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  Taking the transition from singing as part of a group to singing by yourself can be pretty difficult, as Joyce Martin is finding out. For more than two decades, Joyce’s powerful pipes have been an integral part of The Martins, one of southern gospel music’s most popular and enduring groups.But when The Martins decided to take a year off from touring, Joyce found herself with an opportunity. “Phil Johnson, the director of A&R at Spring Hill, has wanted me to do a solo project for four or five years and my excuse has always been that the Martins are so busy,” Joyce says. “So when the group decided to take some time off, all of my excuses went out the window!” As Phil and Joyce discussed the idea, she said it began to appeal to her. “There are some things you can do as a solo artist than you can’t with a trio,” she explains. “You can take some liberties creatively because you don’t have to have the whole group agree on a sound or direction.” Deciding on what kind of sound or style to pursue ended up being somewhat difficult, even if Joyce was the only one who had to agree on it. “I felt like, being essentially a new artist, I needed to have a style, because the diversity that worked with The Martins might not work with just me. But when I was picking songs and in the studio, I was influenced by so many different styles of music, the album ended up being pretty diverse,” she says with a laugh. Joyce credits producer Phil Naish with weaving the diverse elements into a cohesive project. “Phil has an uncanny ability to make a handful of songs—that separately, are great songs—and make then a unified body of work, so that they flow seamlessly together. I felt I could trust him with the songs that I picked, to make them the best that they could be,” she finishes. The title cut opens the project with the sounds of piano, but it moves into a song that is more pop than probably anything Joyce has done before. Written by Joyce, producer Phil Naish and songwriter Lowell Alexander, the song is very personal to the singer. Lyrically, the song talks about the journey we all take through life and how, although it can be a difficult trip, God sends us reminders of his love and his divine hand. The concept behind the title is something that Joyce addresses in her liner notes. An excerpt reads, “Whatever road you are traveling, no matter how many layers of dirt you have accumulated, may these songs be like a cool basin of water at the end of the day, to help wash it all away. And may you always be aware of those diamonds on a dusty road—those divine interruptions found in ordinary living.” Musically, the song took a trip of its own. “‘Diamonds’ was actually a totally different animal when we wrote it, more of a country style,” Joyce remembers. “The song was actually completely cut and finished, but we realized that it didn’t represent what the entirety of the album was about. So Phil just started changing it and it became more of a groove thing. You wouldn’t recognize the one song from the other.” The album then moves to “I Have,” a song that speaks of the move from shame and fear to the recognition of God’s mercy and grace. “Somebody Saves” is a slice of buoyant Motown-influenced pop. “This Is My Prayer,” co-written by Cindy Morgan and Joe Beck, is a joyous declaration and celebration of the good things in life and faith. “For Goodness Sake” is probably one of the cuts that is the biggest stretch for Joyce. A spare, acoustic slice of soul, with background vocals by gospel singer Darwin Hobbs, the song has an India.Arie flare to it. Country/pop is the overriding feel of the triumphant “God Did It,” while “To See The King” and “A Whisper Is Enough” are more in line with what fans of The Martins have heard before. The project closes out with the R&B flavored “Big God” and the gentle Latin rhythms of “Mi Corazon.” “When you’ve been blessed with the success that The Martins have had, you get great songs sent to you,” Joyce says gratefully. “I tried to find the ones that I felt like I could be the most truthful singing. There were probably 25 or 30 songs that I was in love with. So the process had to be narrowing them down to what songs I am living right now—what would be the most honest representation of where I am in my personal walk with Jesus and what would most prepare me to minister to people.” Joyce admits that the idea of getting on a stage solo is pretty intimidating. “Even though I do a lot of talking when the Martins perform, I’ve never been up there by myself,” she confides. “It’s a little scary to think about having to carry it all by yourself. But I believe in these songs and what they may be able to do to encourage people.” This album is definitely as big a surprise to me as it may be to the public,” Joyce continues. “If you would have told me two years ago that I would be doing a solo record, I would have never believed it. But when a road takes you to a different place, when you are afraid, lonely or feel like you have totally lost your way, something comes along to remind you that somebody made the road and is there for you. And if you hold His hand, you’ll get there.” < Back To Clients Home Page | Visit Joyce Martin's Official Site |
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