Joy Oladokun (born 1992) is an American singer-songwriter. Her music spans the genres of folk, R&B, rock, and pop and is influenced by her identity as a queer woman of color. She has released a series of studio albums; Carry (2016), In Defense of My Own Happiness (The Beginnings) (2020), In Defense of My Own Happiness (2021), Proof of Life (2023), and Observations From A Crowded Room (2024).
Raised in Casa Grande, a small rural community in Arizona, Oladokun began playing guitar when she was ten years old. Both of her parents are Nigerian immigrants to the United States. Her family regularly attended a Christian church, where Oladokun was chosen to lead worship. Later, Oladokun left the church because it limited her creativity.
Inspired by artists like Tracy Chapman, Lauryn Hill, Bob Marley, and singer/songwriters of the ‘70s, Oladokun began writing songs but initially had no intention of pursuing music as a career, preferring to perform for family and friends, sometimes writing them new tunes as gifts.
After completing college, Oladokun got a job and was planning to settle into her new position when a friend asked her what she would be doing if money were not a consideration. Oladokun replied writing songs and traveling, and her friend urged her to follow her muse before it was too late. She relocated to Los Angeles, and initially landed gigs as a backing vocalist while she honed her craft and played occasional solo shows.
In April 2015, Oladokun released a solo acoustic EP, Cathedrals, and launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise the money to record a full-length album. She was able to raise more than her goal, and the album Carry, featuring backing from a full band, was released in April 2016.
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