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Bigger Than Your Box (2018)

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podcasts ~ interviews ~ write-ups

THE UNSTARVING MUSICIAN
5.7.21

Create, cultivate and connect are words that carry special meaning for Joy Ike. We talk with her about her music coaching and mentoring program, Cultivators and all things music-making.

WHAT DO WE DO NOW
5.2.21

Zoob and Alan talk with musician, coach, artist about their Existential Covid Crises and what it means to move forward as an artist.

ART & FAITH CONVERSATIONS
3.18.21

Contributing host, Joy Ike, talks about the freedom we find in the giving away of our creative gifts and the risk that it takes to realize we don't need to hoard the things we've been given.

ART & FAITH CONVERSATIONS
2.10.21

Guest host, Joy Ike, joins the podcast with an episode about sound and how it affects the clarity of our vision. She shares her thoughts and questions about the power of sound and how the things we hear can either distract us or re-orient our focus.

TELL YOU WHAT! THE PODCAST
9.4.20

Joy talks about her Nigerian upbringing, her interesting on and off relationship with the piano, and ideas she has for her next project.  We hear about the making of the delightful children’s video for her interpretation of “Won’t You Be My Neighbor”, the Mr. Rogers theme song.  Joy also shares her thoughts on current events shaking the US, the Black Lives Matter movement and the George Floyd killing.

Why We Make Stuff Podcast
8.11.2020

Joy Ike talks about writing music during the pandemic, her mentoring program, Cultivators, and an article she recently wrote called Outside The Box, which addresses the issue of systemic racism in our country.

FOREFRONT 360
7.29.2020

Zack Osinski talks to singer/songwriter Joy Ike about how music became her vocation, work vs rest, how her faith journey led to a heart for the world, and how to be an artist during a pandemic. Register for Forefront Festival: Virtual today to be able to see Joy Ike perform. Listen above or subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, or Spotify. Forefront Media

MAGNET Magazine: Isolation Drills
4.22.20

Like the majority of you, all of us in the Philadelphia area are staying at home, learning to adapt to our “new normal.” MAGNET is checking in with local musicians to see how and what they’re doing during this unprecedented time. // The last six weeks have been a bit surreal for me. I think everyone can fairly say… [READ FULL INTERVIEW]

The Pittsburgh Current: Review
April 21, 2020

If you’re in search of some soul-soothing, lend your ear to Joy Ike. More than a decade into her musical career, this singer-songwriter — who is from Pittsburgh and now lives in Philadelphia — has sharpened her craft into something that has the potential to cut right through your chest, sometimes tugging at your heart, sometimes caressing it. Her new quarantine-inspired single, “All the Time in the World,” puts a…[continue reading]

WELCOME TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD: A Mister Rogers Tribute Podcast
2.24.20

WITF Music
7.9.2019

Joy visited Harrisburg's WITF, the NPR Public Media affiliate in Harrisburg for a live performance and interview.
Watch the live performance here // Read the full article here // Listen to the audio interview above.

LET ‘EM HEAR
03.26.19

ART & FAITH CONVERSATIONS
02.06.2019

GERMANTOWN ARTIST ROUNDTABLE
10.2018

Joy talks to host Paula Paul, sharing the backstory of her latest album Bigger Than Your Box.

POPMATTERS
10.24.19

Joy Ike’s message has always been one of hope. When PopMatters premiered a previous track, "Ever Stay", earlier this year, it was with the notion that we are never truly alone. Following the release of her latest album, Bigger Than Your Box, Ike has partnered with director Andrew Whitlatch to produce a music video for her newest single from off of the LP, "Hold On". The singer-songwriter had previously stated that …[READ FULL ARTICLE]

SOUNDSTAGE INTERVIEW
5.31.18

Joy talks to host Nicole Zell about touring, the themes behind the new album and the stories that inspired individual songs.

Foundling House
5.18.18

Joy Ike’s new record is going to take you places; your only job is to enjoy the ride. Ike’s fourth full-length studio production, Bigger Than Your Box bears surprise and yearning in its arms. The songs address you by looking you straight in the eye. The experience is like sitting at a welcoming table, talking to that person who both intimidates and encourages you at once. Yes, you listen…[READ FULL INTERVIEW]

NPR'S ALL SONGS CONSIDERED: "SONGS PUBLIC RADIO LOVES"
5.10.18

"In her Tiny Desk Contest entry, Philadelphia-based artist Joy Ike presents a song that will make you tap your toes. But listen closely to the lyrics and you'll understand that "Ever Stay" presents a deeper perspective, too. It's easy to hear Ike's fervor laced throughout every note and lyric; she's a fresh breath of air and a..."  [READ FULL REVIEW]

SOJOURNERS: MUSIC FOR TURBULENT TIMES
MAY 2018

With the ongoing shattering of silence through the #MeToo movement and a record number of women running for office, 2018 feels unstoppable in its forward movement. Infused with bold rhythms, Joy Ike’s latest album, Bigger Than Your Box, could easily serve as the soundtrack of this march. While described by... [READ FULL REVIEW]

WEARING LOVE

“Oooo,” you say, “I can’t take anymore
In my head it plays like a broken record
How many?
How can I?
Why’s it me all the time?” 

