We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Joy Dame. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Joy below.
Joy, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.
Even though Art is Objective, there’s so much behind what makes a song catchy or touch someone. Once I knew I was going to pursue this.. I felt that just like someone attends college to learn a craft, I needed to study like I was in college. This meant buying the best books on the subject(ie. Berklee Books, etc), It meant taking courses from the experts(ie.. the grammy-winners) and also being mentored, having someone cheering you on. The obstacles were funds and time.. so after a lot of prayer and some amazing supporters.. God provided for some courses and I worked so hard to put every penny I earned through the day job towards studying, attending conferences, and investing in the vision on my heart to be a songwriter and an indie artist.
The most essential skills in any “industry” in my opinion is “people skills” and confidence.. and that’s not anything you learn in a book.. After learning the bookwork( essential for confidence and skills in writing) and got back into singing(to strengthen my voice), I needed to learn to have confidence in the abilities God gave me. Honestly that journey was the longest- people skills are affected by confidence.. This year, I finally feel like God brought the “God-fidence” back that I’d lost. As for people skills, I love people…haha ..and am pretty outgoing by nature. There’s nothing better that working with creatives in my opinion!My heart is for creatives!
Joy, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
Getting into music seemed like one of those “pipe dreams” .. like “oh my gosh who does she think she is that she can record and release music?”.. or “why would she lead a writer’s retreat if she has no Grammys?” After all, there’s so many great singers( and songwriters) out there.. why would I even try to fit in that world? After meeting so many creatives.. I’ve realized those “making it” full time were because they knew a few things…1. they were meant to do this 2. they were willing to keep learning, 3. they were encouraged by some pro’s in the industry to pursue it and 4. they were willing to give up a lot to do it..the discipline for me means late nights, almost no tv, long hrs and determination like nobody’s business.
I knew God was leading me to start a non-profit to encourage creatives through mentorship, songwriting retreats, creative help, and missions. At the beginning it cost me a lot financially and time-wise and I wondered if I should just stop but then some lives were changing through songs and through the retreats and I thought.. “why did I ever doubt.. when God said do it?”.
As for my artistry, I’m psyched for this journey! It’s just started with the release of “AVALANCHE” (Christian pop) and another feature on a CCM song. The journey exists because of “my WHY”- sharing light and hope in the dark. God kept impressing me to sing some of these songs so “The Witness Project” EP was born.
That vision took several trips to Nashville and honestly so many things went wrong it was crazy! ( stuck in airports, computer issues, sickness,oh the stories!). It took stubbornness. I kept thinking.. I’M NOT GIVING UP.. because God opened so many doors to do this and someday all these bumps in the road will just be funny stories how God overcame when the enemy tried to stop it! If I could tell every creative something it’d be…”Don’t Give Up.. put in the time.. Fruit comes from hard work in seeds sown and patience.”
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
I have heard songs that have brought me to tears and helped me in healing . It’s so rewarding getting a message about a song doing the same for others. We got to live in France for almost a decade.. where it was evident that putting positive messages of truth and hope in a song was an effective tool to touch hearts. The mission is to bring songs that will either excite people enough to dance or touch people enough to bring tears. I am looking forward to releasing some of these songs touching on some deep issues hard for people to talk about. The first release is a “Dance” one though LOL! I want to show people that Faith brings JOY and that there’s a God who created them who loves them unconditionally… and it’s time to dance about it!
How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?
As for those genuinely wanting to support artists as a society some great things are….., 1.music programs are needed in schools that have a lack.. it is an important form of therapy. I’m a part-time children’s and teen piano teacher and songwriting coach and will always keep some students because of the thrill of pouring into the next generation..people poured into me ( and still are) and it was life-changing-I’m blessed to get to do the same . 2..Artists need funding..producing is expensive but necessary to release quality work.I pray every day for funding for The Witness Project and also see my indie friends struggle raising producer funds alongside myself.
3., Community is huge for artists.. they need it! Although Lake City Lights retreats cost the artist , some day our Retreats could be full of scholarshipped artists, leaders and creatives.. that is my deepest desire.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.joydamemusic.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joydamemusic
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joydamemusic
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7jFZNv7OfdrXa787DxXZHg
- Other: linktr.ee/joydame non-profit Lake City Lights https://actintl.givingfuel.com/lake-city-lights-dame www.lakecitylights.com https://www.tiktok.com/joydamemusic
Image Credits
Photo Credits: Caira Stetson, Grace LaQu, Xandria Cross