The Joy (South Africa)

The Joy was formed when five teenage boys from the South African township of Hammarsdale turned up to their school choir practice earlier than the other boys; early enough to spontaneously jam a new song into existence.   

Growing up in a part of South Africa, where the Zulu tradition of a cappella singing is central to the cultural identity of its people and where Ladysmith Black Mambazo have been worshiped for decades, their harmonies hark back to yet another vocal tradition, mbube, which means ‘lion’. It gives some indication of the elemental power its practitioners summon when bursting into song. This is the lineage which lead vocalist Duzie seems to be tapping into when he cuts loose from the intonations of his co-travellers.  

The Joy’s Grammy-winning success confirms that the magic of isicathamiya music isn’t restricted to the townships where it flourished. Alicia Keys and Jennifer Hudson have pronounced themselves fans, the latter calling them “my favourite group” and inviting them onto her US talk show. The group is also featured on multiple tracks on Doja Cat’s latest album. <Sessions produced by longtime champion Two Inch Punch amass millions of streams either in spite or because of the fact that they correspond to nothing else competing for your attention in the modern musical firmament.