When you’ve got a voice like Joyann Parker’s, there isn’t much of a demand for sonic filler when you get into the studio. Throaty and smoky in all the right spots, Parker’s singing sees her belting out powerhouse verses in one breath and conquering a smooth-crooning style in the next, and in the case of her new single “Carry On,” it’s the heart and soul of the song and its music video. “Carry On” is a splash of retro aesthetics met with a contemporary sizzle you don’t find often enough in the mainstream anymore, and it’s introduced me to a singer/songwriter I plan on keeping close tabs on in the future.

WEBSITE: https://www.joyannparker.com/

There’s so much blues grit in the delivery that it feels as though the narrative is more melancholic than Parker’s tone would initially let on, but that said, it really only effects the cosmetics of the verse as opposed to the mood of the story itself. The understated gospel influence is more prominent in the poetry of “Carry On” than anything else, but I never get a religious feel out of the single in general (outside of our songstress’ divine connection to her medium, mind you).

Given the right circumstances and venue to shine like the star she is, Joyann Parker’s confidence is an entity that can’t be broken for anything; in fact, I would even go so far as to say that her swagger is her ultimate secret weapon. It’s a supreme filter between content and audience that literally sets the tone for every beat we’ll experience in this track and, for that matter, the music video it inspired this January. “Carry On” is made fierce because of its leading woman, and that’s something evident to even the most novice of critical ears when spinning this single.

The guitar here is as seductive an instrumental element as possible, and because it’s granted so much of the spotlight beside Parker’s singing, it creates a lustiness on the frontend of this master mix worth raving about all by itself. She never seems particularly hesitant in sharing the attention with the expressive adornments featured in the backdrop of her vocal, but instead eager to generate some white-hot chemistry with the players she’s joined by for “Carry On.” That’s a far cry from what a lot of the competition have been trying in 2021 thus far, and something I hope to see her continue to stick with in the future.

Apple Music: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/out-of-the-dark/1544616827?i=1544616830&ign-gact=3&ls=1

Appealing to fans of rock-influenced Americana, crossover blue-eyed soul and contemporary blues the same, Joyann Parker’s sound is on full display for the world’s enjoyment in “Carry On.” If you’re feeling some disconnect with the repetitive nature of the FM dial this midwinter season and simply need something in love with its own roots to cleanse your palate, this could be the right single/video combo to do just the trick. It’s an awesome listen from all angles, and a point of critical elevation for Parker that could help her ascend from the underground to the mainstream sooner than expected.

John McCall