Joy Clark, a rising star in the Americana music scene, captivated audiences at the Ann Arbor Folk Festival earlier this year and will make her debut at The Ark on March 21. Clark, a firm believer in the power of live music, emphasizes the importance of experiencing performances in person.
“I think at a base level, it’s important for people to come together in the same space and the same place,” Clark said. “To see each other, to see facial expressions, to just get the live experience. I think sharing the space with people and sharing points of view is just important for people’s souls.”
Clark believes that, especially in today’s world, live music serves as a vital source of connection and positivity.
“And if you watch the news at any time of the day, you know things are coming at us, and it’s not a bright picture,” Clark said. “And I think if we get sucked into that, we forget that there is a lot of beauty around us. There are so many artists making art like myself, and I think you will leave (Clark’s concert) feeling like maybe you have a new lease on life… I feel like that after I play a show, play a room of people… I feel different. It gives me energy.”
Clark describes her music as “sincere” and “life-affirming,” blending elements of roots, gospel and other genres.
“It just spans the genres that we call Americana,” Clark said. “And in some songs, you get a little more of a bluesy feel. And in other songs, you can hear an accordion, you can hear that feel of a journey. And then, in some songs, you can feel a little funk. So, I like to mix it up because I listened to a lot of different music growing up. There are different tastes and different feels in different songs, and I like to bring that into my art as well.”
One of Clark’s greatest musical influences is Margaret Becker, who also produced her debut album.
“I actually grew up listening to her (Becker’s) music in church,” Clark said. “So, a lot of the first songs that I performed were songs of hers. She had a big influence on me. So, it means so much to be able to have her produce my album and write like six of the nine tracks.”
Clark also credits Tracy Chapman, Sade and Chaka Khan as significant inspirations.
Her upcoming performance at The Ark will be a solo show, a format she embraces wholeheartedly. Clark’s debut album was released on October 4, 2024, and she likens the experience of sharing her work with the world to raising a child.
“So, it’s (the album) like presenting your baby to the world, and then it no longer totally belongs to you,” Clark said. “People get to share in it. It’s been such a beautiful experience, and now it’s out in the world.”
Clark has had the opportunity to tour and perform with Ani DiFranco and open for Madeleine Peyroux in Europe, including stops in France, Germany, Ireland, the UK and Scotland.
“It is incredible to know where these songs have been,” Clark said. “And now they’re touching people, and I have no control of it… It’s such an amazing experience to be an artist in the time we are living in right now.”
Clark’s album was released under Righteous Babe Records, Ani DiFranco’s label and her relationship with DiFranco began in a serendipitous way. They first performed together during the annual “Christmas with No Tears” concert in New Orleans. Clark was paired with DiFranco and shared an original song titled “Gumbo Christmas,” which DiFranco loved and decided to perform with her.
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“Yeah, she (DiFranco) loved it,” Clark said. “She loved ‘Gumbo Christmas.’ She loved that song, and we got to perform it together at the Orpheum. And so, it was a blast.”
Following that performance, DiFranco’s team reached out to Clark, expressing interest in releasing her music under Righteous Babe Records.
A New Orleans native, Clark is deeply influenced by her hometown’s rich musical heritage. Although she has not played The Ark before, she is no stranger to Ann Arbor, having performed with the Michigan-based band The Accidentals during a Sonic Lunch event last summer.
Clark is excited to return to Ann Arbor and to experience the energy of The Ark’s audience firsthand.
With her heartfelt lyrics, soulful sound and deep appreciation for the live music experience, Joy Clark is set to deliver an unforgettable performance at The Ark on May 21. Whether you’re a longtime fan or discovering her music for the first time, this show promises to be an inspiring evening filled with sincerity, passion and joy.
Donna Marie Iadipaolo is a writer, journalist, and State of Michigan certified teacher, since 1990. She has written for national publications like The Village Voice, Ear Magazine of New Music, Insurance & Technology, and TheStreet.
She is now writing locally for many publications, including Current Magazine, Ann Arbor Family, and the Ann Arbor Independent. Her undergraduate degree is from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, where she graduated with an honors bachelor’s degree and three teacher certificate majors: mathematics, social sciences, English. She also earned three graduate degrees in Master of Science, Master of Arts, and Education Specialist Degree.
