Samara Joy on Bringing Jazz to Gen Z & the Grammys: “Maybe I Am the Underdog!”
Get ready to embrace the holiday spirit with Samara Joy’s latest Christmas EP, “A Joyful Holiday.” The young jazz sensation, a two-time Grammy winner at the age of 24, showcases her velvety voice reminiscent of Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, and Billie Holiday. Despite jazz’s niche position in the Grammy categories, Joy’s wins, including Best Jazz Vocal Album and the prestigious Best New Artist, drew admiration from contemporary music icons like Adele, Taylor Swift, and Lizzo.
Speaking from a hotel room in L.A., Joy shared the surreal experience of winning the awards and the shock of being named Best New Artist among ten nominees. She recounted the star-studded Grammy night, including Beyoncé personally congratulating her, leaving her starstruck.
“I was starstruck and just taking in the whole experience,” she says of her Best New Artist win in particular. “I was shocked. It was very surreal. I couldn’t really grasp it for the first couple of months. With Best Jazz Vocal Album I felt like I maybe had more of a chance because there were only five of us in that first category, so I was like, ‘Okay, there’s kind of a chance, you know?’ And I performed right before they announced that category.
Also Read: Keke Palmer’s ex Darius Jackson gets ‘baptised’ and says he’s ‘repent’
“But for Best New Artist, it was 10 of us. I was like, ‘I’m the second to last underdog, or maybe I am the underdog!’ The impossible seemed to happen. Now, I feel like I’m starting to grasp it and I can finally look back at the speech without it being on mute, because before I was like, ‘I didn’t say everything I wanted to say’, and I was so nervous,” she cringes. “I was stuttering, but now I’m like, ‘Wow, that was a really big moment’. It’s taken me all this time just to settle into it.”
Joy, hailing from the Bronx, defies the musical expectations associated with the borough known for hip hop and rap. Her musical lineage, rooted in gospel through her grandparents and father, influenced her early exposure to music. While she didn’t initially connect with jazz, college became a turning point, and she started exploring the genre more intensely.
Known for her mature and refined singing voice, Joy’s journey into jazz was intentional, inspired by icons like Sarah Vaughan and Ella Fitzgerald. She aimed to blend elegance with spontaneity and technical proficiency in her performances, allowing her to connect emotionally with the audience.
Despite jazz’s historical roots, Joy has become a trailblazer for a younger audience, earning her the title of “the first Gen Z jazz singing star.” She acknowledges the unexpected joy of inspiring people, especially younger listeners, to explore and appreciate jazz.
Joy’s recent single, “Tight,” showcases her dynamic range and has become a fan favorite during her performances. In addition to her Grammy-winning album “Linger Awhile,” Joy’s contribution to jazz brings a fresh and soulful perspective to classic standards.
Also Read: Meagan Good Vows to Stand by Jonathan Majors ” For better, For worse.”
For the festive season, Joy released a cover of “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” from her EP “A Joyful Holiday.” The EP features two previously released holiday singles and four new tracks, including a live duet with her father, Antonio McLendon.
While fans may request contemporary covers, Joy remains true to her jazz roots, emphasizing her love for the genre. She hints at future projects, including large ensemble music, promising more beautiful renditions to captivate audiences. As she continues to make her mark in the jazz world, Samara Joy’s timeless voice brings a new generation into the enchanting realm of jazz music.
Samara Joy on Bringing Jazz to Gen Z & the Grammys: “Maybe I Am the Underdog!” first appeared on headlinermagazine
