Impressive debut offering demonstrates that americana’s got soul.
“Tell it to the Wind” is Louisiana singer-songwriter and guitarist Joy Clark’s debut full-length LP. It appears on (singer-songwriter and Broadway actor) Ani Di Franco’s label, Righteous Babe Records. For the album, Clark collaborated extensively with four-time Grammy-nominated songwriter and producer Margaret Becker, who is one of Clark’s musical heroes. Brought up in a deeply religious family, Clark learned to sing and play Becker’s music in church. Becker’s influence on proceedings here is quite extensive, as in addition to producing the record, she co-writes six of the songs and contributes backing vocals, electric guitar and keyboards (B-3 and synth). A special guest on the album is Lisa Coleman; the Lisa of Wendy & Lisa and former member of Prince and the Revolution.
Following a course that can be tracked back to Sister Rosetta Tharpe, through Tracy Chapman to current contemporaries Yola, Allison Russell, Joy Oladokun and Lizzie No, Clark joins this impressive list of Black female guitar players with something to say. She has performed many times with Russell, who offered Clark a regular spot in her backing band The Rainbow Coalition, subsequently leading to appearances with Brandi Carlile and the Indigo Girls; Clark has also toured in support of jazz singer Madeleine Peyroux.
Clark has a voice that’s smoother than Tennessee whiskey, and the music here has a varied feel to it, ranging from folk, through blues, funk and soul, with a touch of gospel, harking back to her childhood.
The record opens with ‘One Step in the Right Direction‘ which was one of the singles released preceding the LP; it was co-written by Clark and up-and-coming country music singer-songwriter Roberta Lea (who, along with Clark, is involved with The Black Opry, a community for Black country music artists and fans). The song appears to be about going through changes, a journey to find a place where you fit in, where you can be who you really are, leaving behind the past and looking to the future; “I feel the sunshine on my face, I know this road is not a race, So I’ll keep going my own pace, Until I find my place“. The track features really melodic guitar playing from Clark.
Next up is ‘Lesson‘, another of the singles; it sees Clark thinking of her late grandmother and the wisdom she shared during Clark’s formative years, the lyrics put it so well “She told me to be grateful, She told me to be kind, She told me to stand up, For what is right, There’s a time for peace, And God help us, there’s time for strife“. The chorus offers emphasis “Go and get your lesson, You will find your blessin’“.
‘All Behind‘ is a highlight, a ballad on which the vocal is underpinned by piano. It also features some sumptuous trombone playing by Charlie Halloran (of Charlie Halloran & The Tropicales). Clark’s vocals here are redolent of jazz and soul singer Kandace Springs as she sings “I’m taking my lamp, I’m takin’ my bike, I’m taking my plant, gonna raise it right, I’m taking my chin gonna hold it high, Don’t get up I’ll be alright“. While ‘Shine‘ could be funk band Rufus in the late 1970s; the clavinet played by J Sharp (of New Orleans funk fusion band Water Seed) and the brass section (Brent Rose, Catie Rodgers and Halloran) particularly prominent.
‘Watching You Sleep‘ is another ballad, this features Coleman on piano. It’s a love song tinged with feelings of vulnerability, “Tell me what you’re dreaming, When you go away, Is there something out there, That takes your breath away, I hope it’s me, That you see“. The other song with Coleman’s contribution (this time on keyboards) is another highlight; ‘Guest‘, which again was a single release. Clark’s acoustic guitar playing on this is excellent. It’s another reflective song “Here’s my story I confess, I’ve been living like a guest, In my own life, I’ve been missing happiness, Settling for less, In my own life“.
The set closes with the title track and Clark once more looking back, “When I was just a little girl I’d go outside, And listen to the wind, I thought it held all my secrets, Within, Peering out of my window gave me hope, There was something out meant for me“. It’s a gentle piece, with strings being such a feature, highlighting cello and violin played by Melodie Chase and Bobby Chase respectively.
This is such a mature offering for a debut record. Clark is a real talent, in terms of her songwriting, her voice and her guitar playing; she is likely to go far, keep an eye out for her.
