Joy Oladokun facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Joy Oladokun
Oladokun performing at the White House, 2022
Background information
Birth name	Olubukola Joy Oladokun
Born	(1992-04-06) April 6, 1992 (age 33) Casa Grande, Arizona, US
Genres	Folk Alternative Country R&B pop roots rock folk-pop
Years active	2016–present
Labels	Well White Boy Amigo Verve Forecast Republic

Olubukola Joy Oladokun (born April 6, 1992) is an American singer and songwriter. Joy Oladokun's music mixes different styles like folk, R&B, rock, and pop. Her songs often share her unique experiences and perspective as a person of color. She has released five studio albums, including Carry (2016), In Defense of My Own Happiness (The Beginnings) (2020), In Defense of My Own Happiness (2021), Proof of Life (2023), and Observations From a Crowded Room (2024).

Early Life and Musical Start

Joy Oladokun grew up in Casa Grande, Arizona. She listened to many kinds of music, like country and folk. She also enjoyed artists such as Bob Marley and Lauryn Hill. Her parents came to the United States from Nigeria.

When Joy was 10 years old, she saw a video of Tracy Chapman. This video inspired her to learn how to play the guitar. After finishing college, a friend suggested she move to Los Angeles. Joy went there to start her music career. Later, she moved to East Nashville. There, she signed a music deal with Prescription Songs.

Joy Oladokun's Music Career

In 2015, Joy Oladokun released her first collection of songs, called Cathedrals. Her first full album, Carry, was made possible by fans who helped fund it through Kickstarter. It came out on April 29, 2016.

Songs with Important Messages

In 2019, Joy released a song called "Sunday." She said this song was for her younger self. It was meant to show that people can be happy and healthy just as they are. The music video for "Sunday" showed many different kinds of relationships.

During the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020, Joy Oladokun released "Who Do I Turn To?". She wrote this song with Natalie Hemby. Another song, "Mercy," talks about her experiences as a Black person in the United States. Her song "I See America" speaks out against unfair systems. NPR, a big radio station, even put "I See America" on its list of the 100 Best Songs of 2020.

Album Releases and Collaborations

On July 17, 2020, Joy released her second album, In Defense of My Own Happiness (The Beginnings). Billboard magazine called it a "stunningly emotional collection."

In 2021, Joy Oladokun received a special grant from YouTube's "#YouTubeBlack Voices Fund." That same year, she signed with several record labels. On June 4, 2021, she released her third album, In Defense of My Own Happiness.

On February 17, 2023, Joy announced her fourth album, Proof of Life. She also released the first song from it, "Changes." Later, on March 16, 2023, she announced another song from the album, "We're All Gonna Die," which featured Noah Kahan. The album Proof of Life was released on April 28, 2023. It included songs with other artists like Mt. Joy, Manchester Orchestra, Maxo Kream, Chris Stapleton, and Noah Kahan.

Joy Oladokun also went on "The Living Proof Tour" for her album. The tour started on September 10 and ended on October 5, 2023. In August 2024, Joy opened for Hozier's "Unreal Unearth Tour" in North America. She also opened for his shows in Australia and New Zealand in November 2024.

Latest Album

Joy Oladokun's most recent album, Observations From A Crowded Room, was released on October 18, 2024.

Awards and Recognition

Joy Oladokun has been recognized for her music.