Rare is it to find an artist with a name so succinctly correlated with their creative ethos. London’s dance duo Joy Anonymous have reached heady heights this year, offering a sound that oozes effervescence; celebratory, cohesive and anthemic, there is a defiant definition to the tone, timbre and soundscapes of the pair who were first motivated by bringing happiness to those who needed it most during the COVID lockdowns.
Following a jam-packed summer of huge festival appearances – from Coachella to Glastonbury – last month, Joy unveiled their sophomore record, Cult Classics, a sprawling, saccharine and serendipitous collection of cuts that veer the act further into their own lane of prominence and prosperity. Triumphantly individual yet richly recognisable, Joy have concocted a sonic identity that feels inherent to themselves and no one else.
The duo, in partnership with Brooklyn Brewery and Universal Music, have presented a short documentary capturing their rise. Telling their story from intimate pop-ups to playing the world’s biggest stages, it’s a tale of enlightenment and inspiration, of overcoming hardship and shining bright in the face of innovation. The brewery is inspired by its namesake borough, and reflects a refreshing, positive energy and community-focused philosophy – the perfect mirroring of the production duo’s musical approach – making this collaboration seamless and instinctive.
Catching up with the guys, we reflect on their journey from meeting at school to having the “best year of [their] lives,” the making of the Brooklyn Pilsner documentary, and why community is at the epicentre of everything they do.
Listen to Cult Classics…
Watch the documentary…
Read the exclusive interview…
How has the year treated you?
Best year of our lives so far. We were just in New Zealand going back through our journal and everything that has happened this year – it’s been a lot and quite overwhelming. From playing in an abandoned prison in Lithuania to Coachella and Glastonbury to now announcing our 2024 Cult Classics tour including a Roundhouse which has officially sold out. And of course, releasing our second album Cult Classics.
We have also been lucky enough to spend a lot of time in New York this year which has welcomed us with open arms and went out to film a documentary with Brooklyn Brewery, about the incredible community we have grown across the globe.
How did you meet and begin making music together? What about your musical relationship works so well?
We met at school but didn’t start making music together until we opened a label called From Concentrate. We started to release other artists music and run club nights. Then when Covid hit and the world locked down, JOY(Anonymous) was formed, and we took the music to Southbank and the first Joy meetings began. From there the community has grown and now we’re lucky enough to take the movement round the world and play amazing festival and shows. We have the same musical tastes and trust each other’s tastes, and we both just love it more than anyone else.
How did you find the sonic approach that you both wanted to create within?
It’s all based off our shared eclectic influences from equal parts Paul Simon to Prodigy.
How would you define the essence of your production style?
We start by writing songs and forming our own samples with natural and warm textures and then flip them into euphoric bangers.
Your sound tends to be uplifting, upbeat and effervescent. Why do you lean towards vibrancy in your productions?
We make music for people to feel something, whether bad or good we want them to feel something. And we feel that there is quite a lot of media negative in the world, and we want to offer a hopeful alternative.
You’ve collaborated with some household names in the UK scene and beyond – who’s stood out to you, and who would you love to work with in the future? Why is working with artists such a pinnacle part of the Joy ethos?
We love working with people from other musical worlds to create new sounds. In recent times, Danielle Ponder has stood out as an unexpected collaboration. When she stepped into the room and began to write we were blown away, and then to be able to flip the track with The Blessed Madonna into what you hear today on the “Carry Me Higher” EP, it feels like a very special record. Joy is a community so having a place where lots of voices can be heard is important to us.
The making of the Brooklyn Pilsner documentary: why did now feel like the right time to let fans into the inner workings of your artistry?
We’re super proud of the music we are making and especially the community we have built – and working with Brooklyn Brewery gave us the opportunity to tell the story of not just us, but the amazing Joy community we’ve built across the globe. It also allowed us to work with Sam Mulvey who directed the piece and is a brilliant creative and artist.
We shot the piece between London and Brooklyn; Sam helped us to shine the light on these two cities that have been important in our journey and share a cultural crossover.
Why is community important to you as artists and as individuals?
Community has formed everything from the origin of why we began in the first place to the music and sounds you hear on the records; those have been built out of the Joy community. We even have a WhatsApp where we are able to chat to all the Joy warriors direct.
Where’s the best time and place to enjoy a Brooklyn Pilsner?
At a Joy meeting of course.
What’s to come from you in the new year?
We are going on our headline tour including a date at the iconic Roundhouse, which will be an opportunity for people to see our full live show. Then we’ll be releasing more music and collaborations with some amazing people.
Watch Joy Anonymous: A Short Documentary here