Big Joanie

{{Short description|British punk band}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Big Joanie | image = Big Joanie (52614577369).jpg | image_size = | landscape = yes | alt = | caption = Big Joanie at [[Rockaway Beach Festival]] 2023 | alias = | origin = [[London]], England | genre = {{hlist|[[Post-punk]]|[[punk rock]]|[[riot grrrl]]}} | years_active = {{start date|2013}}–present | label = *[[Tuff Enuff Records]] *Sistah Punk Records *[[Ecstatic Peace Library]] *[[Kill Rock Stars]] | website =  | current_members = * Stephanie Phillips * Estella Adeyeri | past_members = * Kiera Coward-Deyell * Chardine Taylor-Stone }} '''Big Joanie''' is a British [[punk rock|punk]] band formed in [[London]] in 2013. Its members are Stephanie Phillips (guitar and vocals) and Estella Adeyeri (bass guitar and vocals). Founding drummer [[Chardine Taylor-Stone]] left the band in 2023. After a few singles and EPs they released their first album in 2018 with [[Thurston Moore]] and Eva Prinz's [[Ecstatic Peace Library|Daydream Library Series]], and have since signed to [[Kill Rock Stars]] in the U.S.

==History==

=== Formation and early releases === Big Joanie was formed by Stephanie Phillips in 2013,<ref name="Teen Vogue">{{cite web|url=https://www.teenvogue.com/story/5-queercore-bands-to-listen-to|title=4 Queercore Bands to Listen To|publisher=[[Teen Vogue]]|last=Abarbanel|first=Aliza|date=14 April 2017|accessdate=19 March 2018}}</ref><ref name="Kerrang News">{{cite magazine|title=Big Joanie For Fans Of: G.L.O.S.S., White Lung, The Slits|url=https://www.pressreader.com/uk/kerrang-uk/20170805/281814283945808|date=5 August 2017|magazine=[[Kerrang!]]|location=[[London]]|publisher=Wasted Talent Ltd |access-date=19 March 2018}}</ref> who posted online asking for bandmates with whom to start a [[Black British|black]] [[black feminist|feminist]] punk band after becoming frustrated with the lack of [[intersectionality]] in the scene. Chardine Taylor-Stone, who Phillips had met through a Black Feminist meet-up group, and the band's original bassist Kiera Coward-Deyell both responded to the social media post.<ref name="Them">{{cite web|url=https://www.them.us/story/big-joanie-chardine-taylor-stone-back-home-interview|title=Big Joanie Is Staying True to Their Queer Punk Ethos|website=[[Them (website)|Them]]|date=4 November 2022|accessdate=29 May 2023}}</ref> They played their first set at the inaugural [[First Timers (festival)|First Timers]], an event where all the bands had to be new, most of the members had to be playing a new instrument and they had to include someone from a marginalised group.<ref name="Fader">{{cite web|url=http://www.thefader.com/2017/10/30/big-joanie-punk-trio-gen-f-interview|title=Women of color have always had a place in punk. Big Joanie is here to remind you of that.|last=Myers|first=Owen|publisher=[[The Fader]]|date=30 October 2017|accessdate=19 March 2018}}</ref><ref name="Team Rock">{{cite web|url=http://teamrock.com/feature/2018-02-19/new-band-of-the-week-big-joanie|title=New band of the week: Big Joanie|publisher=[[Team Rock]]|date=19 February 2018|accessdate=19 March 2018}}</ref><ref name="DIY Kill Rock Stars Interview">{{cite web|url=https://diymag.com/2020/11/25/rebel-girls-big-joanie-november-2020-interview|title=Rebel Girls: Big Joanie|first=Gemma|last=Samways|website=[[DIY (magazine)|DIY]]|date=25 November 2020}}</ref>

The name of the band is partly a tribute to Phillips’ mother, Joan, and partly based on a Caribbean figure of speech. "When we say a child is 'acting big', they're acting bigger than themselves. I just thought that would be a great phrase for a strong, confident woman."<ref name="Metro">{{cite web|url=https://www.metro.news/making-it-big-big-joanies-steph-phillips-talks-about-poc-feminism-and-offending-her-mum/1437342/|title=Making it big: Big Joanie's Steph Phillips talks about POC, feminism and offending her mum…|website=[[Metro (British newspaper)|Metro]]|date=15 February 2019|accessdate=3 July 2019}}</ref>

In 2014 the band released their first EP ''Sistah Punk'' on [[Tuff Enuff Records]], and in 2016 they self released a 7" three song single entitled ''Crooked Room'' on their own Sistah Punk Records. The title track is inspired by a lecture by the writer [[Melissa Harris-Perry]], who compared life as a black woman in a white [[patriarchy]] to trying to find a true vertical in a room where everything is crooked.<ref name="Team Rock"/> Another song on the release is a punk cover of [[No Scrubs]] by [[TLC (group)|TLC]].<ref name="Kerrang News"/>

