We absolutely, absolutely, absolutely fell in love with JOY.'s (Olivia McCarthy) first single, "Captured", five months ago when it came out, and we'd be lying if we said we weren't holding our breath until the time of her next release. Well, somehow we're not yet dead, but today we can quash any lingering concerns about our health, because the 17-year-old Australian songstress and quite eccentric personality has ushered out her second-ever single, "Stone", that leads off her upcoming EP by the same name. Oh, and it's lovely. Very lovely indeed. Mhm. A foggy aura of synth pads and quick-lived vocal samples ushers in the effort, and seconds afterwards, JOY. situates herself and her ravishing tone. It's one accidentally entrancing and entirely artistic and impassioned and amazing because of all of these things, and it's just breathtaking to note how young and refined she is right now at the age she's at. Of course, our opinion is aided when she's as well-fitting an instrumental to sing over as she does here (spirit-congregating drums and sax enter the effort a little less than halfway through, and really lend a mature hand to JOY.'s already-mature sound), but still, we're impressed. Suffice is to say we can chalk the elements and entire effort up as another victory for JOY.'s artistic appeal, and we're sure to see some more solidification of that on her forthcoming EP, that's for sure. For now, though, nestle in the soul-dug effort.
JOY.