IN CONVERSATION WITH JOYE
interview by SAMO ŠAJN
Joye is an up-and-coming artist who mixes deep emotions with bold electronic sounds. After her 2022 EP Thelma, she’s back with Angel, project about grief, healing, and growth. Influenced by artists like FKA Twigs and M83. Joye uses music to find strength and express herself.
You studied classical piano for years. Do you still use any of that background when you're working on tracks now?
Honestly, I've drifted away from my classical practice over time. But the piano has always been and will always be a part of my life. Back in school, it was how I processed my emotions; it became my diary. Even now, I still have those moments. Many melodies I've written started at the piano. It's the instrument that makes me feel at home.
You rap on "WITCH" for the first time and it's super powerful. What made you want to try that?
I've always rapped just for fun, at home, where no one could see me. I had this demo sitting on my computer for a couple of years; the story behind it has been with me for over a decade. The goal was always to rap, but the timing wasn’t right. ANGEL (this mixtape is for u) came at a turning point in my life. This song became a way to face old wounds and move forward. I brought it to the studio, and with my friend Léo (Bouloumié), we made it in one night. I'm really proud of it. It was important to give just as much care to the visuals. I got to collaborate with the amazing photographer and director Sasha Mongin. I had been trying to reach her for months. We spent a long time on this project with the best team, and now she's a friend I can count on.
What's something people often get wrong about you or your music when they first hear it?
I don't think people really get it wrong. Most understand where I'm coming from, the inspirations, the drive for empowerment. But when people don’t know me, they sometimes assume I’m distant or hard to reach. That feeling fades within five minutes. I’ve heard more than once, “You're actually quite simple.”
The new mixtape feels like it comes from a really heavy place. Was there something that pushed you to start?
I lost my mum in a few months. None of us saw it coming, and I had never known pain like that. But I also never understood life so deeply. My relationship at the time ended, and I moved to Paris. It was a disorienting period. I coped with grief by meeting new people, partying, going back and forth to London, and reconnecting with people I’d missed. Beautiful things were happening. I felt inspired, like I was being guided by something or someone. Telling myself my Angel was with me helped me begin to heal. The vertigo of loss never fully left, but I started to feel strangely happy. Often lost, pulled in different directions. I wanted to do everything, afraid I might die at any moment. Music grounded me. This project became my anchor.
You mention being inspired by books like Women Who Run With the Wolves. How do things like that shape your music?
Especially with my first EP Thelma. Before that, I had never truly felt anger, never stood up for my truth. The project was an inner revolution. I had to let go of an old version of myself to be reborn. Thelma reflects how I absorbed and processed Clarissa Pinkola Estés' book and ideas. Your songs mix soft, emotional parts with really strong, confident ones. Is that something you think about while writing, or does it just happen naturally? It comes naturally and really depends on my mood. Both emotions inspire me deeply, and I love exploring the tension between them. I’m a mix of those two states. Sometimes I feel grounded, other times totally lost. Or maybe confidence is something I’m still working toward, every single day. Sometimes I just don’t have the strength for it. Music moves with me through it all.
Do you feel different when you perform these songs live, like you're letting something out or taking your power back?
Yes, it’s a totally different vibe. In the studio, I stay focused to capture the right intention. I'm in control of my voice. But on stage, I let everything go. It’s the space where I want to feel the freest. My voice becomes more powerful. And we’ve been working on body expression with Angelica Ardiot (my friend, choreographer and dancer) so I can stay connected to my emotions.
Who are some women, artists or just people in your life, who inspire you to keep going or speak up?
My mum used to say everything out loud. Sometimes it was blunt, even harsh, but I miss it. Her voice still echoes in me. These days, I try to stay true to the person I want to become. A few times a year, I write down where I see myself in 5, 10, 15 years to make sure I’m aligning my actions. Most of my girlfriends are a big source of inspiration. Many are artists too, like Lucie and Angelica. Working with them gives me strength.
Your whole vibe, music, visuals, everything feels really thought out. How do you build that world around your songs?
While I was working on the demos, I started having clear visual visions. They usually come to me just by listening on repeat. I wanted to be more disciplined, so I put real effort into shaping the artistic direction. The connection between the sea and the sky quickly felt essential—light and dark, the use of flashes, water as texture, the color blue. We built that world with Lucie Perret, my friend and photographer, aiming to create a universe for each song. For the music videos, I shared my vision with directors I really admire: Antoine Wibaux (POWER) and Sasha Mongin (WITCH).
The line you use, "Wise girls go to heaven, others go wherever they want." What does that mean to you personally?
Every choice I make is driven by my quest for freedom. Before Thelma, I tried to please everyone, thinking kindness was the key to being loved. But ANGEL took things to another level. Losing my mum opened a door I never thought would open. I realized freedom has no limit, and I started breaking every chain still holding me back. There’s still work to do, but freedom has become my compass. Wherever it leads, I’ll follow.
