Joy (Anonymous) Give Us “Joy (Play Power)”
British Electronic duo JOY (Anonymous) surprise-releases their body of work, Us People (Source Material), alongside their new single, “JOY (Play Power)”.
The body of work marks a new chapter for JOY (Anonymous), as they continue their exploration of music as a shared experience and a vehicle for human connection.
Us People (Source Material) is a 16-track, immersive odyssey through finger-picked acoustic guitar, softly-sung falsetto vocals and thrumming hand percussion. The music of (Source Material) is its own meditative pleasure, encouraging listeners to sink inwards and find the peace within. A precursor of what’s to come from JOY (Anonymous), Us People (Source Material) lets fans and listeners enjoy demo versions of the tracks that form the foundation of this new era, before the added weight, heft, and loudness that is synonymous with their live shows.
Meanwhile, new single “JOY (Play Power)” is built around grooving basslines and guitar melodies underpinning Hen’s smooth vocal performance, “JOY (Play Power)” overflows with euphoria and optimism. “‘Play Power’ was written about how we get in our own way, and how we build mountains out of molehills that end up defining a period of our lives.” the duo explains. “Then sometimes a simple sentence, or a simple letting go, changes everything and makes us realise the big thing was never that big, even though it controlled us for so long. The title is a play on the idea that power is usually seen as big and dominating, when you can actually play with it and make it light-hearted.” The single is accompanied by a music video introducing Saya and her compelling story. “JOY (Play Power)” follows previous offerings “JOY (Shit You Make Me Feel)” and “JOY (Light In The Dark)”.
JOY (Anonymous)’s surprise drop arrives at a landmark moment for the duo, who recently kicked off their Hackney Church three-day residency last week with a sold-out performance, where they were joined by New York-based artist MOTHERBOARD. They will perform another sold-out show tonight and due to overwhelming demand, the duo have added a third sold-out date on 31st October, at the iconic East London venue. These shows follow their sold-out London residency at The Jazz Cafe earlier this year. Following their residency, the duo will open for Ezra Collective on the European leg of their headline tour.
JOY (Anonymous) continues to carve out a unique creative path, rooted in openness, spontaneity and togetherness, bringing an ever-growing audience into a shared world built around, above all, joy. With Us People (Source Material) and “JOY (Play Power)”, The duo offer multiple entry points into the same creative world: the initial sonic ideas and a new single that brings what’s to come into focus. Together, they reflect a duo continuing to explore what music can mean when it is created, experienced, and shared between people.