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‘Change’ is an appropriate title for the new single as it is about time Joy reached a larger audience. Even though she’s got everyone’s favourite hip-hop geek, Lupe Fiasco helping out, she’s the shining star.

In Gilles’s interview, we learnt that Joy is German, she’s married to her producer Max Herre and her Sowetan father is Hugh Masekela’s cousin. Gilles was planting the seed of “Uncle Hugh” featuring on a new version of his ‘What’s Wrong With Groovin” ” there’s a link to Gilles’ Talkin’ Loud past life in here somewhere: Joy was the vocalist on re:jazz’s remake of Cleveland Watkiss’ ‘Torch Of Freedom’. That’s a bit contrived you say, but it’s where I first heard Joy. This was back in 2003. Denalane had been singing in a reggae band so she was the ideal choice for ‘Torch Of Freedom’. It’s as close to jazz-roots reggae perfection as you can get.

It’s great to see that after the debut album, sung in her native tongue, she was crowned the Queen of German Soul. The session she did for the Worldwide show was a very simple arrangement and it’s guaranteed to raise interest in the second album Born & Raised recorded in Philadelphia, sung in English and featuring Anthony Tidd (The Roots, Ursula Rucker), Raekwon (on ‘Heaven Or Hell’) plus horn and string arrangements by Larry Gold (check the instrumental version of ‘Change’ for horn heaven!)
This Soweto-German-Philadelphia melt might not have been an obvious one but ‘Change’ is going to get you. This is the sound of the summer soul and check MTV Base for the latest video shot in Japan with Lupe.

Reviewed: Joy Denalane - Change (Nesola) Cat. NO. NES 88697102932 Release date: 18th June 2007 Contains an Interpolation of ‘I Want To Go Back’ originally recorded by The Impressions.
1. Change feat. Lupe Fiasco (4:16)
2. Change (Radio Version) (3:44)
3. Change (Instrumental Version) (4:16)

Links:
www.joydenalane.com
www.myspace.com/joydenalanemusic
www.nesola.de
www.lupefiasco.com
www.myspace.com/lupefiasco
www.maxherre.de
www.clevelandwatkiss.com
www.sowetan.co.za
The Impressions - ABC Rareities (ACE)
Gilles Peterson :: Tracklisting Thursday 17 May :: Joy Denalane Live in Session
Joy Denalane - ‘Heaven Or Hell’ (Instrumental)
Joy Denalane feat. Lupe Fiasco - ‘Change’ (Instrumental) (Four Music/Sony/Bmg)
Joy Denalane - ‘Stranger In This Land’ (Live In Session)
Joy Denalane - ‘Stranger In This Land’ (Four Music/Sony/Bmg)
Common - ‘Go!’ (Instrumental) (Geffen)
Joy Denalane - ‘Let Go’ (Live In Session)
Joy Denalane - ‘Heaven or Hell’ (Acoustic) (Live in Session)