6 minute read
JOYSAD // Interview
What can we say about this talented rapper who likes to juggle with ambivalence and opposites? Since his beginnings when he used to post his freestyles on Instagram, the 20-year-old rapper has been able to stand out from the rest with his intimate lyrics and projects thought out in the smallest details. This rapper, whose new project standed out as an anthem to duality, talks to A Rap & A Cup Of Tea about this double-faced persona that he puts forward.
Everything seems to have a double meaning in his art: the meaning of the word Palindrome - the title of his last EP - the meaning of his blaze Joysad, and even the intro and outro of this project which allow a double reading. In spite of this desire to multiply things, the rapper originating from Périgueux makes a decision of honor to stay to himself and he lets us know it by reveiling his thoughts.
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A few years ago, we discovered you with your freestyles for 1Minutes2Rap on social networks. Today, what does this platform represent to you in your career? It represents the beginning, you see ?
It's what allowed me to create my community, the one with which I started to develop something serious.
Why did you choose Joysad as your nickname?
I was 11 years old at the time and I had to find a blaze... I don't know, I thought Joysad was pretty cool. (laughs)
When you first started on 1Minute2Rap, did you imagine that you would end up signing with a big record label such as Because Music?
I didn't think about it but I never thought it was impossible. I never said to myself "Oh I don't have any connections, it's going to be too hard". As Orelsan said, "Saying "I don't have any gear or any connection" is a victim thing".
In 2020 you release your first EP Fernandez where we discover a determined and selfconfident Joysad with many punchlines. A few months later, you release your second EP Palindrome where we discover another side of you. You open up completely: your background, your difficult moments, your family problems as we can see in your track "Ciel Et Terre". Why such a choice?
I really felt that I was more comfortable in this style. Lately, I felt that the public was more receptive to this kind of lyrics: more "raw" it's true but also real.
Talking about your song "Ciel Et Terre", we really feel that you really cherish it, is it like a therapy for you?
I wouldn't really say it's a therapy. There are other sounds where I'm emptying myself in it, so in a way it's like all my songs are a kind of therapy. For me, that's what making Rap is all about. In fact, I took a particular pleasure making this track.
Your second EP is called Palindrome, what made you choose this title?
A 'palindrome' is a word that can be read in both directions, you see. So I thought it was funny because I've always wanted to create a kind of duality in one character. Whether it's in my videos or my sounds, I've always wanted to create a second self. It also fits with the JoySad blaze, it's a bit "Two characters in one". I also used it to make two different interpretations for my public.
We notice in your writing a very literary side. What are your influences?
Actually, it's hard to say what inspires me musically, because I listen more often to music with my friends than solo. (laughs) I'm mainly inspired by life. And for my "literary side" actually, it's nice that you said that because I haven't read since high school and I only read what I was required to read. So I don't really have a big literary "influence". (laughs)
Your EP starts with a track called "Le Monde Est À L'Envers" and it ends with a track you named "Le Monde Est Joli", why such a contrast between these two tracks?
Again, I thought it was cool to have two different interpretations. We even placed them in such a way that it changes your understanding of the EP depending on the order in which you listen to it. Depending on which you start the EP from the beginning of the end, it can either end up in an optimistic or a pessimistic way, so it's a good idea to have two different readings of the album. My team and I really had fun trying this.
In your track "Le Monde Est À L'Envers" you say "Sometimes you have to surrender to feel your heart beat" can you tell me more about that?
As you grow, you realize that talking to your loved ones is a necessary part of being well. When you've spent a lot of time keeping everything to yourself, once you manage to "spit out" a few words that weigh a lot, it's really pleasant. I think it does you good and it allows you to move forward in life.
I noticed that for this track you reached out to the beatmaker Diabi, can you tell me more about this meeting?
Diabi is so dope! That guy's track record is amazing, he does a really good work! We talked a lot before working together and he's a serious guy. He's also a cool guy to hang out with and I like that.
This project doesn't have any featuring, was it by choice?
Yes, I wanted it to be sober. For the time being, we have never done a featuring. I think we have time for that, and if we have any feats to do it's gonna be with big names.
Which artists would you like to do featurings with?
The artist I'd love to collaborate with would be Ariana Grande. I really like Ariana! (laughs) Then I would say Dinos, Fianso and Da Uzi.
You gave yourself a lot on this project and especially on "Marchand De Sable". Wasn't it hard for you to reveal yourself that much in front of your audience?
Actually, I think this text is quite soft because I wrote a lot of texts that never came out for the moment and that are even tougher than this one. Imagine the rest. It's a subject that I took the time to thoroughly think about before talking about it.
Your title "Mauvais Flic" carries a real message. What inspired you to do this story telling?
This story telling is a true story. We were in a bar before the first lockdown and there was a guy on his table who joined us with my mates, we drank a beer etc. And then we asked him what he did for a living. He told us that in two months he was going to go to the police academy while my buddies around the table were dealing. The guy was nice but I wondered what would happen if he was a cop. That's why I wrote that song.
At what point did you realize that you had an actual audience that was paying attention to your career and music releases?
When I saw that my streams were going up. (laughs) The feedback from people on my songs was also increasing tenfold. Sometimes people recognize you in the street, they don't necessarily know your name but they sing your tunes, it's fun.
Can your fans expect other projects for the year 2021?
Actually, by June-July I think I will be able to release my album. Atleast, I hope so!
Instagram: Joy.s.a.d
