The Joy (The Joy album)

The Joy is the eponymous debut album by South African a cappella group The Joy. It was released on 21 June 2024 on Transgressive Records.

Background
The Joy was formed by five members of a school choir in the township of Hammarsdale. They released an EP called Hammarsdale in August 2023. In Spring 2024 they performed with Doja Cat at Coachella.

The Joy is their debut album, and was recorded live at the Church Studios in London.

Critical reception
Mark Sampson of Songlines called The Joy an "exceptional album...the soul of simplicity." In a review for Mojo, David Hutcheon wrote that "Ladysmith Black Mambazo will get a lot of comparative name-checks, but The Joy's sound is their own."

André Boße of Musikexpress described primary lead vocalist Melokuhle Mkhungo's voice as "direct and forceful," and David Hutcheon called it "one of the finds of the year."

Personnel
The Joy
 * Ntokozo Bright Magcaba ("Pastor")
 * Melokuhle Mkhungo ("Duzie")
 * Sphelele Hlophe ("Guduza")
 * Phelelani Sithole ("Sthombe")
 * Sanele Ngcobo ("Marcus")