Keep your words
They won’t fix anything
All that works is the love that you bring
“Oooo”, you say “I can’t take anymore
In my head it plays like a broken record” 

And you say...
“How many?
How can I?
Why’s it me all the time?” 

Slow your breathing
No more scheming
Quit competing
Just love 

And everyone will wonder
You did not go under
You were undercover
Wearing love 

Love, Love Looooove!
And you won't have to say:
Do I have to forgive ‘em?
Do I have to forgive ‘em? 

"How many?
How can I?
Why’s it me all the time...forgiving?”

 Keep your words
They won’t fix anything
All that works is the love that you bring

Bigger Than Your Box
ALBUM LYRICS
 

EVER STAY

Take it all
Take all that I am
Take my faults, my pride, and my plans
How I live, there's no room for you
How you try, but never get through
Take it all
Take all that I've done
My hearts so tired
No breath in my lungs
See these hands too heavy to lift
I don't have anything else left to give
Still you
Ever stay
By my side
Every low
Every high
Sink or swim
If I die
Ever by my side
Highest of heights
Deepest of depths
Down in the valley of shadows of death
Nowhere I hide that you cannot go
No place, no shadow that isn't your home
Still you
Ever stay
By my side
Every low
Every high
Sink or swim
If I die

Ever by my side

BY THE FIRE

I wanna be by the fire
By the heat
Let it cover me
The cold gonna come
Like a liar
Tryna’ blow through me
Tryna’ make me weak (2x)
First it hovers
Then it covers
Like a tower
Overpower
Push you down
Shake your ground
Make you think
No one's around
Take your spirit
Steal and kill it
Tell you lies and you believe it
Pay no mind to how it tries you
You can't let it
Don't you let it
Overtake you
Try to shake you
Push and pull and bend and break you
Spirit in man
This is your land
Fight that demon
Til’ you're a free man
This is your war
You hide no more
Stand to your feet
Open the door
Courage guide you
Deep inside you
You can't say it

You must SHOUT it
I wanna be by the fire
By the heat
Let it cover me
The cold gonna come
Like a liar! A liar! A liar! A liar!
Tryna’ blow through me
Tryna’ make me weak
I wanna be by the fire
By the heat
Let it cover me

YOU BETTA’

You say you don’t want anything
Just a little bit of time
Won’t ask for anything
Just want a little peace of mind
When people look at you
They’ve all a sudden got something else to do
Heavy the load but the hands are few
You say you don’t know anything
And nobody wants to talk
They’ve all got places to be
Not even a minute to stop
When people look at you
They’ve all a sudden got something else to do
Heavy the load but the hands are few
You betta/’ step out that box
You betta’ stand up and talk
You betta’ step out that box
You betta’ stand up and walk
You betta/’ step out that box
You betta’ stand up and talk
You betta’ step out that box
You betta’ stand up and walk

LAST TIME

I don't talk to you at all
It's like the walls they build up on their own
I don't look at you at all
Every look it cuts into my bones
I don't speak of you at all
I have said every word I can say
But I think of you with all my love
And that will keep my heart at bay
But...
This is the last time I write about you
Try to come unglued
Talk about something new
This is the last time living in the past
Try to make you last but you don't
You always think I'm so stuck up
At least how your silence makes me feel
But I don't have much to go off
So I don't know if that is even real
And I don't speak to you at all
I have said every word I can say
But I think of you with all my love
And that will keep my heart at bay
But...
This is the last time I write about you
Tryin’ to come unglued
Talk about something new
This is the last time living in the past
Try to make you last but you don't
I say to myself...
You don't even know what you're missing
While you're sitting, waiting for someone else to change
Waiting for someone to call your name

Don't you even know all your waiting
It is taking all the joy that you have
You don't love, you don't laugh
So...
This is the last time I write about you
Tryin’ to come unglued
Talk about something new
This is the last time living in the past
Try to make you last but you don't

 

HOLD ON

Like a candle burnin’ in the dark
Like the good skin underneath a scar
It's not what you want but your hope is coming
Like an oak tree underneath the ground
A small seed waiting to come out
It's not what you want but your hope is coming
Life takes all you got, but your hope is coming
C'mon girl hold on
You will find your song
C'mon man stay here
You are not your fear
You put up walls but someone pulls them down
You think for help but they kick you to the ground
It's not what you want but your hope is coming
Life takes all you got, but your hope is coming
It's not what you want but your hope is coming
C'mon girl hold on
You will find your song
C'mon man stay here
You are not your fear
Bigger than your box
Breaking off the locks
Unassuming fire

Burnin' up the lies
C'mon girl hold on
You will find your song
C'mon man stay here
You are not your fear
This is not what you wanted
This is not what you asked for
You didn’t need any of this
You never saw this comin’
Oh it’s not what you asked for
Oh it’s not what you wanted
And you wanna give up
But hold on
 