===Line-up change and Decolonise Fest===

Estella Adeyeri (also of [[Witching Waves (band)|Witching Waves]] and [[Charmpit]]) joined in 2017 to replace Coward-Deyell after she moved to [[Scotland]]. Later that year the band supported American bands [[Sad13]] and [[Downtown Boys (band)|Downtown Boys]] on UK tours.<ref name="Fader"/> In early 2018 they recorded their debut album with producer Margo Broom at Hermitage Works Studios.<ref name="Team Rock"/>

Over the weekend of 2–4 June 2017, DIY Diaspora Punx (a collective started by Phillips and also containing other London musicians such as [[Ray Aggs]]) put on the first [[Decolonise Fest]] at [[DIY Space For London]]. Decolonise Fest is the UK's first music festival created by and for [[people of colour]].<ref name="Decolonise Fest Noisey">{{cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/decolonise-fest-uk-punk-nekra-sacred-paws-fight-rosa/|title=The Bands Taking British Punk Back to Its Multicultural Roots|first=Stephanie|last=Phillips|website=[[Noisey]]|publisher=[[Vice Media]]|date=31 July 2017|access-date=15 May 2018}}</ref> The second edition of the festival, again mostly held at DIY Space, occurred from 22 to 24 June 2018. The festival was held for a third time over 29 to 30 June 2019, at which Big Joanie performed.

===Release of debut album===

On 5 September 2018 Big Joanie announced their debut album ''Sistahs'' would be released in late November the same year with a music video for lead single "''Fall Asleep''". It is the first album to be released by Ecstatic Peace Library, a publishing company ran by visual book editor [[Eva Prinz]] and musician [[Thurston Moore]], in their Daydream Library Series.<ref name="The Quietus - Sistahs">{{cite web|url=http://thequietus.com/articles/25251-big-joanie-sistahs-thurston-moore-daydream-library-series|title=LISTEN: Big Joanie Announce Debut LP|first=Patrick|last=Clarke|date=5 September 2018|website=[[The Quietus]]|accessdate=5 September 2018}}</ref><ref name="Pitchfork">{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/big-joanie-fall-asleep/|title=Big Joanie Is One of London's Most Exciting New Punk Bands|last=Pelly|first=Jenn|date=7 September 2018|accessdate=12 September 2018|website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]}}</ref>

''[[Sistahs]]'' was released on 30 November to positive reviews, including in [[The Guardian]], [[Rolling Stone]], and [[The Quietus]].<ref name="The Guardian">{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/nov/30/big-joanie-sistahs-review-bold-fearless-punk-debut|title=Big Joanie: Sistahs review – fearlessly discordant punk debut|first=Laura|last=Snapes|website=[[The Guardian]]|date=30 November 2018|accessdate=4 December 2018}}</ref><ref name ="The Quietus">{{cite web|url=http://thequietus.com/articles/25733-big-joanie-sistahs-lead-album-review|title=Family Trio: Big Joanie's Sistahs|first=Melissa|last=Steiner|website=[[The Quietus]]|date=29 November 2018|accessdate=4 December 2018}}</ref><ref name="Rolling Stone">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/review-big-joanies-sistahs-761653/|title=Review: Big Joanie's Excellent Art-Punk LP 'Sistahs'|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|first=Kory|last=Grow|date=3 December 2018|accessdate=4 December 2018}}</ref>

In November 2018 they supported American band [[Parquet Courts]] on a UK and European tour.<ref name="Parquet Courts">{{cite web|url=https://counteract.co/reviews/live/review-parquet-courts-are-electric-at-sold-out-digbeth-show/|title=Review: Parquet Courts are electric at sold out Digbeth show|last=Doyle|first=Emily|date=12 November 2018|accessdate=21 November 2018|website=counteract.co}}</ref> They played their first American shows in March 2019 at [[South by Southwest]], debuting via [[BBC Music Introducing]], and were announced in April as [[Bikini Kill]]'s main support for their two European shows of the year at [[Brixton Academy]] in June.<ref name="Brooklyn Vegan">{{cite web|url=http://www.brooklynvegan.com/bikini-kill-reissuing-pussy-whipped-first-reunion-show-is-tonight/|website=[[Brooklyn Vegan]]|accessdate=30 April 2019|title=Bikini Kill Reissuing Pussy Whipped, First Reunion Show is Tonight|date=25 April 2019 }}</ref>

On 26 February 2020, Big Joanie supported [[Sleater-Kinney]] alongside [[Katie Harkin|Harkin]] at the [[O2 Brixton Academy|Brixton Academy]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.parallellinespromotions.com/events/sleater-kinney|title=Sleater-Kinney + Big Joanie + Harkin|website=www.parallellinespromotions.com|access-date=2020-02-27|archive-date=27 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200227113407/https://www.parallellinespromotions.com/events/sleater-kinney|url-status=dead}}</ref> Phillips cites Sleater-Kinney as having "really influenced the way I thought about writing emotional songs, and my approach to punk music".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://theface.com/music/big-joanies-steph-phillips-picks-her-favourite-three-piece-bands|title=Big Joanie's Steph Phillips picks her favourite three-piece bands|website=The Face|date=3 June 2019 |language=en-gb|access-date=2020-02-27}}</ref>

