Jayne Joyce's Short Documentary "Love From MKE" Displays Love in Milwaukee
Almost a month ago, on Feb. 25, soulful songstress Jayne Joyce released a short documentary entitled Love From MKE about what love means. Jayne didn’t plan on making a documentary, but that’s what can happen when you have over an hour of footage.
Kumasi Minley and Mudy. (Photo by Steven Robinson)
Before the documentary, Jayne had released a music video to her cover of the song Best Part by Daniel Caesar and H.E.R. In the video, there are snippets of three couples—Kumasi Minley and Mudy, Genesis Renji and Monica Marerro, and Radaya Ellis and Unique Russ discussing what love means to them—they all reside in Milwaukee.
“I just love that song,” she said about why she decided to make a cover. “I just love how it feels.”
The video was shot and edited by Steven Robinson, who also put the documentary together. After the cover video was released, Jayne realized there was an abundance of extra footage that shouldn’t go to waste, so she made a short documentary.
Love From MKE has nothing to do with Jayne as an artist, she said. But it does show another side of her, the one that’s a hopeless romantic.
“No matter what I go through, I always want to give and share love,” Jayne said. “I think people are too afraid to show love on the day-to-day basis.”
She continued: “Give a little. Be a little less cold and a little more warm.”
This was Jayne’s first time interviewing someone but she came prepared. She had seven to eight questions and was intrigued to hear what the couples had to say. Jayne spent 20-30 minutes interviewing each couple.
Genesis Renji and Monica Marerro. (Photo by Steven Robinson)
Aside from the documentary, Jayne’s latest track “Grayzone” ft. Lucien Parker has a groovy-bounce beat that people can really feel. She’s sung this song a few times live before actually releasing it on March 8.
Jayne is signed under House of Renji, and sometime last year, Genesis Renji—owner of House of Renji—took her and his other artists to a creative retreat in Marquette, Michigan.
They spent five days bonding, creating and taking a break from their daily lives.
“[Genesis] wanted to give his artists an opportunity to step away from the everyday hustle and bustle,” she said. “It gave me the time, it gave me the resources and it freed me out that [writer’s] block.”
During the retreat, she wrote Grayzone with Lucien—the song was completed before the trip was over. But when it comes to the title of the song, Jayne said that came last.
Grayzone represents the moment in a relationship when things are uncertain and emotions are clouded, she said.
Radaya Ellis and Unique Russ. (Photo by Steven Robinson)
Jayne said this year will be spent growing and constantly creating music. Creating music that people don’t expect from her.
She recently wrote a brand new song and usually, she likes to write about situations or relationships once they’ve ended as a reflection. Yet, this was the first time she wrote about how she was feeling in the moment, she said.
And, it’s also the first time she’s recorded a song by herself in her home studio. Although she’s comfortable around a few individuals—she’d rather create alone.
“It’s way more powerful alone. I don’t ever question anything that comes out my mouth,” Jayne said about creating alone. “People bring their own energy.”
Jayne is set on keeping her energy positive and it’s showing in the quality of her music.
Jayne Joyce’s music can be found on all streaming platforms.