Album Review: Paper Moon by Joy Downer

By Hailey Blackburn

Joy Downer, if you’re reading this, I’m in love with you…

Okay, maybe I’m getting ahead of myself, but seriously, the music, the aesthetic, and the lyricism have captured my heart. Paper Moon is intimate and magical; it should be approached as a fine work of art. Joy has used her music as a way to process her life, as many artists do with their trade. Her sound was inspired by The Strokes, David Bowie, St. Vincent, and many other eccentric artists. 

Paper Moon was written, recorded, and produced by Joy Downer and Jeffery Downer at home in West Adams, Los Angeles. The album is nothing like what I had expected, and I was pleasantly surprised. I felt like I sat down with Joy, and she shared pictures of her life, crazy stories, and solemn moments. It’s a personalized lullaby that you can easily rock out to. 

I love love love the intro. It’s retro and familiar, then blends into a catchy guitar riff. I find it riveting because it sounds like a memory of something fun and innocent with this twist of unknown and eagerness. Like those opening sounds, the lyrics speak memories of situations I’m sure many of us relate to (I know I can): “I still don’t know why I didn’t let you let me go.” It is the constant struggle of knowing what’s best for you and yet letting your heart take over and loving the ones who are unable to love you back the way you need. It’s a message you’d never want to receive. A little voice in the back of your head you’d never want to listen to. “A Song That You’d Never Want to Hear,” if you will. 

Screaming into the void, hoping you’ll hear someone or see something in response, even if it’s an echo — it’s a world-shattering event to have to deconstruct your faith, and the song “Over & Out” expresses just that. Joy states that she left the LDS faith at a young age, as she had let go of a lot of the beliefs of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Letting go of your faith often feels like letting go of a part of yourself; it becomes a part of your identity and ultimately touches every aspect of your entire life. She expresses, “It was so isolating, confusing, and scary, but at the same time transformative to leave.” 

The song “Paper Moon” is what did me in. I feel like I’m listening to the course of someone’s entire life. With the recorded sound of the frequency of the stars playing in the background of the song that Joy found, it’s pure magic. She wrote this song in an attempt to cope with her grandmother’s passing and included voicemails from her parents, which adds a very sweet and nostalgic undertone. She expressed that this was her way of “projecting the hope that we’ll see each other again and that the connection to our loved ones is transcendent.” All I can say is well done, and message received. 

Listening to and reviewing this album has been a true joy, and I want to thank Miss Joy herself for being so incredibly real and letting her authenticity shine through. I can tell this album is a reflection of her story and who she is, and I found it inspiring. After exploring Paper Moon, I found myself turning to my own creative projects to express myself and process this crazy thing that we go through together, called life. I hope she continues setting the example and being so unabashed in her music; it leaves a lasting impression.

Make sure to follow Joy Downer on Instagram! You can listen to “Paper Moon” below!