Whether in blues, rock, gospel, or jazz, Black female artists in the music industry have made historical impacts over the years. From pioneers like Billie Holiday, Aretha Franklin, and Diana Ross to modern-day icons Missy Elliott, Mariah Carey, Beyoncé, and Rihanna, numerous women have paved the way for young Black girls aspiring to be singers or rappers one day. Like women in many other professions, however, female musicians — especially Black women — still have a different experience than their male counterparts.
The lack of recognition and representation given to Black female artists is an ongoing concern. At a time when diversity and inclusion are at the forefront of conversations, will music finally address its woeful lack of female representation?
Joy Joseph started her career as a live percussionist in the London club scene and has since carved out a reputation as a groundbreaking drummer, composer, and songwriter. She is one-fourth of Black Gold Buffalo, a Dark Pop band that has roots in the East London New Wave movement. Nowadays, she lives in Brooklyn, New York, and in addition to investing in her personal projects, she is a teacher to kids in a school.
Her contribution to Mr. Hudson and The Library, alongside singer-songwriter Mr. Hudson, put her on track for a career touring globally with artists like Kanye West, Amy Winehouse, Groove Armada, Calvin Harris, The Police, Erykah Badu, Mika, Duke Dumont, and New Build.
She has faced many challenges over the years, not only as a black woman but as a musician in the industry where timing is everything. “I feel like attitudes are improving now. I had some difficult times in my life, like being pulled over while traveling in airports, and this is the problem in society about stereotypes. I still feel the world needs a lot of work on this. But I believe it’s getting better. I see more women in the industry now in positions of power, like managers and producers. Representation is better than (10) years ago.”
We usually don’t consider the years of practice, commitment, and challenges musicians experience in their careers prior to entertaining us. Every musician’s journey is unique. For some, the path to success in the music industry can be short.
As a child, Nasra Corbel wrote poetry, sang, danced, and played keyboard. By the age of 14, she was signed to a local recording company in Dubai, Stallion records. Shortly thereafter, to BMG as a teen pop singer. “We spent a lot of time recording in the studio, but this venture didn’t go far. Stallion, at the time, was looking for young artists to sign but not develop artistically,”
Nasra moved to France before turning 18. “I was staying in Le Marais and hanging out at Cafe de la Gare. I took music classes with an incredible music teacher, Albert Assayag. He wrote all the arrangements for my first full song composition! He also introduced me to my first music agent.” And the rest is history. After her 18th, she was working on her debut album incorporating French, English, and Arabic. “I was very lucky to work with incredible French and African musicians. The exposure was incredible for a young girl out of Dubai! Paris inspired feelings to write more music. Songs started flowing out of me!”
