Rising artist and multiplatinum songwriter Joseph Angel shares his debut single “Shame” via Republic Records. “Shame” is the debut song from the vocalist, songwriter and producer, who is known for penning Rihanna’s triple-platinum smash “Love On The Brain” from ANTI, among many other chart-topping hits.
On the stark and soulful “Shame,” a slow burn of clean guitar and simmering beats bristles against Angel’s hypnotic howl as the production conjures the ghosts of sixties Muscle Shoals. Most importantly, the lyrics hit hard on impact as he relays the story of “a guy trying to find himself after losing himself.”
New Orleans-bred and Houston-fed, Joseph Angel siphons strands of soul from around the country into a striking signature style of his own. Following a lifetime honing his voice, he worked a series of blue collar jobs post-college in order to fund recording—even attending pilot school “to fly for free.” After ghostwriting for various artists, Roc Nation signed him in 2010. Two years later, he landed a number one hit on the Billboard US Dance Club Songs chart, penning Jennifer Lopez’s “Goin’ In” [feat. Flo Rida]. He contributed “We Been On” [feat.R. Kelly, Birdman & Lil Wayne] to the chart-topping self-titled 2013 Rich Gang compilation and wrote Demi Lovato’s “All Night Long” [feat. Missy Elliott & Timbaland] and “Cry Baby,” among many other cuts. However, Rihanna’s ANTI hit “Love On The Brain” would be a game-changer. Not only did it go triple-platinum, but it galvanized Angel’s own journey as he dove into preparing his solo project due out this year. “Shame” sets the stage for more new music from Joseph Angel in 2018.