Today's Song of the Day, as chosen by Gabriel Teodros, host of Early on KEXP, is "Flying #evolution" by Jackie Venson, from the 2023 self-released album Evolution of Joy.
When Jackie Venson named her latest LP Evolution of Joy, she meant it in more ways than one. Not only is this a re-working of her 2019 album Joy, but it's also reflective of the evolution she's seen in the music industry since the pandemic struck.
“I released more music than I ever have before,” she told Austin Woman. “But that also led to more people discovering me that never had before. Then at the end of that year, I actually landed my first Austin City Limits TV taping, and it was because of all of the buzz that I had garnered. I shifted my whole career to the internet, made more music than I ever have in my life and also got more exposure than I ever have in my life. No label helps me get that exposure; all I did for that exposure was frequency.”
With Evolution of Joy, she continues, "everything is beefier. Everything’s bigger. Everything is more consistent. Everything is better put together, more organized, and the skills are better. The techniques are all there presented. I’m excited about having Evolution of Joy as a foundation for who I am now [and] releasing more projects under that foundation.”
Finding good new music can be a full time job, so let KEXP help! In Our Headphones brings you five song recommendations every Monday, straight from KEXP’s DJs and Music Directors. Join hosts Janice Headley and Isabel Khalili on this never-ending journey of music discovery.
Host Emily Fox and KEXP’s editorial team talk with artists about the stories behind their songs and the experiences that inform their work. Through each conversation, we uncover the humanity behind the music, allowing us to hear it in a whole new way.
