At just 24, Samara Joy is breathing new life into the jazz scene, captivating audiences with her mesmerizing voice. The Bronx-born singer’s talent has drawn comparisons to legendary jazz queens Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan.
A vocal major at SUNY’s Purchase College, Joy was named an Ella Fitzgerald Memorial Scholar. Her journey began when she auditioned for the college’s renowned jazz voice program.
Joy’s vocal coach, Alexis Cole, recognized her potential, saying: “You have a beautiful resonance, but stylistically, it needs some work.” Joy’s dedication paid off, earning her three Grammy Awards, including Best New Artist and Best Jazz Vocal Album for “Linger Awhile.”
Despite her success, Joy remains underrated in mainstream music. Music publications like Pitchfork Media and Rolling Stone have been criticized for overlooking her talent. The dominance of hip-hop, pop, and country in today’s music climate also contributes to her relatively low profile.
However, Joy’s fan base is growing, with 524,200 monthly listeners on Spotify. Her most streamed song, “Can’t Get Out Of This Mood,” showcases her mesmerizing vocals.
Joy recently performed “No More Blues” on “Today” with a full band, wowing audiences with her effortless glides up and down notes. Her North American tour, concluding May 20, 2025, is generating buzz around her latest album, “Portrait.”
Released October 11, “Portrait” features eight tranquil tracks, spanning 44 minutes. Joy’s music has won over fans, including this writer, who praises her as a worthy successor to Whitney Houston and Amy Winehouse.
With her talent and dedication, Samara Joy is slowly making a name for herself. Stream her music, starting with her self-titled debut album, to discover why she deserves a spot in everyone’s 2024 music rotation.
Featured image credit: deafboyphotography
