Hailing from Durham, North Carolina, The Simple Joy embodies exactly what their name says: friendly, approachable and uplifting musical matter, built over rockabilly and classic saloon-flavoured rock’n’roll tones. Leaving complex stylings behind, the group champions a formula that’s bound to connect with a wide number of listeners worldwide, although their lyricism might feel more nuanced to some.
‘Unravel’ is their latest effort, a charming album that showcases everything The Simple Joy stands for. There’s quite a contrast between the record’s sonic aspect and its lyricism, with fierce rocky arrangement often paired with moodier and slightly melancholic songs, making for an intriguing and theatrical contrast, something that comes alive especially with Munoz and Lowry’s vocal parts, delivered with immense savoir-faire and infectious intensity.
Active since 2019, The Simple Joy have outlasted the pandemic, demonstrating their commitment to the cause. Delving into the inspiration behind the album, they explain: “There are a lot of sad songs on this album. Angry breakup songs, dark songs about growing up, lots of loves unrequited or misunderstood. Even some of the happy-sounding songs are sad and/or angry. But the PLAYING of the songs — along with friends and for friends — is just pure and simple joy.”
Recommended! Discover ‘Unravel’ on Spotify:
