by mariah estran
photo by brittany brooks
Sugar Joans, a name you might be familiar with, an effervescent moniker that possesses a star-worthy attitude. In 2014, the L.A singer found herself on season seven of The Voice, singing in front of chart-topping, celebrity status judges. Except, that’s nowhere close to how her story ends. Fast forward six years, and she’s stepping into her own, releasing soulful tunes that are elevating her into a new era in her career. “I don’t have a day job,” Joans says with wit in her tone. “My day job is being a working musician, but I never thought that I could have my own artistry.”
She has an exquisite resume, one which includes backing vocals for Lorde at Coachella and Billie Eilish at the 2020 Grammy’s. But there is an unignorable ambition her presence exudes, an ambition to show the world that she is more than a captivating voice, she is a songwriter. Joans is aware that she exceeds at singing for television or movies. Projects she's generally done for others. However, at this moment, it’s her time. “It’s been nice. I have all this life experience that has prepared me for the artists' world,” the singer explains. “But now, I am finally letting myself dive into my side of things on a serious level.” That dedication to building her craft has happened over many years, including her childhood.
For Joans, being interested in music was never a sudden epiphany. Imagine a small girl, singing in her room, and at the swing set because that was her. Performing is what felt right. She lightheartedly says: “Honestly, I kind of always thought there was never another option for me.” Growing up in a family full of musicians, which includes her father Joe Pizzulo — who sang with Sergio Mendes — she never once felt forced to follow the same steps. Music just brought her joy, reiterating: “I think it was almost like there was never a Plan B.” Well, Plan A seems to be the right move.
In May, she released “No Patience,” a “breakup anthem” that highlights her striking vocal technique wrapped in a silky smooth R&B-type cadence. “I wrote the song with my best friend and writing partner Svē,” Joans describes. “We met at Berklee College of Music and stayed in touch. She came to visit LA on a trip, and we got in the studio and pumped out the song in three hours.” The track flaunts her style, which she playfully coins: “Clueless meets Destiny’s Child.” Why? Because she was raised in Los Angeles but kept those girl group records on repeat. She’s tweaked those late 90s to 2000’s pop sounds and added a refreshing twist. Creating a single that could easily catch the attention of fans of Billboard charting pop stars.
photo by brittany brooks
Although, it’s the strength found in her vulnerability that brings “No Patience” and previous tracks to new heights. Songwriting thrives in that openness, a technique she’s still learning while entering this new phase in her career. “I think in the past two years, I went into this place and learned to love myself differently,” she reveals. “Instead of putting on an air or writing a song from another perspective. I wrote my music from my vulnerability, which was new to me.” Her lyrics are describing empowerment within and rising from the darkest moments by reaching into those emotions. Joans is coming to terms with the fact that each song might represent a personal feeling that she doesn’t have to stay confined in. "Being able to be like 'hey, this is how I am,' but also letting go, and saying, 'this is how I was two weeks ago...' Honestly, I’m not that same girl. I’m evolving."
Her creative candor is resulting in the production of dozens of songs. Currently, Joans plans to release tracks over the next four months and is deciding on whether to produce a full-length or an EP. There’s absolutely no stopping now. “Even during quarantine, I still have my studio set up at home,” she gleefully explains. “I’ve been trying to keep busy and creative as much as possible. I’m just going to keep putting stuff out.”
There might have been a time that the pop singer questioned her songwriting abilities, but now, this is her driving force. It’s given her music the chance to be more than notable vocals and a catchy beat. She’s allowing herself to find comfort in her creations and hopes listeners will too. “If I make music that maybe one person likes, one person feels connected to or it gives them some kind of peace. I feel like I’ve done my job, and I’m very fulfilled just by that.”