GIVE A LITTLE

I wish you were easy
Spent some time with me
But you talk to everyone except me
Makes me think you don't want me
I wish I were simple
Gave in just a little
But I talk to everyone except you
So how can I blame you?
How can I blame you?
Honestly I'm a little nervous
Not practiced or polished or perfect
But maybe we can trade anxieties
I'll talk to you if you will talk to me
Won’t you give a little
Won’t you live a little
Won’t you love a little
Won't you love, won't you love, won't you love
Why so complicated

Living our lives so isolated
And you look the other way to avoid me
Don't you know that that hurts me
Don't you know that that hurts me
Don't you know that that hurts me
If you would just
Give a little
Live a little
Won’t you love a little
Won't you love, won't you love, won't you love

Full

Do you listen when everybody says you’re wrong
Do you talk and talk and talk.
Do you talk too long
Are you important to everyone you meet
I see how you walk, walk, walk in the middle of the street
Do you think everybody’s crazy
Cause they don’t think like you do
Are they lazy
Cause they don’t work like you
Are we slow
‘Cause we don’t get your jokes
Do you have lots of money
Does that make us broke
Fool, so full
You eat yourself
Room, no room
For anyone else
For anyone else
In the middle of the crowd
You are big, you are loud
But you talk for yourself
What you talkin’ about
It’s simple
You’re on top of the box

They can listen and learn
But they hate when you talk
Because you’re a...
Fool, so full
You eat yourself
Room, no room
For anyone else
For anyone else
 

SAY GOODBYE

Breathe
Take a deep breath
Lift your eyes
Lift your head
Say goodbye
Don’t look back
Let the dead bury the dead
You have mission
And a voice
And a vision
Say goodbye
Don’t look back
Leave your load
No need for that
And you may want to go back where you’ve come
But there’s nothing for you
And it’s not an option
You can’t go back knowing what you know
Oh there’s nothing for you
And it’s not an option
Far as you can
Deep as you can go
Out of your safety
Into the unknown
Out of your worry

Out of your regrets
Out of your failures
And the things that haven’t happened yet
Onto the next page
Onto a new phase
Into the future
And the places you have never been
This is not for you
This is not for show
If you never step out
There are places you will never go
And you may want to go back where you’ve come
But there’s nothing for you
And it’s not an option
You can’t go back knowing what you know
Oh there’s nothing for you
And it’s not an option
Breathe
Take a deep breath
Lift your eyes
Lift your head
Say goodbye
Don’t look back
Let the dead bury the dead

 

I DON’T KNOW ANYTHING

Everyone thinks they know the truth
Everyone wants to hold onto youth
But the older you get
The more you regret
And you know you don’t know anything
I live my life as best as I can
Try to give respect to every man
But that don’t make better
I thought that made me better
I don’t know anything

Still I think I’m the boss
I think I’m the Savior
But every moment
I act like a hater
I thought that I was better
But that don’t make me better
I don’t know anything
Ooooo
Someone will always be smarter than you
Someonne will always run faster than you
But
That don’t make them better
Won’t make you the lesser
‘Cause they don’t know anything
And you don’t know anything
Still you think you’re the boss
You think you’re the Savior
But every moment
You act like a hater
You thought that you were better
But that don’t make you better
You don’t know anything
Ooooo
You are not as big as you think
Still you think you’re the boss (4x)
You are not as big as you think...
Still you think you’re the boss
You think you’re the Savior
But every moment
You act like a hater
You thought that you were better
But that don’t make you better
You don’t know anything
I think I’m the boss
I think I’m the Savior
But every moment

I act like a hater
I thought that I was better
But that don’t make me better
I don’t know anything
Ooooo

WALK

You got it all, big and small
You don't need anything
You take what you want
Leave what you don't
Say it won’t hurt anything
When you walk
You hold your head high
You don't have to try
Because you got everything
When you talk, they see a light
Everything is soundin’ right
But you don't do what you say
Act justly, love mercy, walk humbly with your God
When you do, you're in view
Everybody's lookin' at you
And you feel so alive
What does it take, to do it right
Even when there's no spotlight
To do what you say
To...
Act justly, love mercy, walk humbly with your God.
Walkin,’ keep on walkin. Walkin’, keep on walkin.
There's no need to wait around wondering what you're gonna do
Nobody's looking at you
There's no waiting for the right time to move
And everyday when you wake you give all that it takes of you

For all that it breaks in you
There's no wrong time to move
Act justly, love mercy, walk humbly with your God

 

ASSURANCE

I need assurance that you are here
I need assurance you can feel what I feel
I need assurance
I need endurance for the day
Long is the road
Narrow is the way
I need endurance
War all around
But I got both feet on the ground
One foot in front of the other
No more runnin’ for cover
One foot in front of the other
No more runnin’, runnin’
I need peace in my heart
When the world around me
Is tearing itself apart
I need peace
Assurance
Endurance
Long is the road
Narrow is the way
The Way