In Conversation With #211 - better joy
Manchester born indie-pop artist better joy unveils her new EP 'at dusk' along with the announcement of her biggest UK and Ireland headline tour to date.
A vivid indie-pop guitar project with Bria on vocals and backed by a band, better joy fuses sparky melodies with bright, strong guitars and pulsating bass lines, coated in lyrics that delve deep into vulnerability. Across six tracks, she untangles the knots of relationships with the world and with ourselves; the personal resonating on a universal scale.
On the story behind the EP, better joy shares: “at dusk is the sister EP to my debut EP heading into blue. Written and recorded at the same time, these collection of songs show a more vulnerable side to me and a little darker too. It’s about being vulnerable with love and opening up as a consequence, but also the repercussions of that when not doing so in the right hands.”
After heading on the road to support Somebody’s Child, better joy has been revealing the wider vision for at dusk with forerunning singles ‘streamroller’ - one of her emotionally raw singles to date about reclaiming yourself - embracing the unknown with ‘this part of town’ and leaning into the first flush of love with ‘plugged in’.
Produced by Mike Hedges (The Cure, Manic Street Preachers) and mixed by Caesar Edmunds (Wet Leg) and Robbie Nelson (Rolling Stones), at dusk was recorded at Chale Abbey Studios on the Isle Of Wight and acts as the follow-up and sister project to better joy’s acclaimed debut heading into blue (March 2025). The project showcases a more contemplative and vulnerable side to better joy - where the naivety and openness of her debut gives way to a darker, more mature reflection on growth, relationships, and self-belief.
She took a moment to talk to us about how the EP came together.
Hey there, how are you? So your EP is out now – how does it feel to have it out there?
SO good! Feel very lucky that I get to write and release music and some of these songs are my favourite I’ve ever written, so I’m buzzing!!
It is called ‘at dusk’ – what is the meaning behind that?
This is a sort of sister EP to my debut EP ‘ heading into blue’. With blue being the colour that represents self expression, my debut EP represented the teetering of heading into that kind of bravery of expressing myself. Whereas these songs are fully accepting myself and being as honest as I can be. Heading into the night time - ‘at dusk’ - that felt more appropriate for these songs; more vulnerable and introspective.
Where was it recorded? Any behind the scenes stories you are willing to share with us?
This was recorded at Chale Abbey studios on the Isle of Wight. It was produced by Mike Hedges who’s produced some very legendary bands. And one thing about him is he only drinks Tequila! When we’d finish recording at night, we would all sit around and chat and drink Tequila. I would say one of the coolest things to happen was just hearing how he recorded so many bands! Especially The Cure. One night he told us Robert Smith wouldn’t record a song without a fender bass and the next day we added fender bass to almost every song!!
What are the key influences behind the EP?
I would always say Phoebe Bridgers because she is someone who helped me find my lyrical voice. And Olivia Dean has always inspired me lyrically too, specifically the storytelling elements. And sonically, I'd say The Cure and Johnny Marr’s guitar riffs. His riffs always were stand alone but complemented the melodies so perfectly and that’s something we’ve tried to do with this EP!
If the EP could be a soundtrack to any film – which one and why?
It would have to be one about love, because it definitely explores the complexities that come with being in love, loving someone, relationships in general basically. And maybe it would be good as a coming-of-age film soundtrack, so like, I dunno – Juno? But then also, I think Steamroller would be good for a film about people being undermined, like the new film about Whitney Wolf – so a film about people rising from a difficult situation and sticking up for themselves.
Do you have a favourite lyric on the EP? If so, which one and why?
I love the lyrics in the song ‘plugged in’. It’s a bit of a long one but the whole of verse 4! ’ - ‘Welcome home to a place no-body knows, fear I’ve known, crawling out, I watch it go on down the road now, camping out at another house’. I just love singing these songs, they make me feel really connected to the audience when I sing them.
Now the EP is out there – what next for you?
I’m writing my debut album at the minute, in between touring and gigs. So I'm going to finish writing that and hopefully get it recorded next year. VERY excited with the direction that’s going! So yeah! Hopefully more festivals next summer too - that would be a dream!
