Joelina Drews (24), who is now known by her stage name JOEDY, is a singer on her own two feet and does not want to be in the shadow of her father, Jürgen Drews ("A Bed in the Cornfield"). She recently released her new single "Hangover". For her father's 75th birthday on April 2nd today, JOEDY finds loving words for him. In an interview with the news agency spot on news, she tells what she gives to the King of Mallorca and why she is proud of him.
Your father celebrates his 75th birthday on April 2nd. What do you wish him
JOEDY: Of course health and only the best in the world and that we can celebrate our birthday together for many more years.
How is the birthday celebrated?
JOEDY: We actually wanted to spend a few days together in Austria in a wellness hotel and go hiking. Due to the corona crisis, this is unfortunately falling into the water. But I will probably go to my parents' house and spend the day together with them in a calm and relaxed way.
What do you give your father?
JOEDY: We have long stopped giving ourselves presents on certain occasions. We always like to show ourselves how much we love each other with small gestures and gifts. You don't need a specific day for this.
What makes you proud of your father?
JOEDY: What he has achieved in his life. I admire his career, which he only achieved through his excessive ambition and discipline. He is also a very well-read person who knows exactly about history, politics and the economy. And he is very loving. I couldn't ask for a better father.
What did you learn from your father?
JOEDY: That you should hold onto your dreams and never give up. And that you should always be nice and courteous, even to the people who put a stone in your way.
How strict was your father in your upbringing?
JOEDY: Honestly? Not at all. My dad was always the one I went to when mom said no. He is just too nice and understands me.
You deliberately went abroad to break away from your father's shadow. Are you annoyed by the fact that you are still called "Jürgen Drews' daughter"?
JOEDY: Not annoyed. I don't know it any other way and have been confronted with it from an early age. In Germany there is unfortunately a pigeonhole and that will probably always remain that way. I just started releasing music again. So it's not that fast that people only know me as JOEDY. But I'm super relaxed there. You can't force anything.
Did your father give you tips for the music business or did you do everything on your own?
JOEDY: As far as the music business is concerned, I think my father is one of the last to need advice. He is still the one who asks me how it works these days. Anyway, I'm a person who doesn't like to ask for advice and it makes me all the more proud that I made it to where I am now, all by myself.
What does your father say about your music? You are in a completely different genre …
JOEDY: He celebrates what I do and is proud of me. I think parents are also generally proud of their children, but he actually likes my music.
They want to clear up taboo topics and, among other things, advocate openly talking about sex. Why is that so important to you?
JOEDY: I think in Germany people are still not open enough and topics like sex are still frowned upon. Ultimately, however, this is something completely normal and especially we women should be allowed to express and dress as we want. For me, it all happens in a frame, but I think it's important to talk openly about such topics, among other things. I am someone who always says what he thinks and does what he feels, and I want to stand for that.
In the music video for "Hangover" you show yourself very freely. Would you ever drop all the covers?
JOEDY: No. The little skin that you see in my video is the maximum that you will ever see me. I like to play with my femininity, but all in one frame.
No artist seems to get along without Instagram these days. However, there is also a lot of hate in the comment columns. Can you hide that?
JOEDY: Yes, I largely ignore such comments. Sure, if it gets too extreme, you have to intervene, but luckily that is rather rare. Such people can usually not be taught anyway. It is a thing that you have to make out of yourself and that also begins with yourself. I would never think of having someone I don't like about life. I prefer to use the energy for things that move me forward.
How difficult is it to start a career as a newcomer in the age of streaming services?
JOEDY: I think there are advantages and disadvantages at the same time. For one thing, everyone now has the opportunity to publish music, which is super cool. On the other hand, the market is of course extremely saturated, which means that those who may not have built up a huge fan base through social media have a harder time getting attention. I think the secret recipe here is just to put out one song at a time. The more music you regularly release, which of course has to be of good quality, the greater the chance of being heard.
How much share do you get as an artist on Apple Music, Spotify and Co.? Do you think the model is fair?
JOEDY: Phew, I would have to go extremely far now. Let's say this much: We artists earn the most from live business, merchandise and ever fewer purchases. Unfortunately, most artists cannot live from streaming. But I'm not an expert either.