Joseph Angel

Before launching a solo career, Joseph Angel made his name as a songwriter, penning hits for pop stars like Jennifer Lopez, Demi Lovato, and Rihanna in the early and mid-2010s. Among them was Rihanna's "Love on the Brain," which charted in North and South America and across Europe. As a soloist, he takes influence from '60s and '70s Muscle Shoals studio and Al Green, among others, for his impassioned retro-soul. Demonstrating his wide pitch and interpretive range, Angel's first single, "Shame," saw release in 2018. Born in New Orleans, Louisiana, Angel listened to artists including Green, Prince, and Michael Jackson growing up, mostly from his grandparents' and cousins' record collections. His family eventually moved to Houston, Texas, where Angel followed the underground hip-hop scene, including DJ Screw. His songwriting habit began with rewriting lyrics to some of his favorite songs. He later began ghostwriting for a variety of musicians before signing a publishing deal with Roc Nation in 2010. Angel quickly made an impression and contributed to "All Night Long" (featuring Missy Elliott & Timbaland), the opening track to Demi Lovato’s 2011 album Unbroken. A year later, a song he co-wrote for Jennifer Lopez, "Goin' In" featuring Flo Rida, topped the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart. In 2015, he was among the composers of R. Kelly's "Cookie" from the Magic Mike XXL soundtrack, and in 2016, he collaborated with Fred Ball and Robyn Fenty on "Love on the Brain" for Rihanna. The latter went multi-platinum and reached the Top Five of the Billboard Hot 100. His own voice was finally spotlighted on the 2017 Alex da Kid track "American Funeral," which Angel also co-wrote. That same year, his first solo recording, "Empty Pack of Cigarettes," appeared on the Fifty Shades Darker soundtrack. Angel made his official solo debut via Republic Records in 2018 with the single "Shame." ~ Marcy Donelson