Hope Is A Heavy Thing LP

Ten years old, watching a Tracy Chapman video, and that was that for Joy Oladokun: self-taught guitar, then a songwriting career built on folk, alt-country, and R&B that talks about identity, faith, and mental health like it's just describing the weather. She grew up in Casa Grande, Arizona, the daughter of Nigerian immigrants, with albums like In Defense of My Own Happiness and Proof of Life behind her. Hope Is a Heavy Thing keeps at it, teaming with Adekunle Gold on "Sage" and pulling favors from Chris Stapleton, Noah Kahan, and Manchester Orchestra.