JOSLYN & THE SWEET COMPRESSION

Who Are They?

Joslyn & The Sweet Compression is an American soul and funk band from Lexington, Kentucky, fronted by the powerhouse vocalist Joslyn Hampton. The group builds its sound on the foundations of classic 1960s and 1970s rhythm and blues, pairing Hampton's voice with a full ensemble of guitar, rhythm section, and horns.

The band works in the tradition of vintage soul and funk revival, drawing on the punch of Stax and Motown era arrangements while writing new original material. Their records lean on live, in-the-room instrumentation, tight horn charts, and a groove-first approach to songwriting.

Rooted in the Kentucky music scene, the band has built its reputation as a live act, touring regionally and nationally and releasing a full-length album alongside a run of singles.

The Story

The band emerged from the Lexington, Kentucky, music scene, built around the pairing of vocalist Joslyn Hampton and a full soul and funk ensemble.

1. 2017

   First singles

   The band introduced itself with its earliest releases, including the singles "Love on the Double" and "Sunday Driver," establishing the vintage soul and funk sound built around Joslyn Hampton's vocals.

2. 2018

   Building the catalog

   A run of singles followed, among them "Honey, Be" and "Don't You Bother," expanding the group's book of original material and its horn-forward arrangements.

3. 2019

   The debut album

   The band released its self-titled full-length album, Joslyn & the Sweet Compression, collecting its singles alongside new tracks into a complete statement of the group's soul and funk sound.

4. 2023

   New material

   The band returned with fresh singles, including "Bona Fide" and "Truth in the Moment," continuing to develop its catalog of original songs.

5. Ongoing

   A live band

   Known chiefly as a live act, the group has toured beyond Kentucky, bringing its horn-driven soul and funk revue to clubs and festivals around the country.

Start Here

The fastest way into the band is through its official music videos. These three songs cover the range, from horn-driven funk to slow-burning soul. Watch in order.

The Albums 5 to start with

The band's catalog centers on its 2019 self-titled album, surrounded by a run of singles from 2017 onward. Start with the full-length, then work outward through the singles.

The Playlists

Two sets drawn from the catalog: a First Listen of the signature songs to bring you in, and a Deep Cuts set of album tracks and singles for when you want to sink in. Hit the button on either card to search the band on YouTube Music.

The Band

Joslyn & The Sweet Compression is a full ensemble built around a lead vocalist, a guitar-anchored rhythm section, and a horn section in the classic soul and funk mold.

• Joslyn HamptonLead vocalsThe powerhouse voice at the front of the band and the focal point of its vintage soul and funk sound
• Marty ChartersGuitarGuitarist in the band, anchoring the rhythm section behind Hampton's vocals
• The rhythm sectionBass and drumsThe groove-first foundation that drives the band's funk and soul arrangements
• The horn sectionBrass and reedsThe tight, punchy horn charts that give the band its classic rhythm and blues character

Influences

The band works in the lineage of classic soul and funk, from the Stax and Motown era through the horn-driven revival acts that carried the sound into the present.

Interviews

Conversations with the band offer a look at its Kentucky roots and its approach to the soul and funk tradition.

Going Deeper

Once the album and singles have you, the band's world opens through its live shows and its place in the wider soul and funk revival.

• The debut album in full. hear Joslyn & the Sweet Compression from start to finish to catch the album-only tracks that the singles leave out.
• The singles run. the 2017, 2018, and 2023 singles trace the band's development across its catalog.
• The live band. as chiefly a live act, the group is best experienced on stage; full-set concert recordings circulate online.
• The revival scene. explore the broader vintage soul and funk movement the band belongs to, from Sharon Jones to Thee Sacred Souls.

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