwele, Silk, Mint Condition, Wendy Moten, Kia
Shine, MJG, Susan Marshall, Nancy Apple, David Porter, Reba Russell, Judge
Booker so many to name As far as awards several for Best Female Artist and
several for Best Female R&B Artist, A Rafiki award, An award for my song “Yab-Yum”
for best lyrics in an R&B Song
Any shoutouts, Projects, sites.
Where can the people of Viralvoice find Miss.Joyce?
All singles albums are available on
CdBaby, Itunes and many other digital outlets. Contact me personally for hard
copies. I am currently working several projects a mixtape, album and several
features. I also had the pleasure of getting my thespian on some in upcoming Tv
Series “Million Dollar Quartet”. The experience of being on set was also
amazing. Latest singles are Waiting Sweet Escape, Running Toward Your Life
I will be representing for #TeamRnb against Team HipHop on Jan 14 2017 Tickets are 10 and they can get them from me now.
(Her official link to her viral video)
