The official music video for “Sweet Symphony,” Joy Oladokun’s new collaboration with Chris Stapleton, is debuting today. Directed and produced by Gemini (Mason Allen and Nicki Fletcher), the video features puppet versions of Oladokun and Stapleton performing the song. Watch/share HERE.
Of the video, Oladokun shares, “I felt really inspired as a black kid watching Sesame Street and the Muppets because we live in a world where our differences separate us, and these shows were so clearly modeled through the art form that differences don’t matter. I love the surrealism and realism that puppet art blends together because it teaches us cool lessons about how we should treat other.”
Produced by Oladokun, Mike Elizondo and Ian Fitchuk and written by Oladokun, Fitchuk and Shae Jacobs, “Sweet Symphony” debuted at #1 on the iTunes Singer-Songwriter chart last month and continues to receive critical acclaim. Rolling Stone praises, “thrilling duet partners…with its gently rising and falling set of major chords, the soulful midtempo tune evokes the experience of dropping one’s defenses and facing tough times together,” while Billboard declares, “The sparse accompaniment allows Oladokun’s cool, smooth voice and Stapleton’s gritty fervor to shine. Essential listening” and The Tennessean proclaims, “stirring…Oladokun’s star is on the rise.”
The release adds to a landmark year for Oladokun, who was featured on “CBS Mornings” earlier this month speaking with correspondent Anthony Mason and recently released new songs “Purple Haze,” “Fortune Favors The Bold” and “Keeping The Light On.” The singles follow Oladokun’s breakthrough major label debut, in defense of my own happiness (Amigo Records/Verve Forecast/Republic Records), which landed on numerous “Best of 2021” lists including at NPR Music, Billboard, Variety, American Songwriter, The Tennessean, Nashville Scene and The Bitter Southerner. Stream/purchase here.
Continuing to receive widespread attention, Oladokun was recently featured in Vanity Fair, who proclaims, “Her name is both prescient and redundant. She oozes energy that shifts a room’s center of gravity and makes you happy for it. It is charisma and she has it in spades. It’s the way she approaches her craft too.”
Since her debut, Oladokun has also been featured as part of NPR Music’s “Tiny Desk (Home) Concert” series, was a guest on the renowned podcast “Song Exploder” and performed on “CBS Saturday Morning,” “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” “TODAY” and PBS’ “Austin City Limits.” She was also 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,” NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” and HBO’s “And Just Like That” among many others.
Moreover, Oladokun has collaborated with Brandi Carlile and Lucie Silvas on “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 her debut Spotify Singles session. Known for her powerful live performances, Oladokun completed her first ever headline tour earlier this year and has joined artists such as Maren Morris, My Morning Jacket, Jason Isbell, Pink Sweat$ and Leon Bridges on the road. She’s also performed at several major festivals including Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, Hangout, Ohana Festival and Newport Folk Festival.
JOY OLADOKUN CONFIRMED TOUR DATES
November 18—Atlanta, GA—Fox Theatre*
January 9-13, 2023—Riviera Maya, Mexico—Girls Just Wanna Weekend 4 (SOLD OUT)
April 24—Brighton, UK—Brighton Dome Concert Hall
April 25—Bristol, UK—O2 Academy Bristol
April 26—London, UK—Eventim Apollo
*supporting Manchester Orchestra
+supporting The Teskey Brothers
