@JoieKathos - Joie Kathos In-Depth Interview

http://joiekathos.com/

@JoieKathos

Jordan Shannon, better known as her stage name Joie Kathos, is a multi-talented entertainer and philanthropist from Philadelphia, with an incomparably classy style influenced by pop culture, and a heart rooted in the soul of hip hop. As a lyricist, singer, producer, songwriter, dancer, and actress, Joie brings something unique to the entertainment industry by delivering messages of optimism and hope through songs that talk about the everyday struggles of life. ” I have nothing to prove to anyone, but I have everything to share. My talents were given to me to use as tools to help inspire, empower, and enlighten people. So that’s why I do what I do.” –Joie

     Joie is no stranger to the stage. She has been performing since the age of 3, and started her career as a full-time dancer, after receiving training in all styles including ballet, modern, jazz, tap, hip hop, and broadway. Her dance skills opened up opportunities for her to perform all around the country, but as time went on Joie grew more passionate about the art of music. So she began to work on her craft as a lyricist, writer, and producer. Determined to get her name out there for the world to know and love, Joie decided she would make that happen for herself. With passion and persistence, Joie grabbed her four closest friends and choreographed a 15 minute performance set for herself, which included dancing, singing, and rapping to her own original music. Shortly after, Joie began to make a name for herself, and was seen performing at various venues all around the city of Philadelphia.

     Since then, Joie has broaden her horizons and is now performing at venues all around the country. She was the featured performer at the prestigious Howard University’s 2011 Midnight Madness Event, where she wowed the audience of 4000+ people, making that her largest live performance to date. She has been a featured performer in the Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade, The Annual Cherry Blossom Parade in Washington DC, and The Annual Pumpkin Festival in Blackwood, NJ. She was also seen on television shows such as Oxygen Network’s The Glee Project, where she made it to the Top 30 Finalists out of 45,000 auditions competing for a role on Glee.

Although Joie’s energetic personality, diverse archive of music, and unique sense of fashion is now a hit with young people, she was not always a first choice amongst the kids. As a child, she was subjected to a great deal of bullying because of her uniqueness, good morals, and choice to not conform to what’s “in” or “out”. Not knowing how to verbally express how she felt about being teased and made fun of, Joie turned to music as an outlet for her grief.  After producing her first song at age 10, and entering recording studios by age 12, Joie found herself featured on the “Stop the Violence!” High School Tour in Philadelphia at age 14, hoping to share her story with the world.

On March 10, 2011 Joie, along with other upcoming young artists, launched a music-based anti-bullying tour in New York. The tour lasted 3 months and reached over 20 different schools in the New York City Area. After completing the tour, Joie was offered the opportunity to facilitate self-empowerment workshops for a company called Think | Build | Live Success.  

 Now at age 21, Joie has gained the title “The Advocate”, due to her continuous efforts to inspire young people through clean contented music. Joie is now a spokesperson and founding member of Be More Heroic, a non-profit anti-bullying campaign dedicated to inspiring individuals and communities to stimulate positive, proactive, and courageous action in their daily lives.

            For more information on Joie Kathos, visit www.joiekathos.com, where you can also listen to and download her latest project The Unmarked Mixtape!