All summer long, and well into the fall so far, everybody seems to be drinking the Vance Joy Kool-Aide. Rightfully so. The Melbourne-based singer/songwriter, whose real name is James Keogh, creates magic with his music - subtle melodies with deeply-felt lyrics. That being said, he spawned a huge alt-rock hit with "Riptide" this summer off both his 2013 EP God Loves You When You're Dancing and his recently-released full-length album Dream Your Life Away, and seems poised to be the "next big thing." So many people use that phrase to describe an emerging artist, but - apologies to Public Enemy - believe the hype.
Joy was named VH1's "You Oughta Know - Artist to Watch" last month, and has earned an array of other accolades, including being named among Shazam's "10 Artists Predicted To Break In 2014" and being included in Spotify's "Spotlight Artists For 2014." If that weren't enough, Billboard, Entertainment Weekly, and even Time gave him props. OK, enough of the praise because I'm sure there's a ton more that I could mention but my fingers are hurting just typing all of the above.
From Atlantic Records in New York City, the rising star performed a pair of songs for A-Sides, and sat down for an informal chat about "Riptide's" success, its Michelle Pfeiffer namedrop, and his relatively new-found success in the U.S. Watch the videos, which were filmed by shootmepeter.com, and marvel at his humbleness and amazing hair. Anyway, catch him on the road this fall with Jaymes Young, and drink up. The Kool-Aid Man just kicked open and door and shouted "oh yeah."
"Riptide" (Studio Session)
"Mess is Mine" (Studio Session)
Interview:
A-Sides "Delve Into Twelve" Countdown
Each week A-Sides unleashes its Top 12 tracks of the week AKA the "Delve Into Twelve"based on the following contributing factors: songs I'm playing out that particular week NO MATTER WHEN THEY WERE RELEASED (think overlooked songs, unreleased tracks, and old favorites), songs various publicists are trying to get me to listen to that I did and dug a bunch, posts and trends I've noticed on my friends' Facebook walls, and -- most importantly -- the songs my two-year-old son gravitates toward by stomping his feet in approval. Yeah, you read that right. This weeks follows below (LW= last week's rank).
* Since this didn't run last week I'll be posting two lists *
Week of Sept. 22
12. "Pool" (debut) - Glass Animals
11. "Over" (debut) - Tove Lo
10. "Stolen Dance" (LW-7) - Milky Chance
9. "Agora" (LW-8) - Bear Hands
8. "Do You" (LW-3) - Spoon
7. "Heavenly Father" (LW-9) - Bon Iver
6. "Ends of the Earth" (LW-5) - Lord Huron
5. "How Can You Really" (LW-4) - Foxygen
4. "Inside Out" (LW-6) - Spoon
2. "Last Forever" (LW-3) - Fenech-Soler
1. "Boom Clap" (LW-2) - Charli XCX
Week of Sept. 29
12. "Over" (LW-11) - Tove Lo
11. "Agora" (LW-9) - Bear Hands
10. "Heavenly Father" (LW-7) - Bon Iver
9. "Ends of the Earth" (LW-6) - Lord Huron
8. "Kathleen" (debut) - Catfish and the Bottlemen
7. "How Can You Really" (LW-5) - Foxygen
6. "So Now What" (debut) - The Shins
5. "Inside Out" (LW-4) - Spoon
4. "Geronimo" (debut) - Sheppard
3. "Last Forever" (LW-2) - Fenech-Soler
2. "Beggin For Thread" (debut) - Banks
1. "Boom Clap" (LW-2) - Charli XCX
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About A-Sides Music
Jon Chattman's "A-Sides Music" series was established in August 2011 and usually features artists (established or not) from all genres performing a track, and discussing what it means to them. This informal series focuses on the artist making art in a low-threatening, extremely informal (sometimes humorous) way. No bells, no whistles -- just the music performed in a random, low-key setting followed by an unrehearsed chat. In an industry where everything often gets overblown and over manufactured, I'm hoping this is refreshing. Artists have included: fun, Courtney Love, Air Supply, Birdy, Sleigh Bells, Aretha Franklin, Alice Cooper, Rob Zombie, Echosmith, Charli XCX, Pharrell Williams, American Authors, Imagine Dragons, Gary Clark Jr., and more! A-Sides theme written and performed by Blondfire.