Breakthrough singer, songwriter and musician Joy Oladokun is featured on the latest episode of the acclaimed podcast “Song Exploder” discussing her song “look up.” Listen HERE.
“look up” is from Oladokun’s acclaimed major label debut album, in defense of my own happiness, which is out now via Amigo Records/Verve Forecast/Republic Records (stream/purchase here), which landed on numerous “Best of 2021” lists including NPR Music, Billboard, Variety, American Songwriter, The Tennessean, Nashville Scene, The Bitter Southerner and many more.
In celebration of the music, Oladokun will make her debut on PBS’ “Austin City Limits” this Saturday, January 15 as part of the legendary program’s 47th season and, later this spring, will embark on her first ever headline tour. Upcoming shows include Austin’s Antone’s, Dallas’ Club Dada, Los Angeles’ Troubadour (sold out), San Francisco’s Great American Music Hall, Seattle’s Neumos, Minneapolis’ Fine Line, Chicago’s Lincoln Hall, New York’s Bowery Ballroom (sold out), Boston’s Royale, Washington DC’s Union Stage and Nashville’s The Basement East (two nights, one sold out) among several others. Oladokun will also make her debut at Bonnaroo Music Festival this summer. See below for complete itinerary.
With in defense of my own happiness, Oladokun is forging her own path, sharing the unique perspective she’s gained from living in today’s world as a black, queer woman and first-generation child of Nigerian immigrants. Born in Arizona and now living in Nashville, her musical exploration began at age ten when she was inspired to learn guitar after seeing a video of Tracy Chapman—the first time she’d ever seen a black woman play the instrument.
Since her debut, Oladokun has continued to receive widespread attention. She was recently featured as part of NPR Music’s “Tiny Desk (Home) Concert” series and has performed on “CBS Saturday Morning,” “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” and “TODAY.” She has also been named a member of the #YouTubeBlack Voices Class of 2021, a NPR Music/Slingshot’s 2021 Artists to Watch, a Billboard LGBTQ Artist of the Month, Spotify’s RADAR US: Artists to Watch 2021 and Amazon Music’s Artists to Watch 2021, was highlighted as part of HULU’s “Your Attention Please: The Concert” alongside 24kGoldn, Kiana Ledé, Lil Yachty and Swae Lee, and had her music featured on CBS’ “CSI: Vegas,” NBC’s “This Is Us," ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy,” ABC’s “Station 19” and NBC’s “America’s Got Talent.” Moreover, Oladokun recently collaborated with Brandi Carlile and Lucie Silvas on new song “We Don’t Know We’re Living,” with Noah Kahan on his track, “Someone Like You” and with Jason Isbell for a new version of Bonnie Raitt’s “I Can’t Make You Love Me” as part of Oladokun’s debut Spotify Singles session.
IN DEFENSE OF MY OWN HAPPINESS (COMPLETE) TRACK LIST
1. jordan
2. smoke
3. if you got a problem
4. i see america
5. heaven from here (feat. Penny & Sparrow)
6. younger days
7. sunday
8. bad blood
9. lost
10. who do i turn to?
11. sorry isn’t good enough
12. taking the heat
13. someone that i used to be
14. brick by brick
15. unwelcoming
16. Bigger Man (feat. Maren Morris)
17. mercy (feat. Tim Gent)
18. let it be me
19. judas
20. mighty die young
21. breathe again
22. too high
23. look up
24. wish you the best (feat. Jensen McRae)
JOY OLADOKUN CONFIRMED TOUR DATES
April 7—Austin, TX—Antone’s Nightclub*
April 8—Dallas, TX—Club Dada*
April 10—Phoenix, AZ—The Crescent Ballroom*
April 11—Los Angeles, CA—Troubadour* (SOLD OUT)
April 13—San Francisco, CA—Great American Music Hall*
April 15—Portland, OR—Wonder Ballroom*
April 16—Seattle, WA—Neumos*
April 19—Salt Lake City, UT—Soundwell*
April 20—Denver, CO—Summit*
April 22—Kansas City, MO—recordBar*
April 23—Davenport, IA—The Raccoon Motel*
April 24—Minneapolis, MN—Fine Line*
April 26—Madison, WI—Majestic Theatre*
April 27—Chicago, IL—Lincoln Hall*
April 29—Toronto, ON—Horseshow Tavern*
May 1—Boston, MA—Royale*
May 2—New York, NY—Bowery Ballroom* (SOLD OUT)
May 5—Holyoke, MA—Gateway City Arts*
May 6—Ardmore, PA—Ardmore Music Hall*
May 7—Pittsburgh, PA—Thunderbird Music Hall*
May 9—Washington, DC—Union Stage*
May 10—Durham, NC—Motorco Music Hall*
May 11—Asheville, NC—The Grey Eagle*
May 13—Atlanta, GA—Terminal West*
May 14—Nashville, TN—The Basement East* (SOLD OUT)
May 15—Nashville, TN—Basement East*
May 20—Gulf Shores, AL—Hangout Music Fest
June 18—Manchester, TN—Bonnaroo Music Festival
*with special guest Bre Kennedy
