Allysha Joy Can “Carry it”
First Word Records is proud to bring you ‘carry it’, a new uplifting single from Allysha Joy. Following on from the late Summer single release of ‘kiss it better’, ‘carry it’ arches back to Allysha’s gospel church upbringing, while never straying too far from her nu-soul inspirations. It’s a taste of what’s to come on her next long player project, recorded live at Abbey Road Studios.
It begins with the pulsating heartbeat of a dulcet 808 drum pattern, sweeping synths, a radiant piano riff and Allysha’s trademark powerhouse vocals, all sent soaring with the uplifting sounds of the Actions of Love choir. ‘carry it’ intertwines a rich tapestry of unique musical inspirations & meaning, with the bold cinematics of strings & percussion embellishing at every turn, lifting you up, as Allysha so often does, towards something genuinely transcendent.
Thematically, Allysha explains “this song was written for my mother, Joy, as we walk into a new chapter of our lives together, as the roles in our relationship are changing & we come to understand how much we have moved through. Within this reflection also lies a shared experience of the societal, political & environmental changes that we’re collectively moving through. There’s a sense of quiet grief, a reckoning in the change of the times, in trying to understand how to move forward, & how to carry this responsibility we’re collectively handed with grace & love. This song is a reminder to myself, & hopefully to others, that we will be able to weather the storm together & that our sensitivity is a strength in how we do so.”
Allysha Joy is a deeply prolific & passionate artist; a singer, songwriter, producer, musician & poet. From nurturing her talents in Melbourne / Naarm, she has built a global career of genuine resonance & devotion. Her musical conviction has earned Joy a rare & respected place at the centre of contemporary soul & jazz around the world.
In 2025, she was nominated as ‘Soul Act of the Year’ at the Jazz FM awards. Her 2018 debut album was named ‘Best Soul Album’ at the Music Victoria Awards, & nominated for ‘Best Jazz Album’ at the Worldwide Awards, amongst other accolades.
Joy has received support from a myriad of luminaries in the music industry, including Gilles Peterson, Jamz Supernova (BBC 6 Music), Jamie Cullum (BBC Radio 2), Laurent Garnier (PBB France), China Moses (Jazz FM), OkayPlayer, Dazed and The Vinyl Factory. Whilst also an accomplished broadcaster & DJ in her own right, she has hosted shows for the likes of The Lot Radio (NYC), Worldwide FM, NTS & Soho Radio (LDN).
An outstanding live performer, Allysha has graced stages at Montreux Jazz Festival, NYC Winter Jazz, We Out Here, Blue Note Tokyo and at the opening season of Blue Note, London. She’s played alongside acts such as Snarky Puppy, PJ Morton, The Teskey Brothers, Jordan Rakei & Kokoroko, and featured on countless releases from folks such as Makèz & IG Culture (New Sector Movements / LCSM), whilst also fronting her collaborative project, 30/70.
A harmonious & defiant expression of Joy’s power & vulnerability, ‘carry it’ is a natural evolution of an impeccable catalogue. It is the work of an artist who lives at the very edge, with an unwavering passion for music, an assuredness of her values, a softness to feel and a flexibility to learn, to grow, to move between strength & vulnerability with grace & raw honesty.
‘carry it’ is released on all digital platforms on Tuesday November 3rd, and is taken from the forthcoming album ‘Actions of Love’, which is due for release in Spring 2027.