GREATEST: Joyce Wrice
The San Diego-born songstress sat down to talk about her early love for karaoke, creating her upcoming sophomore album and her journey powered by hard work and faith.
Anyone who’s seen Joyce Wrice on stage already knows she’s a powerhouse. The San Diego-born songstress is an R&B goddess in front of her swaying audiences, cooing the kinds of sultry sounds you’ll still have in your head days later. It wasn’t always the case though—her journey has survived an evolution of hard work and faith. Two days shy of her 27th birthday, Wrice sat down to talk with us about her early love for DIY karaoke, the creation of her upcoming sophomore album and expanding into the kind of artist she wants to be.
It’s almost your birthday!
Time fucking flies. I moved to L.A. five years ago from San Diego. I had just graduated from Soka University and thought I wanted to study psychology and work with kids. Deep down though, I knew I wanted to explore music. My mom and dad were both like, “No, that’s a hobby.” I wanted to please my parents, but Soka is based on the Buddhist philosophy that traveling is the best education, and that really broadened my horizons. I traveled, learned more Japanese, met people from all over the world. At graduation, everyone was talking about following passions and fulfilling missions. I knew that music was my way of contributing to society, so I was just like, Fuck it. There was a lot of fear in me; it’s such a competitive world. It takes a lot of courage and vulnerability to go out there and do it.
So many creatives share that story.
Yeah, when I moved to L.A., I took off my rose-colored glasses. I was working in Ventura and living in Crenshaw. I took the Metro, two trains and one bus to work at a restaurant that had no customers. I saved up, ate peanut butter sandwiches and met as many people as possible in music. I started building friendships and going to random events—it’s just so crazy how those organic conversations evolved.
I met Mndsgn through his girlfriend. That led to me creating a project, which led to me meeting promoters and going on tour all over the world. I’m so fortunate. Everything in my life has happened for a reason, and I feel like I’ve very much been in rhythm with the journey I’m meant to be on.
You mentioned that “deep down” connection to music. Did you grow up singing?
I’m an only child, so I had to find ways to entertain myself. I instantly gravitated toward music. My parents listen to a lot of soul and R&B; I was really drawn to that. I used to beg my mom to take me to Sam Goody to buy maxi singles because they had the instrumental or a cappella versions I could do karaoke to.
Because then you could be Whitney.
I could be Whitney, I could be Tamia, I could be Mariah. I could hear the a cappella and really understand the runs and then sing over the instrumental and do my own version. This was daily. I loved Brandi, Usher, NSYNC, Christina Aguilera. I had all these mixes too, “Sweet J Mixes.”
Sweet J?
I called myself Sweet J! I would put all these songs together. I had so many. I loved everything P. Diddy was doing, Murder Inc., Ruff Ryders, Missy Elliot, Aaliyah, Timbaland, SWV. I was so obsessed that I don’t even know the classic Disney movies. There are so many movies I’ve never seen because I was just into music.
What did your parents think when you moved to L.A. to pursue music?
My mom was like “Do it, but if you’re going to do it, go 100%.” My dad cares about me so much, but he doesn’t talk about it really—mostly because he’s worried, I think. But once people started coming up to them and saying, “We love your daughter’s music,” I think he started to get excited about it.
What has been your favorite project at this point?
My first project, Stay Around, is still my baby. When I moved here, I would work all day at a school, then work at a restaurant, then go to the studio at, like, 12 a.m. and work until 6 a.m. The other day, I was working as an usher at my Buddhist meeting. I was welcoming members, and this girl comes in, looks at me and starts crying. She says, “Oh my God, you’re Joyce Wrice. I love your Stay Around EP so much, the one you put out in 2016.” Those little things make me so happy.
I always come back to: What is my purpose? It’s for people to connect and enjoy themselves through music. That keeps me focused on why I need to keep doing what I’m doing.
I used to beg my mom I. to take me to Sam Goody to buy maxi singles because they had the instrumental or a cappella versions I could do karaoke to.
Is there anything else that you hope comes across in your music?
One of my favorite songs is “Green Eyes” by Erykah Badu. When I listen to that, I think about my own personal memories. I want to be able to have that personal connection to people. Also, I’m so DIY. I don’t know how this can come across, but I just want people to follow their own passions. I did it; you can do it. Whatever idea you have or project you’ve been longing to do, go for it.
What’s the hardest part of doing what you do?
At the end of the day I have to be my biggest fan, and that can be really difficult. And then sometimes reinventing myself is the hardest, trying to outdo what I did before. Also, the nature of the creative process involves making shitty stuff. Just let that shit out and let the rest come through. I’ve been trusting the process, but that’s difficult sometimes.
Talk about your personal style.
I like to be comfy, cute and sexy. I love showing my collarbones and shoulders, combining tight with baggy. I’m trying to be open with style, open to going bigger and being a little extra. Sometimes I’ll ask my manager when I’m in a certain look, “Who do I look like?” She always says, “You look like Joyce Wrice.”
Are you a sneaker girl? Are you a sneakerhead?
I liked streetwear growing up, and still to this day I love Air Force 1s. I loved Fabolous, Jagged Edge, with the velour suits. Growing up, I begged my mom to buy me the Air Force 1s in baby pink and white, the suede ‘Valentine’s Day’ edition. Dadas—I got them in red, silver and white. [Reebok] S. Carters in black and pink—I matched them with my Rocawear.
I think for a little while, Air Force 1s lost their attention, but then they slowly came back. When they asked me to be part of the ‘Force Is Female’ [Nike campaign], I was like, “Yes, I’ve always loved Air Force 1s; I want to do this.” And to have my voice and music involved—it was perfect.
Are there any other brands that you’re brand loyal to?
I got into Superaga two years ago because they’re so cute. I have small feet, but sometimes when I wear my Air Forces with certain kinds of pants, they look like bricks. I needed something slimmer. Superga in all black or all white is perfect. I also wanted a sneaker that could be dressed up and down.
What are you listening to?
03 Greedo. Bosco—love her voice, it’s so husky. Arin Ray. Buddy, my good friend, he just put out an album. I sing background on one track. Tierra Whack, she’s this quirky girl, so loud and colorful—she posts these videos of herself freestyling that are so good. Just real hip-hop shit.
Is there anything people can look forward to in terms of your music and work?
Yes. I’m planning more tours—international and domestic. My audience is London, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. I think they have more of an appreciation for soul music, and just music in general. To be honest, I think as Americans we’re a bit shallow in our tastes, like, influenced by what’s “cool” and who’s listening to what. With streaming and social media, everyone is so much more open now.
I’m also working on a new project that’s probably going to be an EP. These songs are way more lyrical, more honest, more real. Each one is so unique; every song sounds different. One is electronic, one has more of an R&B, West Coast feel, and another is something to really cruise to. I think it allows people to get to know me more. I’m so excited to share what we’ve been working on.
I’ve had to be so much more openminded. Sometimes I just want to do mid-tempo, low-fi, underground stuff. I never made music specifically to play at a festival, but because I want to expand, quit my day job and do music full-time, I have to think more strategically. Thankfully the team I have has been helping me keep those things in mind. It’s cool when people tell me what their favorite song is, and it’s not a song I really liked. At the end of the day, I’m not ever going to do something that’s not a reflection of me, but sometimes it’s bigger than me in that I’m creating for my audience, too. It’s an exchange.
Photography by Lloyd Pursall, Interview by Sarah James and styling by Genesis Stephanie Duran