RESPECT. Interview: Joel Talks Single + Visual For “Clean Up” + Visual Being Based Off The Life Of Malcolm X + Much More

Toronto-based R&B/Soul talent, Joël, released his single ‘Clean Up’ produced by Colin Monroe. Pairing warm guitar chords with Joël’s soulful vocals, ‘Clean Up’ is a delicate-yet-powerful ballad which comes from a place of frustration at the state of society, with poignant lyrics that examine both police brutality and the industrial-prison complex. Based on the life of Malcolm X, the accompanying official video further accentuates the revolutionary energy and determination for change communicated in the music. “The ‘Clean Up’ music video focuses on some of the intimate moments of Malcolm X’s life as one might wonder about what his days felt like as those of a man with great influence and thirst for change,” video director angelicamilash explains.

‘Clean Up‘ follows a prolific 2020 for Joël, who released his hotly-anticipated EP GRUNGE GOSPEL (SIDE B). A record both tender and powerful, Exclaim! marked it 7/10 and described it as “a beautiful continuation of [Joël’s] genre-bending catalogue”. He then dropped GRUNGE GOSPEL (SIDE A & B combined), which included the bonus track ‘Well Done’ – a heartfelt tribute to his late grandmother who passed away due to COVID-19. ‘Clean Up’ follows Joël’s late 2020 collaboration with Amaal who came together for ‘In Place’. Check out his full catalogue here.

Interview Highlights: 

On His Single “Clean Up”

Why He Chose Malcolm X To Be The Point Of Study For Visual.

Being From Toronto, His Early Music Inspirations,

Current State Of R&B.

Dream Collaboration.

Goals For 2021?

What RESPECT. Means To Him.

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