Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Joy Lola. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Joy , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

I have always loved music, I was born into music. I grew up singing in the church where I better developed my singing voice. Through that route, I was able to venture to sing in other local churches. Never thought I would become an artist myself because I never took it seriously. I saw it as just a hobby. In 2017 I was given the opportunity to be a part of a girls’ vocal group. We sang as Background vocalists for artists like Efya, Runtown, Tony Ade, and several others. Later on that year I was introduced to a known Nigerian producer name T-spize. I started working with him because he was looking to sign me at the time. I would travel from my college campus to Brooklyn every weekend despite the weather to be in the studio to record. Eventually, I told him I couldn’t go through with the whole process anymore because “I couldn’t see myself being just an Afrobeat singer.” He understood and wished me the best of luck. For several years after that, I ran away from singing professionally because I felt I wasn’t good enough. I fell in love with modeling/fashion so I would book gigs as a lead girl in music videos and other local fashion shows. Fast forward to 2020, after graduating from undergrad I met amazing friends who happened to be into music. Being around them helped me boost my confidence and I fell back in love with the art of music. In 2021 I was featured on the track ‘Olalekan’ with Mr Bello by Leksaibeatz. Now it’s 2022 and I recently dropped my first ever single ‘IJO’ on July 29th. It’s been an interesting yet beautiful journey that I wouldn’t trade for anything.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I am Joy Lola. I am a storyteller/creative. I got into music recently because I just couldn’t escape it no matter how hard I tried to run away from it. Music is all around me. I am surrounded by creatives who love the art as much as I do and being around them inspired me to get into writing. I write to uplift the weak. I am hoping to raise the vibration of anyone who comes across my music through my frequency. I am also a fashion model who is into fashion designing/styling. I’ve been working on my brand for a very long time and I am excited to show the world what I am truly made of. My organic lip gloss will be on the market soon as well as my fashion collection so make sure to keep an eye out for that.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

My goal is to reach the world. To let any dreamer out there know everything is really possible. If you can think it, you can live it. Our mind is so powerful and the only person standing in your way is you. I always tell myself I am my own competition, it is me vs me, not me vs anyone out there. I am doing this to prove to myself that I can attain anything I’ve always dreamt of being as a little girl. No matter what challenges may get in the way, I remind myself to keep going and hold on to the vision. Never lose sight of the vision even when everyone around you can not see the vision yet. Let your action be your response.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

I had to unlearn a lot of self-limiting thoughts and things that has been said to me at a point in my life that I held on to as thoughts of my own. I grew up with religious Nigerian parents, who see the things I do as not Christian-like. They are not in support of it because they don’t understand it and because it is against their religious beliefs. It’s been tough but I have put up a fight because I believe this is bigger than me and them. There’s a reason for it all and I am excited to see how my story unfolds.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joylola_/?hl=en
• Youtube: JoyLola – YouTube https://www.youtube.com›JoyLola

Image Credits
Macwest Vagabond Isabelle (issecarey) Sydneyclaire DayG MrBello