Sugar Joans No Patience Interview

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Sugar Joans is a singer and songwriter whose soul-infused sound merges irresistibly catchy pop with raw and sultry R&B. As the daughter of an accomplished singer, she grew up with music in her bloodline, and started her professional singing career at age 11. Armed with a big voice and an even bigger personality, Sugar has worked in the studio with a variety of groundbreaking industry figures such as Pharrell Williams, Harvey Mason Jr., Ludwig Göransson, and Sergio Mendes. Following in her famous father's footsteps - he recorded "Never Gonna Let You Go" for Mendes - Sugar was recently tapped to lend her powerhouse vocals to the Brazilian legend's new album with her track "Samba in Heaven". Sugar's collaboration with Mendes is in good company on the album "In The Key of Joy", sitting alongside renowned artists such as Common, Buddy, and Sheléa.

Her distinctive and wide-ranging voice has been heard on countless projects over the past few years, including national commercials and television shows, and her many film vocal credits include Trolls 2, Sing, Pitch Perfect 3, and Hairspray. Sugar gained a dedicated national following when she appeared on Season 7 of NBC's The Voice, where she stood out as a top 12 finalist. A natural born performer with a magnetic stage presence, she has performed live at major venues across the country, including the 2020 Grammy's, where she supported Billie Eilish, and Coachella's main stage, where she supported LORDE in 2017.

For the past year, she has channeled her creative energy into her first full- length personal project, which showcases her powerful vocal range amidst raw and relatable lyrics. The project serves as an introduction to Sugar's fiercely soulful brand of pop meets R&B, and at its core, it's a love letter to the power of being unapologetically, authentically yourself. Stay tuned.

Interview with Sugar Joans

Question: How would you describe your music?

Sugar Joans : R&B with a hint of pop and a late 90's early 2000's nostalgia


Question: Can you tell us about No Patience?

Sugar Joans : I wrote this song with my best friend. We met at Berklee College of Music and stayed in touch. She came to visit LA on a trip and we got in the studio and pumped out the song in 3 hours. It was magical. We worked on the instrumentation and production on the song for about a year to perfect it. And it was the first song in a series of many that we have written for my project.


Question: What inspired No Patience?

Sugar Joans : "No Patience" was inspired by a breakup I had gone through a few months back. Though we had intense feelings for each other at the time, he later came to realize that he wasn't ready to commit to a relationship. Instead of staying in a place of emotional limbo, I made the choice to fully walk away and cut ties because at this point in my life I simply have "no patience" for indecisiveness.


Question: Is there a particular message you hope listeners take from your music?

Sugar Joans : I hope that people who listen to my music feel my sense of vulnerability. I have done a lot of work on being able to open up and love myself the way I am. I hope that I can inspire others to be comfortable in their own skin as well.


Question: Do you prefer performing live or recording?

Sugar Joans : Wow, tough question…There is truly nothing like the thrill of being on a stage performing live. That was the first time that I fell in love with music. Writing and recording is an obsession that came later on with time, but now I am addicted to it. It's my catharsis.


Question: Which is your favourite song to perform live and why?

Sugar Joans : I love singing "Natural Woman" by Aretha Franklin… but if you are asking about my own music it's "Gentle".


Question: What should we expect from you after COVID-19?

Sugar Joans : I would love to go on tour as soon as this is over. Can't wait to get back on the stage. Until then expect a lot of music coming your way :)


Question: What motivates you most when writing music?

Sugar Joans : A lot of my motivation comes from my own life experiences and how I am feeling at the moment, but also sometimes I love to write about hypothetical fictional situations. It can be a way for me to escape and be a different person for a moment.

Question: Has your dad (Joe Pizzulo) been your inspiration to go into the music industry?

Sugar Joans : Yes, my father has been a huge inspiration. Growing up and watching him on stage, I was mesmerized. And he was always fully supportive of my dreams...


Question: If you could collaborate with another artist, who would it be?

Sugar Joans : It would probably be Lucky Daye or Pharrell Williams.


Question: Was there a moment you contemplated throwing in the towel?

Sugar Joans : Yes, there have been many times when I get down and low on myself and want to quit. People have no idea how much courage and conviction it takes to keep going in this industry when you hear "no" over and over again. But there really has never been a "Plan B" and nothing else in the world that makes me feel as good as singing and writing music.


Question: What is the biggest challenge you have faced along the way to your musical success?

Sugar Joans : I feel as though there have been so many challenges that I can't pick just one. Being an independent artist is a constant uphill battle, but I really truly wouldn't have it anyway.


Question: What's a typical day like?
Sugar Joans : Well right now life is a bit different. I wake up, make an oat milk latte and then ride my peloton. Then I work on writing songs, my visuals, and promotion and branding. I have a hand involved in every single aspect of my art, and every day I have a list of things I need to get done for myself.


Question: What has been your favourite part of becoming a music artist?

Sugar Joans : I think my favorite part is just having the ability to connect with people across the world through my songs. It's an indescribable feeling after you write something having someone tell you how much they connect with it...


Question: What's next, for you?

Sugar Joans : MORE MUSIC! There's so much I can't wait to share with you all…<3


Question: Can you share your socials? (links please)

Sugar Joans : Instagram  
Facebook

 

 

PHoto Credit: Brittany Brooks

Interview by Gwen van Montfort