On 14 August that year the band released a 7" single of their cover of [[Solange Knowles|Solange]]'s ''[[Cranes in the Sky]]'' with a live recording of ''It's You'' from their first album on the flip.<ref name="Third Man Records">{{cite web|url=https://thirdmanstore.com/cranes-in-the-sky-b-w-it-s-you|website=[[Third Man Records]]|title=Big Joanie "Cranes in the Sky" b/w "It's You" (Standard Black Vinyl)|accessdate=3 August 2020}}</ref> On 2 October it was announced that Big Joanie had signed in the U.S. to Portland OR based independent record label [[Kill Rock Stars]] ahead of their second album. Their first release for the label was a split with Adeyeri's other band [[Charmpit]], which was released on 27 November that year.<ref name="DIY Kill Rock Stars Interview"/><ref name="Kill Rock Stars">{{cite web|url=https://killrockstars.com/blogs/news/big-joanie-sign-with-kill-rock-stars|website=[[Kill Rock Stars]]|title=Big Joanie Sign With Kill Rock Stars|date=2 October 2020}}</ref>

===''Back Home''===

On 1 June 2022, Big Joanie released the single ''Happier Still'', it was written after the release of the debut album and finished whilst they were in Austin for SXSW 2019.<ref name="Happier Still Stereogum">{{cite web|url=https://www.stereogum.com/2188424/big-joanie-happier-still/music/|title=Big Joanie – "Happier Still"|website=[[Stereogum]]|date=1 June 2022|accessdate=30 June 2022|last=Rettig|first=James}}</ref> On 27 July 2022, ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]'' revealed that their second album, titled ''Back Home'', was to be released on 4 November that year.<ref name="pitchfork back home">{{Cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/big-joanie-announce-new-album-back-home-share-video-for-new-song-watch/|last=Minsker|first=Evan|date=July 27, 2022|title=Big Joanie Announce New Album Back Home, Share Video for New Song: Watch|work=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]|access-date=September 1, 2022}}</ref> The album received positive reviews that mention its "expansive" sound and "breadth of style".<ref name="Back Home NME">{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/album/big-joanie-back-home-review-3341288|website=[[NME]]|title="Big Joanie – 'Back Home' review: a widescreen expansion"|first=Will|last=Richards|date=3 November 2022|accessdate=23 February 2023}}</ref><ref name="Back Home Pitchfork">{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/big-joanie-back-home/|website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]|title=Back Home - Big Joanie - 2022|first=Torres|last=Eric|date=7 November 2022|accessdate=23 February 2023}}</ref><ref name="Back Home Uncut">{{cite web|url=https://www.uncut.co.uk/reviews/album/big-joanie-back-home-140841/|website=[[Uncut (magazine)|Uncut]]|title=Big Joanie – Back Home|first=Emily|last=Mackay|date=11 November 2022|accessdate=23 February 2023}}</ref> On 5 October 2023, Big Joanie announced that Taylor-Stone left the band.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kelly |first=Tyler Damara |date=5 October 2023 |title=Big Joanie announce departure of founding drummer, Chardine Taylor-Stone |work=[[The Line of Best Fit]] |url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/news/big-joanie-announce-departure-of-founding-drummer-chardine-taylor-stone |access-date=October 22, 2023}}</ref>

==Discography== ===Albums=== *''[[Sistahs]]'' – [[Ecstatic Peace Library|Daydream Library Series]], LP, MP3 (2018)<ref name="The Quietus - Sistahs"/> *''Back Home'' - [[Kill Rock Stars]] / [[Ecstatic Peace Library|Daydream Library Series]], LP, CD, MP3 (2022)<ref name="pitchfork back home"/>

===EPs=== *''Sistah Punk'' – [[Tuff Enuff Records]], Cassette, MP3 (2014) *''Crooked Room'' – Sistah Punk Records, 7", MP3 (2016)

===Singles=== *''Cranes in the Sky'' / ''It's You'' – [[Third Man Records]], 7" (2020)<ref name="Third Man Records"/> *''Kluster Rooms Sessions'' (Split with [[Charmpit]]) - [[Kill Rock Stars]], 7" (2020)<ref name="DIY Kill Rock Stars Interview"/> *''Happier Still'' - [[Kill Rock Stars]] / [[Ecstatic Peace Library|Daydream Library Series]], MP3 (2022)<ref name="Happier Still Stereogum"/>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * {{Twitter|Big_Joanie}} * [https://bigjoanie.bandcamp.com/ Big Joanie] on [[Bandcamp]] *[http://www.gal-dem.com/big-joanie/ Gal Dem interview, 2016]

[[Category:All-female punk bands]] [[Category:Underground punk scene in the United Kingdom]] [[Category:Musical groups established in 2013]] [[Category:Punk rock groups from London]] [[Category:Black British musical groups]] [[Category:2013 establishments in England]] [[Category:Riot grrrl bands]] [[Category:Black British rock musicians]] [[Category:Feminist punk bands]]