In many different cultures and religions, water represents rebirth and renewal. After a tough stretch that has involved a pandemic, Black folks being killed at the hands of police and a tumultuous presidential election, many of us need a renewal or a rebirth. Joyia’s new single and video for “Water” represents just that.
As the Canadian singer, songwriter and producer explains, she hit a point recently where songwriting was on the backburner and it just didn’t flow out of her in the same way it once had. This is a feeling that many, including myself, can relate to. During this ongoing pandemic, there have been times when we all found trouble doing the things that were once so commonplace. Luckily, the process of writing “Water” allowed Joyia to return to songwriting in a way that was natural and comfortable.
“The song just felt like it flowed out of me. After years of putting songwriting on a back-burner and feeling like I had lost it, I wrote ‘Water’ and I felt like I had found my place again; like I knew this was exactly where I was supposed to be,” she explained.
Ultimately, she was able to use “Water” as a way to say thank you for all of the things that she’s appreciative of during these tough times. From the people she’s closest with to the music she produces, this song feels like a thank you letter at times.
“Sometimes I reflect on all of the things and people I’ve been blessed with in life and I think to myself, there has to be something up there – no matter who or what you believe in. ‘Water’ is a reflection of that,” she added.
Visually, “Water” draws back on those ideas of rebirth and renewal. Towards the beginning of the video, there’s a scene where her silhouette is positioned against a white cloth, reminiscent of the moments right before someone is baptized and cleansed. Then, she appears in a white robe, another symbol of baptism. Spliced in between, there are scenes of rain droplets coming down on her as she continues to sing. All in all, director Jimmy Yi and producer Nathan Dharamshi do a great job of bringing these lyrics to life.
“Water” serves as the first single for her upcoming project, Baptism. Check out the full video below.