Joydrop
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1997 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Headquarters | Toronto , Canada |
| Products | Music albums and singles |
Joydrop is an alternative rock group originating from Toronto, Ontario, Canada, active during the late 1990s and early 2000s, with a reunion occurring in 2017. The band members consist of lead singer Tara Slone, guitarist Thomas Payne, bassist Tom McKay, and drummer Tony Rabalao.
History
Established in Toronto in 1997, Rabalao and McKay initially connected through recording sessions and touring. After Payne became part of the ensemble, Slone was brought on board following a recruitment advertisement placed in Now magazine.
Their first album, Metasexual, debuted in 1999 under Tommy Boy Records. The track "Beautiful" gained chart recognition in Canada and was featured in movies including Attraction, My First Mister, and Ginger Snaps 2: Unleashed, as well as the television series VIP.
The band's sophomore release, Viberate, also issued by Tommy Boy, featured the successful single "Sometimes Wanna Die," which climbed to #11 on Canadian Airplay charts. The accompanying music video included an appearance by Tommy Lee and received airtime on MTV2 in the United States during the summer of 2001. In that year, "Sometimes Wanna Die" ranked #65 among the most frequently broadcast Canadian songs on radio.
Joydrop made a guest appearance performing their popular songs on an episode of Special Unit 2. In 2002, they earned a nomination for the Juno Award in the category of Best New Group.
On the 22nd anniversary of Viberate, Slone disclosed that the band's dissolution was influenced by external circumstances: their single was removed from US radio playlists following the events of 9/11, their record label was merged into a larger corporation leading to loss of their contract, and they faced insufficient means to tour or produce new recordings.
Following the split, Slone pursued a solo music career and participated in Rock Star: INXS. Rabalao launched a solo project under the name Lehlo and also performs with Slone’s band. McKay transitioned to producing at Exeter Sound Studios, collaborating with artists from Canada, the US, and the UK. Payne moved into composing and producing theatrical music in Stratford, Ontario. By 2010, Slone had joined Breakfast Television on CKAL-DT (Citytv Calgary).
On April 2, 2017, Joydrop reunited for a live show at Hometown Hockey in Guelph, Ontario. This reunion led to additional performances including a concert at Toronto's Bovine on August 25, 2017.
Singles
- "Beautiful" (1999) – No. 20 US Alternative Songs, No. 87 AUS
- "If I Forget" (Canada only) (1999)
- "Spiders" (US only) (2000)
- "Sometimes Wanna Die" (2001) – No. 11 Canada
- "American Dream Girl" (2001)