BOTW Interview: Joyce

We caught up with Joyce about her tastes, influences, as well as chatting a bit about her music. Have a gander below, and watch out for the rest of our BOTW instalments, which will be taking place throughout the week.

You’re pretty new on the scene and we don’t know much about you at the moment! Have you always been into music? When did you start getting interested in pursuing it as a career?
I’ve always been into music, I can’t ever remember wanting to do anything else. My mum always tells this story of when I was two years old and out of the blue I started singing the Neighbours theme tune in the back of her car. I guess it’s always something that’s run though me.
Why did you choose the pseudonym Joyce through which to present your music? Does it have anything to do with the author?
It’s a name that resonates with my family very deeply – it’s my middle name given to me after my great aunt. I couldn’t take a name that didn’t mean anything to me but it just happened to sound nice.

What do you think makes you different from your contemporaries? Any distinctive musical qualities?
I try not to compare myself to much when it comes to others’ music. I want to make the most honest music that I can and create something that represents myself, I always find it hard to do this when thinking of other artists.

What would you say is your most important non-musical influence and how does it affect you? i.e. Film, art, family, places…
I would have to say people – most of my songs are about people. I love soaking in an individual’s atmosphere and collecting little delicacies in their nature and putting them into song. I find that people can be the most beautiful and giving subject to write about.

What’s your all-time favourite lyric?
There are far too many to choose from but my favourite lyricists have to be David Bowie and Morrissey. I love the way they create lyrics like poetry.

If you were to collaborate with any musician in the world, who would it be?
I watched a documentary on Prince and I just thought he was amazing, I would love to write with him.

From your videos on YouTube it looks like you’re obsessed with colour. They all have a very strong, themed coherent aesthetic. Your single artwork also has that rainbow colour theme. Is this something you made sure you did with your videos or was it a more subconscious thing?
I’ve been working closely with an artist called Adam Pelosi – he s made some videos for me, and he also created the single artwork. We wanted to create a body of work that flowed alongside the music, almost naturally, like a movement. Colour and to play with light is a strong part of the image, it’s something I want to develop and progress throughout my career.

What’s your worst habit?
I’m terrible at answering my phone and returning calls. I’ve got a bit of a reputation amongst my friends for being the one you can never get hold of!

What are the last five songs/albums you put on your iPod?
To be honest, I rarely listen to recent music so most of the albums on my iPod are old. The only three new songs I love and brought that come to mind are ‘212’ by Azealia Banks, ‘Oblivion’ by Grimes and ‘Somebody That I Used To Know’ by Gotye.

If you weren’t a singer, what would you be doing instead?
Probably working in a bar or a supermarket. Not sure for how long though. I’ve had a few jobs like that and they didn’t last – I was fired from all of them for lack of attentiveness. Music has been the only thing ever to hold my attention.

What have you got planned for the rest of 2012?
I want to continue to create music, finish the album and play more shows.

Where do you imagine yourself in ten years’ time?
I imagine myself to be in a big country house with lots of dogs, maybe a lamb and my own vegetable patch!
-Bronya Francis