Joy Dennis Cover of DLA Hair Magazine Summer 2010 issue (Jacksonville, FL)

Feature Interview in DLA Hair Magazine
Summer 2010 Issue
Jacksonville, FL

1. Do you write your own lyrics?

Yes. It all started at Landon Middle School of the Arts when we would rap against each other in the bus loading zone while waiting for the school bell to ring in the morning. L.L. Cool J. had come out with the Mama Said Knock You Out Album and Milky Cereal was my joint. J.J. Fad had Supersonic and Salt and Pepa’s was here! I wanted to be hip-hop. I wanted to be a rap queen. So I would go home and write and rap against the boys the following morning. I later found interest in other things such as sports and the school chorus and didn’t pick up a pen to write again until 2000 when I experienced a bad break up. I started writing poetry instead of raps and decided to expose it in an album in 2007.

2. Where does the inspiration for your song writing come from?

I write about my experiences. Whether it comes from a love relationship, the guy that cheated on me, the friend that betrayed me or from the bad decisions I made while experiencing life. I feel it’s hard to talk about something you or someone you know hasn’t experienced or can’t relate to.

3. Describe your look to me?

I am all natural with the exception of the color of my hair. My look is free and easy. My look is laid back and always chilled.

4. Where can we find this hot album?

The Music Is Album can be found on my website www.joydennismusic.com and is available for download on various music websites such as iTunes, Amazon and Rhapsody.

5. What is the name of your latest album?

My debut album is entitled “Music Is.” I wanted to infuse experience, different genres and live instrumentation to create a different sound and meaning for each song. There is such a wide variety of music out there, I wanted to tap in to as many genres as I could so the listener could relate, whether it was through the story, the music or the mood of the song.

6. Your hair is natural and its such a high intensity color. How do you keep it looking so healthy and vibrant.

I like to wash my hair with conditioner (unless my hair is dirty, then of course I use shampoo.) At times, black hair becomes oily, so when I just want to get some of that oil out, I wash with conditioner so it won’t turn out so dry. I have a tendency to put a rinse in my hair every time I wash it so the colors can pop and not look so dull.

7. Have you been on tour?

I have traveled to surrounding cities and even recently Charleston, SC for Funk Fest to promote the album. My goal prior to the release of the Music Is album was to build as many fans as possible by performing at different venues around and outside of the city and that surely felt like a tour. Well a mini one.

8. Where have you been on tour and where will you be on tour in the near future?

I am currently working on my Music Is live show in preparation for an upcoming tour with my Trigen Entertainment Family. The first of several dates include playing the HBCU circuit starting with the FAMU Homecoming concert staring Charlie Wilson, Angie Stone and yours truly. So I’m very excited to finally be able to perform my original music on the road. It’s been a long time coming- but it’s here and I’m grateful. I will definitely keep everyone posted (via my website) on all upcoming shows and events I’ll be involved in.

9. Your voice has so much passion. Where does that passion come from?

Passion for me comes from within. It may be the underlying feelings I hold close and only allow out through song. When I sing certain songs I reflect on personal experiences and emotions. When I think of my accomplishments, I revert back to the times when everyone expected me to fail. I felt a need to strive for more and prove all of them wrong. Passion is something that I’ve been told I don’t have. And I know it’s there because I haven’t given up the fight to succeed in this business and my everyday life. I love to sing and I just want to tell my stories and be heard. I want to be heard because my expressions may help those going through similar trials in their lives.

10. Are there other artists that influence you?

Most of the time, anyone who has heard me sing, compare me to Jill Scott. Vocally, she is a huge influence for me. Other influences are Erykah Badu, because of her “out of the box” mentality. Kelly Price (pre-gospel) was another influence, because she always had a great story to tell. Betty Wright, Patti Labele, Vanessa Bell Armstrong and Chaka Khan because that’s who I listened to in my younger years. (Before my mom came home from work, I was sure to carefully place those records back without a scratch. * smiles *) New artists such as Chrisette Michele, Janelle Monae and Joss Stone were others just to name a few.

11. Whats in you car radio right now.

My album Music Is! Every now and then I have to play Track # 9 just to get through day-to-day stressors. I might listen to Track # 14 when I want to feel happy and care free. When I play Track # 4, I think of real love and how it would never think to leave me. Or # 12- about the love that wasn’t meant to be. And # 11- I’m sure plenty can relate.

12. What are some of the projects you are working on right now.

Other than the tour to further promote the Music Is album, and my bi-weekly event “Black Thought Sundays” inside Poppy Love Smoke (Live Soul Music and Open Stage for artists and musicians), my current goals include exposing myself and my talents across the U.S. and abroad and continue to build fans and sell my record! I am continuously working on my craft and learning the business. My camp is currently developing the roadmap toward launching our own music publishing company, which we expect to launch early 2011. We are going to continue to work on growing our parent company, Trigen Entertainment, and hopefully pave a way for my fellow artists within the camp. I am always working on nurturing relationships so we will continue to succeed and grow within this field.

13. Where do you see yourself musically in 5 years?

In 5 yrs I will not be working for “the man” *smiles * and will hopefully be recognized around the world! I will be touring and promoting my 2nd or 3rd album to be released. I will have experienced other countries and will have allowed them to experience all I have to offer in the music industry. In 5 yrs the love of my life and I will be married and planning to have our first and only set of children. We will retire 2 yrs after that and reside in a comfortable hut long the shoreline to watch the sun rise or set (which ever we decide because we have options) and after the triplets 2nd birthday I will start working on a 4th album. In the words of Dave Chappelle.. We rich $%^&H!!! *Laughing hysterically * I’m just having fun with you! Seriously though, in 5 years, I certainly see myself having entered the mainstream either here or oversees, with 1 or 2 chart topping hits, a few solid company’s, profitable distribution and licensing deals, etc. I just see myself in a position where I’m preparing to take my music and creativity to the next level. The sky is the limit!

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