Joy Shepard is a multifaceted creative artist currently creating in Victoria, British Columbia. When she isn’t creating digital art, livestreaming concerts, or fronting her band Cardinal Divide, she can be found making music under her own name as a solo artist.
We got together with Joy to chat about the creative process (among other things) ahead of the release of her debut single, Bleed.
Tyson Elder: Thanks for taking the time to chat about your new single, Bleed.
Joy Shepard: Thanks Tyson!
TE: Bleed is your debut single as Joy Shepard. I was listening to it earlier today, and I would definitely say it’s a break up song. I certainly get those vibes right off the top.
Joy: [Laughs] Yeah, it’s not really hidden.
TE: It’s pretty on the nose. [laughs] I definitely gathered that fairly quick but it’s also a pretty uplifting song, too. You have a message of wanting to stand tall after a relationship ends. Could you tell me a little bit about it? You don’t have to go into the details of a breakup, but was the writing process like?
Joy: Well, there was a breakup. [laughs]
TE: I’d be confused if there was no breakup. [laughs]
Joy: Basically the idea of the song is that you really need to feel the pain of something to be able to move past it. Sometimes you find yourself not wanting to dive into the actual causes or reasons of something. You just kind of let it sit, and never move on, or resolve anything. Sometimes, instead of ignoring your emotions and thoughts about it with activities or substances, you just have to let yourself feel it. It’s going to suck and not be a good time. The release afterwards — like after a big cry — gives you that clarity and that ability to stand up tall. Kind of like what the song is saying. Obviously, it applies to relationships but also any kind of physical or emotional suffering. You have to remind yourself that it’s okay to be upset about it, and that your feelings are valid. If you’re pissed off or super heartbroken or upset or grieving . . . those are valid feelings. You’ve got to feel them to process them and move on.
TE: Totally, it takes a while to get past those initial hurt feelings and being down about it, but you have to push through it. It takes a while to realize that as it’s all consuming.
Joy: This song is trying to acknowledge a lot of traumatizing things but with a positive message. Like in the pre-chorus, “I know I’ll make it through this, but I don’t know how to do it without you.” That’s obviously about how I missed the person, and I know I can and will make it, but right now from this perspective it’s hard to see what that looks like.
TE: Aside from the lyrics, I found that Bleed was a lot more subdued than, say, your Cardinal Divide and Shepard-era sound. You can tell that this is more personal, with the focus on your harmonies and some City and Colour influence with the guitar at the end. What was behind the decision to change your sound for your solo venture versus your full band?
Joy: I bought a MIDI keyboard. [laughs]
TE: That would do it. [laughs]
Joy: And I bought Logic. Those two things combined allow you to make some really cool stuff. Honestly, for a long time with Shepard I was doing demos on my laptop and bringing it to the guys so we could work things out and actually on Cardinal Divide’s second most recent single, Carlton Suite Hotel, that was all MIDI drums. We were working with Bret who was in the band at the time and didn’t have time to record him. So I showed him the MIDI drums I made for the demo and he coached me on how a real drummer would play it. Thanks to his coaching, I now know how to make a drum line that actually sounds like an alt rock or indie rock-sounding song, even if it is electronic drums. Obviously the pandemic has made me spend a lot more of my time alone in my room. I spent a lot of time writing lyrics but also practicing with Logic: experimenting with synth parts, doing bass, doing harmonies, doing drums and everything. I still think the song has some of the same energy as my other songs.
TE: Oh, your voice and sound is definitely still there, but it just felt a little bit more you and a little more personal. Not that your other songs aren’t, but with those you have group and band decisions. This felt very much a unified voice.
Joy: Yes. That was an important thing to me. It was also a way for me to prove to myself that I could do it. Bleed was written, recorded, engineered, edited, mixed, vocal tuned by me. Every decision including creating the album artwork and looping animations were done by me. I think that the final product is authentically me. It’s a very personal project.
TE: That’s great to hear. It’s not designed by committee – it’s designed by JOY. You’ve taken on all those roles, and it doesn’t always happen, but I think it became a necessity for a lot of artists especially during the pandemic.
TE: What can we expect from future Joy Shepard solo endeavours?
Joy: You can expect a lot of vulnerability. I’m going to be telling my story and being very open and honest about that. Hopefully people can relate, but at this point I kind of have to do it for myself. Music is therapy for me. It helps me process things and me understand the world. Also as a trans and queer person [pauses] I have so much experience at being the front of a band – there is representation but it’s not as much I’d like to see. I want to be someone people can look up to and think “I can do this too!” I just want to show who I am with no holds barred.
TE: I think being a positive representation of a community is so beneficial to young people. Especially if those young people are struggling to find their voice or someone to be a role model. I can’t speak for these communities, but to have someone people and look to, who has or is working through and look to and admire, is huge.
Joy: I’m trying to be the role model I wish I had.
TE: Joy, it was a pleasure. Thank you for taking the time to talk to me about your song, Bleed.
Joy: Thanks! I’m excited to get this one out and move onto the next one. I’ve got some tricks up my sleeve.
Joy Shepard’s debut single, Bleed, was released on April 4th, 2022 to all major streaming platforms and can also be found below for your listening pleasure.