‘The world is wild’: Joy Clark’s success is a magical moment for Black female guitarists
The New Orleans-based singer-songwriter is breaking out and continuing a larger surge by Black female singer-songwriters.
Portrait of Marcus K. DowlingMarcus K. Dowling
Nashville Tennessean
Joy Clark’s smile takes over her face when she laughs.
She’s smiling because she and numerous other Black creators in country and Americana music these days — finally, as an artist, feels seen and free.
It’s a radical yet necessary evolution.
The New Orleans-born artist is one of many singer-songwriters reviving the airy, guitar-driven pop music space Tracy Chapman birthed via her 1988 self-titled album. Clark’s performances of late hearken back to that age.
New Orleans-based Joy Clark has played alongside breakout Americana star Allison Russell on numerous dates kicking off 2022
Apple Music Radio host and groundbreaking Black country artist Rissi Palmer named Clark one of her “Color Me Country” artists to watch for 2022. To the Tennessean, she adds, “Joy’s a talented musician, a sensitive and emotive singer, and has a smile so infectious that it’s impossible to have a bad day around her. That she’s having the moment she’s having is no surprise to me, it’s a joy just to watch her soar.”
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Clark says her musical skills are a “powerful, divine gift.”
She will showcase that gift as one of many African-American country and Americana music acts taking the stage when upstart music advocacy group-turned-national touring collective Black Opry pairs with CMT to celebrate their first anniversary at Nashville’s City Winery on April 18.
Black Opry founder Holly G adds, “Joy Clark has been ready. What we are witnessing is the world around her, and the people around her grow into realizing how special she is.”
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