Philadelphia-based indie-rock trans songstress joy burklund & her band have announced the release of their debut album Songbouquet on March 22. Following last year’s debut release On the Line, joy’s second single Steady Heart swirls joy’s quirky anti-folk lyricism into a lush, classic rock band arrangement.
joy burklund said: “I wrote Steady Heart for my long-term partner, who I fell in love with in high school. That was nearly 20 years ago, over 10 years before either of us transitioned. It’s a love song for someone who has been through it with you, who’s been an anchor through turbulent change.
“Who you’ve bonded with through the hardest and happiest and weirdest times. It’s the sharing of a silly, dusty memory with that person, a sigh of gratitude, a celebration. As we prepare to release Songbouquet it felt right to lead with this one – an uncomplicated ‘I love you’.”
Ranging from emotional, Americana-tinted ballad (Not Gonna Fall), to reflective confessional complete with fingerpicked guitar (Next Life), to massive, sunshine-optimist rock anthem (Sunrays), Songbouquet is a bold debut that centres joy’s dynamic vocal performance.
“I started coming out as trans publicly in 2022 at age 32, changing my name to joy a year later. That’s also when my partner and I became polyamorous. We also moved cities! I found myself in a whole new community.
“The degree of change in my life over those two years was beautifully overwhelming. Aspects of my life I had clung to became compost. So much new emotion came up. And it had to come out – in song. This record is a document of all that change.” – joy burklund
While the songs are personal to joy, the creation of Songbouquet represents a collective labour of love by and for the Philadelphia trans music community. The 13-track album was produced by Philadelphia music-scene stalwart Mattie Chaya Kimberly Klauser (of Pillow Princess) and features an extensive lineup of trans and queer collaborators at all levels of production, including guest vocalists Sam Rise, Amber Jane (of Moondrifts), and Zaza Diana Oh.
“The songs themselves may come from a private and playful place, but the way we gather and share music is and has always been political and profound. It’s been really meaningful that the majority of the live performances we’ve played over the last year and a half have been fundraisers supporting local mutual aid efforts, sending aid to Gaza, and gender-affirming care for community members.” – joy burklund
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