Jai Joylove Sends a Powerful Message of Universal Love and Peace in “Tears of Joy” | Interview

Miami musician and filmmaker Jai (pronounced Jay) Joylove just released his latest album Tears of Joy. Through a melodic stream of consciousness, he shares an uplifting message of universal love and peace in the twelve tracks of the compilation. The album is an interplay between the idea of suffering (tears) and cathartic elation (joy).

If musical vibrations can move minds into motion and the right words influence people into action, songs are a vehicle for change.

Some artists choose to inspire joy in others. Others choose to express their own inner turmoil. But the best artists do both, simultaneously. 

Joylove is a great example of an artist who describes tumultuous personal emotions while also inspiring others to feel good and transcend their suffering. His words are relatable as the experiences he describes are universal. No human is a stranger to heartbreak. But some are better at transforming their negative experiences into something beautiful. Sometimes all one needs is an uplifting hand to serve as a gentle reminder of what we all know: that we are all in this together. After all we are all connected as one human family, so why not chose to love one another instead of fear, a message prevalent in the album’s second song “Choose Love (Not Fear).”

In “Choose Love (Not Fear),” Jai Joylove addresses the dichotomy between love and fear, urging a collective shift towards peace and harmony. “[He is a simple man],” and the simplicity of the lyrics reflects the straightforward nature of the message, making it a poignant call to action in a world often fraught with division.

One of the other main messages of the album is universal love. The opening song expresses this theme well. The album opens with “We Are One,” a powerful anthem that sets the tone for the rest of the record. The lyrics emphasize the idea of interconnectivity, urging listeners to recognize the shared essence within all living beings. The repetition of “We are one” reinforces the message, creating a mantra-like effect that lingers long after the song ends. It reminds us of what our higher selves already know intrinsically.

“What I find in you, I find in me 

In this intercorporeality, we are one. 

We are one 

We are one,”

Joylove sings. 

Overall “Tears Of Joy,” is a soul-stirring album that delves into the dualities of human experience, the universal need for love, and the interconnectedness of all beings. Blending profound lyrical content with captivating melodies, Jai Joylove invites listeners to explore these themes. His corresponding AI-assisted video (shown below) blends the message behind the music well, delivering a picturesque ensemble of visions to aid a universal theme of goodwill.

Joylove’s raspy poetic voice is reminiscent of a young Bob Dylan mixed with the lead singer of a soulful psychedelic band. His lyrical entrapments propel you on a journey. We had the opportunity to ask Jai Joylove a few questions:

Miami Chronicles: What inspired you to create this album and accompanying short film? 

Jai Joylove: I always wanted to create a kind of thematic, or conceptual, album that focused on “divine” or “universal” love. This “Tears Of Joy” album is that attempt. The idea was something of a bucket list item for me before any sudden passing I might have, so I’m glad it’s done. I also wanted to create some film to go with that kind of album. So, for my Capstone Project to finish the M.A. in Film and Media from Johns Hopkins, I chose to create this album and short film. The story from Dostoyevsky “The Dream of a Ridiculous Man” felt very spiritual; like it knew something that I wanted to communicate with the album as well. The original idea was to have three short films, but with limited time and money, I was able to create just the one. The other two would have been inspired from Plato’s “Symposium” and Laotzu’s “Tao Te Ching.” I still think I’ll go on to create those two in the near future. 

MC: Is the album related to the video? If yes, how so?

JJ: For the most part, yes, the album is related to the video. The album is an amalgamation of several songs I had written in the past throughout my life and I strung together the most communicative of universal love and spirituality. Then, I wrote a new song, “Thanks to Suffering,” which was specifically inspired by the Dostoyevsky short story, because people in the story started stating things like: “Suffering is necessary for us to feel love.” 

MC: Is this your first album? When did you first start creating music?

JJ: This is actually my second album, but first “soundtrack” in a sense. I first started writing poems with the thought of converting them to songs back in 2016. I didn’t start learning to record and produce myself until 2020; with all that extra coronavirus time I had. I finished my first album in 2023 after a lot of effort on my part to somehow finish an album I mixed and mastered. Then, this second album felt much easier for me to accomplish and I’m excited to work on a third soon.

MC: Are the lyrics available for audiences? 

JJ: Good question. I think I will soon add the lyrics through Musixmatch, which helps have it all on Spotify, Apple Music, Instagram, and so forth. At the same time, I like the idea of the lyrics being vague and up for interpretation, which adds to the mysteriousness of a lot of the music I make. I’ll add them though!

MC: Where else can viewers listen to your music? 

JJ: I distributed through the service LANDR which puts the songs on all major platforms. So, Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, TIDAL, Deezer, and so on.

MC: What do you see in the future for Jai Joylove? 

JJ: More music of this kind, DJ mixes, some rnb/electronic fusion tracks, film, media, and potentially even immersive experiences designed in conjunction with the music as well. 

Some of the other poignant songs in the album include “Why’d You Have To Strike Him Down?” which the artist wrote after he witnessed a homeless man being beat up by two drunkards at 2am in the morning. “As I was leaving a bar in Barcelona,” Joylove explained, “I stopped the fight and helped the bloodied man up. I was upset from that moment for weeks.” The song confronts violence and injustice with raw emotion. The song’s repetitive questioning drives home the frustration and sorrow over senseless acts of cruelty, while the plea for belief in love as a remedy is both hopeful and heart-wrenching.

“At My Doorway” is about having lost a first love. “I sing about us wanting to see each other again; she’d be shining bright like a literal angel arisen from death,” he expressed.  This song offers a more personal narrative, reflecting themes of longing and reunion. The imagery of waiting at the doorway symbolizes anticipation and hope, while the soothing rhythm and melody evoke feelings of comfort and warmth.

The tracks “Only Today” and “Thanks to Suffering” explore the fleeting nature of love and the role of suffering in understanding and appreciating love. The lyrics in “Only Today” suggest an urgency in embracing love while it’s present, whereas “Thanks to Suffering” takes a more philosophical approach, acknowledging pain as a pathway to deeper compassion and connection.

The album is accompanied by a visually striking music video, which the artist describes above, that complements the song’s message of unity. Based on the story from Fyodor Dostoyevsky “The Dream of a Ridiculous Man,” the video features a diverse cast of people from various backgrounds, all coming together in shared moments of connection and joy. The cinematography is vibrant, with transitions that symbolize the flow of energy between individuals, reinforcing the theme of interconnectedness.

The use of visual metaphors, such as merging light streams and intertwined roots, adds depth to the narrative, making the video not just a complement to the song but an extension of its message. The direction is fluid, and the video’s pacing matches the rhythm of the song, creating a cohesive and immersive experience.

“Tears Of Joy” is an album that resonates with the listener on both an emotional and intellectual level. The beautiful messages might reach someone who needs them at the right moment and save their life. Therein lies the power of music to help others. The combination of reflective lyrics, soulful melodies, and powerful visuals makes this album a compelling listen and a valuable addition to Jai Joylove’s discography. Whether you’re drawn to the album for its meditative qualities or its thought-provoking messages, “Tears Of Joy” is well worth the journey.

To see more of Jai Joylove, please visit his artist page on LANDR