SA group The Joy joins Doja Cat at Coachella

15 Apr 2024 - 16:02

Published under the Creative Commons Licence

South African vocal group The Joy scored a major musical coup this weekend after being part of US rapper and singer Doja Cat’s headlining performance at the 2024 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in California.

Doja Cat performing with South African a capella group The Joy at the 2024 Coachella Festival in California on 14 April.

The group was hand-picked by Doja Cat, who closed out the first weekend of the festival on 14 April, to provide vocals for the rapper’s singles ‘Acknowledge Me’ and ‘Shutcho’, which were reimagined to incorporate Zulu lyrics.

The performance happened on the heels of the release of the group’s recent single ‘You Complete Me’ ahead of its eponymous 11-track debut album via Transgressive Records on 21 June. The record was recorded live at the renowned Church Studios in London.

Speaking with SowetanLIVE after the performance, The Joy’s lead vocalist Duzie said: “Doja’s management team connected with our manager Sevi from Black Major. They told us this is something she had been wanting to do since she started following us on our social media platforms a couple of years ago.

“We love Doja and literally screamed when we heard she wanted us to share the stage of the biggest festival in the world. We recorded vocals for the two opening songs and sent them from SA. Then spent a week of rehearsals in Las Vegas. The team has some incredibly talented people in it. Everyone was wonderful and made us feel at home.

“The stage moment itself went very quickly but imagine being in front of 100, 000 people – we truly loved every minute of it. Hopefully more good things are ahead for us from this moment.”

In a part of South Africa where the Zulu tradition of a cappella singing holds a significant place in the cultural fabric, The Joy’s emerging melodies pay homage to this legacy akin to Ladysmith Black Mambazo before them.

Rooted in the essence of Mbube, meaning ‘lion’ in Zulu, the group seems to channel an ancestral power through their voices that transcends mere performance, invoking a spiritual connection with the music’s originators. The transformative potential of their songs, likened to celestial gates unlocking, has not only resonated with audiences but has also catapulted The Joy into unforeseen realms.

With endorsements from industry icons like Alicia Keys and Jennifer Hudson, and collaborations with esteemed producers, their music transcends conventional boundaries, capturing hearts and minds worldwide.