JOY DOWNER’s debut album "Paper Moon" is now available! 

A new single from the new album released on June 5th. 

>>PAPER MOON<<

Another new single released on May 6th. 

>>A SONG YOU'D NEVER WANT TO HEAR<<

A featured single released in 2019 is also available now. 

>>PLASTIC WRAP<<

Joy Downer’s Paper Moon album was released earlier this month. Paper Moon follows the 2017 solo debut EP Radio Dreamer, which was released in 2017. Downer’s success grew over the past 3 years: her music landed her a Honda TV ad campaign that featured her singing Somewhere Over The Rainbow. She continued to release songs in 2018 and 2019, including Weapons Down which got picked up for MTV’s Siesta Key Season 2, Episode 12 alongside tracks by renowned artists such as Bebe Rexha, James Bay, David Guetta, and Sia. In early 2020, Joy Downer’s song In the Water was selected as the theme for the Netflix Original Series Spinning Out. Refinery29 calling the track a “total bop” and suggested viewers “don’t skip the intro.” 

The Joy Downer duo - sometimes referred to as a duo due to Joy’s husband’s involvement in her music - consisted of husband and wife Jeffrey and Joy Downer who wrote, recorded, and produced all of the tracks of Paper Moon (with the exception of Plastic Wrap, a song the couple collaborated on with Darren Le Gallo) in the couple’s Los Angeles home. Plastic Wrap was featured on Jo Whiley’s BBC Radio 2 show, and the music video for the song – directed by Le Gallo - premiered in January 2019, and was referred to as “a perfect slice of indie-pop ear candy...this track has a retro feel reminiscent of the Eurythmics with a distinctive modern twist” by Earmilk. In regards to working with her husband, Joy said that they have “had the opportunity to really strengthen and hone in on [their] musical capabilities.” A wide range of inspiration can be heard on the album; there are influences from Broadway musicals, to disco, punk rock, and maybe even a little bit of trance. 

Originally raised in the Mormon/LDS Church in Jamul, CA, Joy’s childhood was filled with various musical exposure. She was one of 10 children and said the following of her childhood home: “We lived in a pink house with blue carpet, perched on the top of a hill, with fruit trees and horses, lots of dirt to ride bikes, and a trampoline to get hurt on constantly.” Joy’s mother would often play the piano and listen to musicals, while her father, a drummer in high school, loved playing Beatles songs and listening to classic rock ‘n roll and country. Although Joy is no longer a member of the LDS Church, she fondly recalls nearly everyone playing instruments and singing and credits those early years of childhood for her love of music. Since music played a major role in her upbringing, Joy felt it was important to include her family members in her music.  She even “sampled voicemails from both my Mom and Dad, had my Mom play piano, had my brother Jon sing and play guitar at the end, and my sister Jaime played some harmonium”. 

Joy Downer describes her music as “alternative dream-pop”, and Paper Moon embraces the theme of duality and combines an uninterrupted blend of melody and vocals. “Each song sort of catalogs my current mindset/feelings and is still my form of therapy. I wrote most of my songs in a stream of consciousness way, so if I’m asked what they mean, I’m often still trying to figure that out myself. So I would say: whatever it means to you, that’s what it means.” The album opens with a song that Joy began writing at 17, A Song You’d Never Want to Hear, with lyrics hinting that the song was about a former beau who it sounds like Joy had difficulty letting go. The album concludes with Paper Moon, a lullaby-like track, in which she serenades listeners about stars and nighttime. Her music is brilliantly crafted, as the tone and timbre differ from song to song, and yet the theme of dichotomy effortlessly remains. Moreover, the songs are assembled in a way that tells a story. Each track builds on the other. The total listening time of the full album is just under 35 minutes, so fans can both enjoy music and listen to a story in about half an hour.

PHOTO CREDIT: JOHN KNIPP / LILLY KEYS  

WRITTEN BY ZANNA SHAPIRO

EDITED BY KAREN YABUTA