JoyRukanza
JoyRukanza | |
|---|---|
| Born | 23 June 1995 Bulawayo, Zimbabwe |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
|
| Instrument | Vocals |
| Years active | 2021–present |
JoyRukanza (born June 23, 1995), formerly known as JØY, is a Zimbabwean musical artist[1] and TEDx speaker.[2][3]
Early life and education
[edit]Joy Roselyn Rukanzakanza was born on June 23, 1995, in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, she grew up in Pumula South in Bulawayo. She had her early education at Robert Tredgold Primary School, then she had her secondary education at Sizane High School where she began public speaking, representing her school in local and regional Public Speaking and Debate competitions and she served as a junior Deputy Chief Adjudicator for the Zimbabwe National Debate Championships.[4][5] In 2017, she was the first student to give a TEDx talk at Bryn Mawr College.[6][7]
Music career
[edit]JoyRukanza began her professional music career in 2014 when she featured on Zimbabwean producer Skaiva on his EP titled Against All Odds released that year. She collaborated on a track titled Shingirira which became popular in Zimbabwe and South Africa with high rotation airplay on several radio stations mostly on ZiFM Stereo and Skyz Metro FM[8] and the song was featured by South African producer Chymamusique in his award-winning album Musique eight years later.[9][10][11]
She then collaborated with South African dance music producer, Enosoul, resulting in the creation of a dance track Tamba which featured in Enosoul's 2018 project In2deep Vol 4. In 2022, JoyRukanza was featured in Tanto Wavie's Amasungura EP on the track titled Muyeuchidze In the same year, she worked with Kbrizzy x Phanas on a song Rubies and Diamonds as part of their joint project,[12] When We're Not Being Lazy.[13][14]
In early 2021, JoyRukanza's released her debut solo record, New Day featuring South African hip-hop artist KiD X then she released her follow-up single, Roses which premiered on BBC Music before its official release in March 2021. In October 2021, she released Queendom.[15][16] The song got high rotation airplay and featured on hit singles charts[17] and also featured in global Apple Music, Boomplay,[18] and Spotify playlists.[19][20][21]
In December 2021, JoyRukanza launched a music festival called The Forêt Tropicale at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair in Bulawayo.[22][23]
In October 2022, JoyRukanza became one of the first Zimbabwean musicians to be invited to a BBC Music cypher[24][25] courtesy of BBC Music Introducing x BBC Radio 1xtra.[26]
In 2023, she released her debut[27] eleven track album MatterMoreForSis.[28][29]
Discography
[edit]Albums
[edit]Videography
[edit]| Song | Album | Year |
|---|---|---|
| New Day | MatterMoreForSis | 2021 |
| Roses | MatterMoreForSis | 2021 |
| Queendom[32][33] | MatterMoreForSis | 2021 |
| The J -Space Performance | Single release | 2021 |
| Survive The Night | MatterMoreForSis | 2023 |
Awards
[edit]- Bulawayo Arts Awards 2022 - Outstanding Female Artist of the Year (Nominated)[34]
- Bulawayo Arts Awards 2022 - Newcomer of the Year (Nominated)
- Zimbabwe Achievers Awards 2023 - Outstanding Achievement in Music[35]
References
[edit]- ^ "UK based songstress releases track to 'empower women'". October 12, 2021.
- ^ "Introducing the 10 Zimbabwean creatives you need to know now". www.gq.co.za.
- ^ "Hard working FEMALE musicians 2021 | Zimbabwe". January 1, 2022.
- ^ "Getting To Know... JoyRukanza". Mystic Sons. June 23, 2023.
- ^ "Reaching Out in Zimbabwe | Bryn Mawr College". www.brynmawr.edu.
- ^ "A Journey to Contemporary Womanhood | Joy Rukanzakanza | TEDxBrynMawrCollege" – via www.youtube.com.
- ^ Gagakuma, Wolasi (October 8, 2021). "JoyRukanza Takes Us To The Movies With Riveting "Queendom" Music Video".
- ^ "Skaiva and JoyRukanza's Hit 'Shingirira' Dominates Radio Airwaves". ZIMBUZZ. September 12, 2014.
- ^ "JoyRukanza Welcomes Us to Her "Queendom" - Moziak". November 4, 2021.
- ^ "Taking a leaf from JoyRukanza". B-Metro. October 15, 2021.
- ^ Mashayamombe, Nyari (November 19, 2022). "More Than A Songstress ; JoyRukanya". Identities Media Holdings.
- ^ "Kbrizzy, Phanas And JoyRukanza Unleash 'Rubies And Diamonds' Single. - Ampstreet". March 19, 2022.
- ^ "SEE: Zim creatives you should know". www.glamour.co.za.
- ^ "Zimbabwean Artist JoyRukanza's Album "MatterMoreForSis": A Musical Metamorphosis of Love and Empowerment".
- ^ "Take a trip through JoyRukanza's unsettling mind in her latest single and video "Queendom"". October 20, 2021.
- ^ "JoyRukanza Builds Anticipation for Impending Debut Album With New Song, "Queendom"". October 10, 2021.
- ^ "JoyRukanza's Empowering Anthem 'Queendom' Reigns on Regional and Local Radio". ZIMBUZZ. November 11, 2021.
- ^ "Forever Vibes | Boomplay Music". Boomplay Music - WebPlayer.
- ^ "R&B Stadium". Spotify.
- ^ "It's JoyRukanza's Queendom; We just live in it". www.gq.co.za.
- ^ "True R&B". Spotify.
- ^ Chronicle, The (December 22, 2021). "NEW: Joy Rukanza musical concert unites Byo artistes". The Chronicle.
- ^ "JoyRukanza brings concert to Byo". B-Metro. December 2, 2021.
- ^ "RnB Cypher 1Xtra X BBC Introducing" – via www.youtube.com.
- ^ "BBC Radio 1Xtra - BBC Introducing on 1Xtra, with Theo Johnson: Introducing LIVE cypher". BBC.
- ^ "Rising R&B Artist JoyRukanza Unveils Debut Album 'MatterMoreForSis'". Top40-Charts.com.
- ^ Chronicle, The (May 28, 2023). "Journey to JoyRukanza's first full-body project". The Chronicle.
- ^ Staff, Wonderland (June 23, 2023). "JoyRukanza Releases Debut Album, MatterMoreSis". Wonderland.
- ^ Blake, Martha (June 30, 2023). "JoyRukanza shares mesmerising debut album 'MatterMoreForSis' | New Music". Music Crowns.
- ^ "Review: JoyRukanza Takes Us On An Empowering Journey With MatterMoreForSis". flex. June 23, 2023.
- ^ "JoyRukanza Puts Out A Musical Metamorphosis Of Love In Debut Album 'MatterMoreForSis'". slikouronlife.co.za.
- ^ NewsDay, The. "Queendom, JoyRukanza's special". NewsDay.
- ^ Moyo, Stuart (October 14, 2021). "Girl child empowered through Queendom".
- ^ Chronicle, The (November 18, 2022). "JoyRukanza excited by RoilBAA nomination". The Chronicle.
- ^ Chronicle, The (April 18, 2023). "JoyRukanza nominated for Zim Achievers Awards". The Chronicle.