We had the good fortune of connecting with Kymberli Joye and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kymberli, what do you attribute your success to?
I credit all of my success to my faith in God. Faith has always been a part of me, being the eldest daughter of two pastors and growing up in church, it’s all I’ve known. Beyond traditions of prayer and even the music that was passed down, it’s taught me what hard work and dedication look like. It’s taught me what patient endurance is…because most success isn’t overnight. And above all else, it’s taught me how to believe in what I can’t see. That’s what faith is, isn’t it? Believing in the improbable. That’s what kept me when the phone calls weren’t coming in and ends were barely meeting. When I thought of just giving up and taking a job in a field I cared nothing about. Faith helped me to show up, do the work, film the content, write the songs, and hold on to my vision. And God has exceeded some of my wildest dreams, and expectations. And I’m just getting started!

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’m a Gospel artist and worship leader from Connecticut. I’ve been singing professionally for over a decade, as a supporting vocalist for a number of Gospel and mainstream artists like Phil Thompson, JJ Hairston, and Childish Gambino. And I currently travel the country, leading worship on Sunday mornings at some amazing churches. I’m a songwriter, vocal producer, clinician, preacher, social media enthusiast, micro-influencer, and eldest daughter in an amazing musical family. I grew up singing in church. My parents are pastors in Hartford, CT, and that’s where I fell in love with music. I fell in love with God and the expression that is Gospel. The hope and joy it brings. How it speaks to something bigger than ourselves. God saved my life. And Gospel music was a huge part of that.

In 2018 I was a contestant on Season 15 of NBC’s The Voice, where I was a semifinalist before being voted off. I’m forever grateful for my time at that show. Not only was it an opportunity to grow as a vocalist and to learn from singers I’ve looked up to for years (team Kelly for life), I was put on a platform I’d never dreamed was possible. That year, my singles from the show granted me 3 top 10 spots on the Christian and Gospel iTunes and Billboard Charts (Break Every Chain, Oceans, Never Alone). For me, a shy girl from a small town in a small state, that was beyond anything I could have imagined. There were times in my life I didn’t think it would happen at all. When I was working as a substitute teacher, and working at an inner-city after-school program, and giving voice lessons, and running rehearsals at church, and traveling on the weekends to sing background vocals, I felt like there was something more. But I had no idea how it could happen. After seeing the doors God opened for me, I started thinking, how could I not believe?

I’m not immune to struggle. I’ve been through hard times. I’ve overcome rejection. I’ve dealt with depression and anxiety, which aren’t really talked about enough, especially in the church community. There’s a stigma in admitting you love Jesus, but you’re not okay. Still, through my faith, my music, and a good deal of therapy, I realized that it was all working together for my good. I claim my healing though I still have hard days. I’m not perfect, I’m in process. And I have the faith to believe that there’s so much more for me on the other side of this. I hope to encourage others to know that there’s no shame in asking for help. I’m so glad I did.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d like to shout out my incredible mom. She’s my inspiration, my motivator, and the woman on whose shoulders I’m standing. Because of you, I can.

Instagram: @KymberliJoye

Twitter: @KymberliJoye

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KymberliJoye

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKr5OTAuRsNIYAWMbwJh47Q

Image Credits
Ashley C Morrell Norman Oates

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