Joyfield

I’m not sure when “easy listening” became such a downer, but if you want to talk about a debut EP that’s just super easy to listen to, you should look at Seattle indie-pop band Joyfield‘s Honey. The five-track EP represents the band’s first professionally-recorded release, and it’s production features plenty of unique nuances, powerful vocals, and catchy hooks that are, frankly, just easy to listen to.

The EP is a bit of everything. It’s not pure pop, or rock, or folk. The members of Joyfield have put together five tracks that pull from clear alternative influences like Metric and Kings of Leon. And the tracks flow well together. Opener “Blood Brothers” has a bluesy feel, a tambourine line, and a twangy melody. And with lyrics like “the color TV, playing cars, running naked ’round the yard/and we were wild and young at heart/as I recall the world was ours” they really capture the feeling of fleeting, free youth and a promise of forever friendship.

The rollicking tempo of that opener, which ends in screaming guitars and crashing cymbals, leads into the manic start of “Steady Hands.” A pleading “please be sweet tonight” against an alt-rock background still rocks a slight folksy flair. Vocalist Ellie Hanes has a strong voice, and doesn’t hold back going from soft to full rock chick vocals, and the production keeps her at the forefront, which is a nice highlight.

“Racing Hearts” takes it just one notch into more indie-pop territory, with big beats and a more electronic feel. The video the band just released for it features plenty of youthful hi-jinks and glitter, and feels just like the loose, adrenaline-fueled fun conveyed in the track. It’s a cinematic, hooky track that I imagine popping up in a coming-of-age film with ease, but it rocks nonetheless.

Melodious title-track “Honey” again plays off similar themes with lyrics like “Get the cash and run” and “drinking with my rent again/who needs home when you got friends.” The youthful exuberance and freewheeling attitude match the driving melody and danceable beat. And on album closer “The Wild” the band really hammer their sound home.

Joyfield have definitely, after five years together, found their sound. Grand prize winners of Hard Rock Rising’s 2014 Battle of the Bands, the foursome are clearly headed for some hits. Their sound is right up the alt-pop radio alley alongside groups like MisterWives or The Colourist, and they’ve pulled together Honey to properly showcase what they’ve got to offer. It’s a well constructed debut from a Seattle band ready to be heard. - Northwest Music Scene

The Hard Rock Rising Global Battle of the Bands has been five months in the making, and ReverbNation and Hard Rock are excited to announce the official winners of this exciting competition.
HRR2014_Winners

Coming out on top is Joyfield, a Seattle-based indie-rock band who will rock out in Rome for 40,000 fans. This band is ready to take the stage in Piazza Del Popo, after making it through numerous rounds of fan voting and being hand-selected from the 25 finalists by a panel of industry pros.

Runners-up The Koniac Net, En Boca de Todas and Fiery Sushi scored $10,000 worth of new equipment through the competition. Be sure to visit their ReverbNation pages and catch one of their live performances. We have a feeling all that new equipment will have them sounding better than ever.

“The caliber of artists competing in Hard Rock Rising 2014 made it incredibly difficult to choose a winner,” said Scott Hutchison of acclaimed indie-band, Frightened Rabbit, and Hard Rock Rising Industry Panel Judge.
“Joyfield stood out because of their unique sound and I’m sure they will make a big impression at the first Hard Rock Live Rome festival!”

The competition received more than 10,000 band entries, with 750 bands that competed live on more than 70 Hard Rock stages around the world. ReverbNation is dedicated to helping artists connect with the music industry and further their careers. Partnering with Hard Rock for the Global Battle of the Bands was one of the many ways [sic]

Check out this playlist of the winning songs and share the good news with your fans on Facebook and Twitter. Keep reading to see tweets and hear clips of the bands’ responses to hearing about their wins! - ReverbNation

It was a quarter after eight when local indie-pop outfit, Joyfield, were up. They may appear unassuming at first, but that perception was quickly washed away by lead singer Ellie Hanes’ intoxicating vocals. Her voice resonated through the small venue. Listening to their recent EP, Honey, on Bandcamp, is nothing like experiencing Joyfield in person. Anyone who has heard the band’s recorded EP, but hasn’t seen them live yet, is missing out on a wonderful experience. Hanes’ voice was definitely meant to be heard live.

During their performance Joyfield played a brand new song titled “Backseat.” The song does not have a digital release yet, but fans can expect one in the near future. They also performed a great cover of Cold War Kids’ popular hit, “Hang Me Up To Dry.” Joyfield’s most recent single, “Taste Like Summer,” closed out their set. - Seattle Music News