A visualizer for “Bigger Man,” Joy Oladokun’s new collaboration with Maren Morris, has made its debut today (2). The track is from Oladokun’s major label debut in defense of my own happiness, which came out to widespread acclaim last month. It will also be on the deluxe edition, in defense of my own happiness (complete), which follows next Friday (July 9) via Amigo Records/Verve Forecast/Republic Records.
The extended edition includes all 14 tracks from the original album and adds the ten that formed her self-released 2020 record, in defense of my own happiness (the beginnings), plus one new song, “judas.” Oladokun’s impressive rise continued last week with her debut appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, on which she performed “sunday” at Nashville’s newly-opened National Museum of African American Music.
in defense of my own happiness was recently named by Rolling Stone as one of its “Best Albums of 2021 So Far” and by Billboard as one of its “Best Albums by LGBTQ Artists of 2021 So Far.” It features collaborations with Jensen McRae (“wish you the best”) and Penny & Sparrow (“heaven from here”).
As Vogue put it, “Joy Oladokun is a rare talent who manages to dissect Christianity, queerness, race and mental wellness with a delicate yet determined touch.” She’s on the road from July 23, when she plays Newport Folk Festival, with guest dates in August opening for Jason Isbell.
Buy or stream in defense of my own happiness.
The full tracklist for in defense of my own happiness (complete) is:
1. jordan
2. smoke
3. if you got a problem
4. i see america
5. heaven from here (featuring Penny & Sparrow)
6. younger days
7. sunday
8. bad blood
9. lost
10. who do i turn to?
11. sorry isn’t good enough
12. taking the heat
13. someone that i used to be
14. brick by brick
15. unwelcoming
16. Bigger Man (featuring Maren Morris)
17. mercy (featuring Tim Gent)
18. let it be me
19. judas
20. mighty die young
21. breathe again
22. too high
23. look up
24. wish you the best (featuring Jensen McRae)