Olubukola Joy Oladokun is an American singer-songwriter. Oladokun's music spans the genres of folk, R&B, rock, and pop and is influenced by her identity as a queer person of color. She has released six studio albums: Carry (2016), In Defense of My Own Happiness (2020), In Defense of My Own Happiness (2021), Proof of Life (2023), Observations from a Crowded Room (2024), and Hope is a Heavy Thing (2026).

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Olubukola Joy Oladokun (born April 6, 1992) is an American singer-songwriter. Oladokun's music spans the genres of folk, R&B, rock, and pop and is influenced by her identity as a queer person of color. She has released six studio albums: Carry (2016), In Defense of My Own Happiness (The Beginnings) (2020), In Defense of My Own Happiness (2021), Proof of Life (2023), Observations from a Crowded Room (2024), and Hope is a Heavy Thing (2026).\n

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Early life

Oladokun grew up in Casa Grande, Arizona, listening to country and folk music, as well as Bob Marley and Lauryn Hill. 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.\n

When Oladokun was 10, a video of Tracy Chapman inspired her to learn guitar.\n

After college, at a friend's suggestion, Oladokun moved to Los Angeles to pursue her music career. She later moved to East Nashville, where she signed with Prescription Songs.\n

Career

In 2015, Joy Oladokun self-released her debut EP, Cathedrals. Her debut studio album, Carry, was funded by Kickstarter and released on April 29, 2016, through Well Records.\n

Oladokun released the single \"Sunday\" in 2019, saying \"'Sunday' is the song that 12-year-old Joy, seated in the back of church youth group, needed to hear. She needed to hear that you can be queer and happy. Queer and healthy. Queer and holy. She needed to see married women kissing and playing with their kids.\" The music video highlights people in LGBTQ relationships and has a predominantly queer cast.\n

In 2020, during the Black Lives Matter movement Oladokun released \"Who Do I Turn To?\", a ballad co-written with Natalie Hemby. Oladokun’s song \"Mercy\" follows in the same theme, describing her experience as a black person in the United States, while the single \"I See America\" criticizes systemic racism. NPR listed \"I See America\" on its 100 Best Songs of 2020.\n

On July 17, 2020, Oladokun released her second studio album, In Defense of My Own Happiness (The Beginnings), with White Boy Records. Billboard described the album as a \"stunningly emotional collection\". Mitch Mosk, editor-in-chief of Atwood Magazine, called it a \"a sweeping, soaring, and stunning sophomore record oozing heart and soul.\"\n

In 2021, Oladokun received a grant from YouTube's \"#YouTubeBlack Voices Fund\". The same year she signed with Amigo Records, Verve Forecast Records, and Republic Records. On June 4, 2021, she released her third studio album, In Defense of My Own Happiness.\n

On February 17, 2023, Oladokun announced her fourth studio album, Proof of Life, along with the release of the first song off the album entitled \"Changes\". On March 16, 2023, Oladokun announced the next single off the album entitled \"We're All Gonna Die\", featuring Noah Kahan, and the lyric video of the song appeared on April 4. On April 20, Oladokun announced her tour for the album which she called \"The Living Proof Tour\", the tickets for which went on sale on April 25. The tour started on September 10, and ended on October 5, 2023. On April 28, Oladokun released Proof of Life. The album features Mt. Joy (on the track \"Friends\"), Manchester Orchestra (\"You At The Table\"), Maxo Kream (\"Revolution\"), Chris Stapleton (\"Sweet Symphony\") and Noah Kahan (\"We're All Gonna Die\").\n

In August 2024, Oladokun was the opening act for four North American shows on Hozier’s Unreal Unearth Tour. She also opened for the tour’s shows in Australia and New Zealand in November 2024.\n

On September 25, 2026, Oladokun released her sixth studio album, Hope is a Heavy Thing. \n

Personal life

Oladokun is gender-nonconforming, and \"not totally in the binary.\" Oladokun uses she/they pronouns.\n

Discography

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Studio albums

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Reissued albums

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Extended plays

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Singles

\nAs lead artist\n\nAs featured artist\n\n

Music videos

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Notes

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Accolades

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References

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External links

Official website Archived January 10, 2024, at the Wayback Machine

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Joy Oladokun

Broadcast History