What the industry is saying..

SoulWalking Review: Joy Dennis has, probably, recorded one of the songs of 2010 on this set. In fact, she must be so sure of this song, she has it lined up to be the forthcoming single from the album. The song 'He Awaits' is Soul perfection on so many levels. It would suit any R&B chart, on any listing, sit alongside any Beyonce song, Alicia Keys song, alongside the new Jonathan Butler set, and it would sit on any Moderen Soul fans shelf....without hesitation! The strength of the track reminded me very much of the Sunshine Anderson single from a few years ago. 'Heard It All Before' has a similar vibe, although 'He Awaits' has a Tom Browne side to proceedings. Some great trumpet on this song, which really gives the song 'muscle'. Watch this track make waves, that's all I can say. R&B is an often utilised way of describing many aspects of todays music. Folks like Mayer Hawthorne (who I do like by the way) are dropped into the R&B shelf, sitting alongside albums like Joy's. 'He Awaits' represents the Brothers and Sisters flexing their musical muscles. When you hear the song, you'll know what I mean. The album, by the way, ain't half bad either. The title track is a lovely piece of Soul Music. Joy delivers with immense and yet supressed power, well within her dynamic vocal boundaries. Hugely refreshing. Almost all of the songs on offer are 'preluded', so Joy's curriculum vitae definitely does demand an introduction! As with the Catina Rosemond album, these are quickly becoming the left field, surprise sets of the summer of 2010. All told, I can't think of a better album to 'rattle those bass bins' to their optimum this year. Soul music of a very high standard. Highly recommended (especially for the single). 'He Awaits'...and so do you now!

http://www.soulwalking.co.uk/Listen%20Out%20For.html
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Soundnexx Review: " Good soul music brings me JOY, so today I am bringing you a hot singer named Joy Dennis representing Jacksonville, Florida. I heard a nice track from this young lady a few months back called "He Awaits" and immediately became interested. Joy's sound is a jazz and soul infusion that can keep your head bobbin' one minute, and have you mellowed out the next. Her sound reminds me a little of Ledisi, but she's definitely not a clone. Ms. Dennis is doing her own thang. Her debut album "Music Is..." is proof that Joy Dennis has a great future ahead of her. Each song reveals something different about this singer. No track sounding the same. One of my favorite tracks on the album is called "Good Lovin" which has this hypnotic piano intro. I really enjoy the live instrumentation displayed throughout the album. No computerized software or program can ever truly duplicate the beautiful sound of real instruments...

Give Joy Dennis' album a listen here: MUSIC IS... "

http://soundnexx.blogspot.com/

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Joy Dennis – Music is (Album Review)

Posted on 21. Jun, 2010 by DJ Mic Mayhem in Music

I honestly love doing reviews for independent and new artist over the established veterans mostly for selfish reasons. New artist don't come with the same level of baggage that their older wiser peers carry. They also don't have the marketing machine behind them subtly influencing you to think their crappy songs are better than they really are. I also like the idea of maybe helping somebody discover somebody they might not have heard before. Joy Dennis (according to her bio on her website) is a soulful urban jazzy melodic singer from Jacksonville Florida. Like all soulful urban jazzy melodic singers she started out in the choir and decided to spread her wings musically. I don't know what it is about the church but pastors could start a side hustle as manager for the zillions of budding superstars because they all seem to start from the same place.

Anybody who tries to slip into Billie Holiday's shoes in any capacity whether it be in a play or just standing next to the words Billie Holiday better be able to sing and thankfully Joy has the goods. I don't like comparing new artist to older artist because it ruins first impressions and does a disservice to both parties so I'll side step that nonsense and just say if you like singers whose name sounds like Mhrisette Michele or Zill Scott ahem… there you go, your horrible drought of good music is over, you can stop doing your rain dance and fire up the iTunes.

A few months ago I took Brittani Senser to task for her lack of internet presence and reluctantly I have to do the same here. Being on the net is vital in 2010 especially for independent artist, a website isn't enough, myspace isn't enough you need to be on it pushing yourself or nobody is ever going to find you outside of your core circle of facebook friends. A few years ago being on the internet was a option today it is the difference between eating and starving for any artist. If you want pointers think of the absolute worst artist to ever touch the microphone and google them, the crappier the artist the more internet savvy they seem to be.

What did I think about the album, I think it was good definitely repeat worthy, but not great it stumbled in a few spots. Of course I'm talking strictly production here because Joy did her thing on it, I couldn't really find fault with her at all. It did feel however like some songs sounded dated, but it wasn't a deal breaker because that was the sound she was going for. The albums soul is old school, nostalgic and jazzy even, reminding me of a classier time when autotune was a Transformer but I digress, I liked Joy, I really did and I could feel her struggle through her songs which makes me believe her as a singer and as a woman. And I like that about my music. I have a working theory, it is rather crude but bare with me I have yet to see it proven wrong. Women in the music industry have a difficult struggle for acceptance by us the fans. They have to be naked, pretty, sing ridiculously sexist songs, or look like you got out of the mental institution to get noticed today. If you look closely at the women who transcend the rubbish and turn this hobby of theirs into careers they have one of two things going for them. These superstar singers either set trends for their fans, and women want to be them, or these women live life and women can relate to them. Joy Dennis falls into the latter and when you listen to her music you will agree with me she is a superstar. I hope to hear more from her in the future and so should you.

http://www.gplusmath.com/joy-dennis-music-is-album-review/
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Ri Magazine Review: "Joy Dennis exhibits indie artistry at its highest caliber, definitely for the mature and sophisticated. Her vocal skill can be compared to the likes of Natalie Cole, Jill Scott and even Angie Stone. Joy Dennis’ soulful-urban-jazzy-melodic vibe hits all the right spots! She has nationally hit the Indie Circuit with her debut single “He Awaits.” Based on the outstanding quality of lyrics, live instrumentation, vocal arrangements of "He Awaits," we anxiously await the release of her debut cd, “Music Is.” And, from what we've heard thus far, music is definitely Joy Dennis."

-ReVersed Ink Magazine Cover Feature March 2010
http://www.rimagazine.net/